Liberty's Wounds

by Jeremy Paul Ämick

Bryce Lockwood has amassed a trove of unique military experiences during a brief span of time. Born on a small farm in rural New York State in 1939, he graduated from high school in Afton, New York in 1957. He soon made the decision to enlist in the Marine Corps and, in 1960, married his fiancee, Lois. In the next few years, his military career led to language school in Monterey, California, where he completed Russian linguist training followed by Cold War assignments in locations such as Scotland, Turkey and the former West Germany. However, the most unforgettable moment of his military assignments came with temporary orders for service aboard the USS Liberty - a U.S. intelligence ship. While serving as a Russian linguist aboard the vessel, he lived through an attack by Israeli warplanes and torpedo boats during the Six-Day War, resulting in the deaths of 34 and wounding 174 Americans. As the only U.S. Marine to survive the incident, Lockwood became the recipient of a Silver Star medal for rescuing three sailors trapped in flooded compartments in addition to receiving a Purple Heart for severe burns incurred in a torpedo explosion. Lockwood later served a tour in Vietnam and, in 1971, received a medical retirement after thirteen years of service. In recent years, he has sought the truth behind the unprovoked assault on the USS Liberty, which left many of his friends severely wounded or dead. In recent decades, Lockwood has joined other Liberty survivors in petitioning Congress for an open and thorough investigation of the attack.

240 pages, Paperback

Published March 13, 2020

Reviews

[Josh Cobb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got to meet Bryce Lockwood while I was working as a photojournalist in Jefferson City, Missouri. I decided to pick up this book after a brief conversation with the man. I'm glad that I did. As someone who has an interest in history, I found this story about Lockwood's military service and general life to be very interesting. I didn't know anything about the USS Liberty before reading this and will now attempt to find out more about that incident.

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

'Liberty Wounds', a biography about GYSGT Bryce F. Lockwood, USMC, a retired cryptologic marine, and Russian linguist who was temporarily assigned (TAD) to the USS Liberty during it's attack by the Israelis on June 8,1967.

I had the priviledge of meeting Bryce at the Naval Security Group Activity, in Bremerhaven, Germany, in 1966. He was my section supervisor in the Processing and Reporting (P&R) Division.

There wasn't a lot going on in the European Theatre of the Cold War. Like the rest of us, Bryce was conscientiously doing his job as our section boss.

Then in early June Bryce was pulled out of P&R for a "short deployment" with Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron VQ-2, launching from Keflavik, Iceland. But just around the time Bryce arrived in Keflavik, he was turned around and sent back south to join USS Liberty, AGTR-5 in Rota, Spain.

The book covers Bryce’s life from when his mother was pregnant with him, much of his childhood, experiences in recruit training, early married life, early experiences in the Marine Corps, language training, the Israeli attack on the USS Liberty, service in Vietnam, bouts with PTSD, medical retirement, civilian employment, family tragedy, re-connection with Liberty survivors, and their activism to get closure from our government, and more, right up to the present day.

The story mentions a lot of places that cryptologic veterans may recognize. And, the author provides interesting descriptions all throughout. He talks about the Lockwood farm in New York, Paris Island Marine Recruit Depot, SC, Camp Le Jeune, NC, Imperial Beach, CA, Fort Devins, MA, along with Edzell, Scotland, Karamursel, Turkey, Keflavik, Iceland, III MAV Da Nang, Hill 327, Hill 55 and Monkey Mountain, and more.

One thing that stands out in this book, is what a tough woman Miss Lois Jones (Mrs. Lockwood) is. And what an amazing role she continues to play in "their" career(s).

Even if I had not known Bryce for last 56-ish years, I'd still have to call this book a "really interesting read".


T.D.

[Dionne Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a cool book to read. Yes, I’m going to be a little biased because Bryce Lockwood is my Great Uncle, and I’ve only heard tidbits of what he experienced on the USS Liberty growing up.
The author did an AMAZING job writing and telling my Uncle’s story through his eyes while showing his personality and antics, as well as giving very informative details/background about some the information my Uncle told (i.e. military career info on the service members mentioned throughout the book).

I learned a lot reading this book not just about my family history and Uncle’s military service, but facts about military history I had no idea about.
Highly recommend for any history buff wanting to learn a little more about “lost” military history that cannot be ignored nor forgotten.