William McGonagle

Infobox Military Person
name= William Loren McGonagle
born= birth date|1925|11|19
died= Death date and age|1999|3|3|1925|11|19
placeofbirth= Wichita, Kansas
placeofdeath= Palm Springs, California
placeofburial= Arlington National Cemetery


caption=William Loren McGonagle, October 1967, recipient of the Medal of Honor.
nickname=
allegiance=flag|United States of America
branch=
serviceyears= 1944-1974
rank= Captain
commands= USS Liberty
unit=
battles= World War II Korean War
awards= Medal of Honor
laterwork=

William Loren McGonagle (November 19, 1925 – March 3, 1999) was a United States Naval officer in command of the USS "Liberty" when it was attacked by the Israel Defense Force. William McGonagle is a recipient of the Medal of Honor.

Biography

He was born in Wichita, Kansas and enlisted in the Navy in 1944. He attended a three years Navy training program at the University of Southern California, before becoming a Navy officer. He took command of the Liberty in April 1966.

McGonagle was presented his Medal of Honor at the Washington Navy Yard by the Secretary of the Navy, rather than at the White House by the President. [ Thurber 1999.]

McGonagle was promoted to the rank of captain in October 1967. After recovering from his wounds, McGonagle commanded the new ammunition ship Kilauea and commanded the NROTC Unit at the University of Oklahoma. [http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/pers-us/uspers-m/w-mcgngl.htm] He retired from active duty in 1974.

William McGonagle died on March 3, 1999. Following services at the Post Chapel at Fort Myer, Virginia, he was buried at Arlington National Cemetery on April 9, 1999 with full military honors and members of his USS Liberty crew in attendance. He was buried near the common gravesite of six members of the USS Liberty crew. [Arlington National Cemetery profile.]

Medal of Honor citation

His Medal of Honor citation reads:

:For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as Commanding Officer, USS "Liberty" (AGTR-5) in the Eastern Mediterranean on 8-9 June 1967. Sailing in international waters, the Liberty was attacked without warning by jet fighter aircraft and motor torpedo boats which inflicted many casualties among the crew and caused extreme damage to the ship. Although severely wounded during the first air attack, Captain (then Commander) McGonagle remained at his battle station on the badly damaged bridge and, with full knowledge of the seriousness of his wounds, subordinated his own welfare to the safety and survival of his command. Steadfastly refusing any treatment which would take him away from his post, he calmly continued to exercise firm command of his ship. Despite continuous exposure to fire, he maneuvered his ship, directed its defense, supervised the control of flooding and fire, and saw to the care of the casualties. Captain McGonagle's extraordinary valor under these conditions inspired the surviving members of the Liberty's crew, many of them seriously wounded, to heroic efforts to overcome the battle damage and keep the ship afloat. Subsequent to the attack, although in great pain and weak from the loss of blood, Captain McGonagle remained at his battle station and continued to conn his ship for more than seventeen hours. It was only after rendezvous with a United States destroyer that he relinquished personal control of the Liberty and permitted himself to be removed from the bridge. Even then, he refused much needed medical attention until convinced that the seriously wounded among his crew had been treated. Captain McGonagle's superb professionalism, courageous fighting spirit, and valiant leadership saved his ship and many lives. His actions sustain and enhance the finest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

ee also

*List of Medal of Honor recipients
*List of Medal of Honor recipients for the Vietnam War
*USS Liberty incident

Notes

References

*cite web
url=http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/wlmcgon.htm
title=William Loren McGonagle, Captain, United States Navy
publisher=Arlington National Cemetery profile
accessdate=2006-07-23

*cite news
url=http://www.ussliberty.org/latimes.htm
title= Capt. William McGonagle; Won Medal of Honor After Israelis Attacked Ship
author=Jon Thurber
work=Obituaries
publisher=Los Angeles Times
date=March 11, 1999
accessdate=2006-07-23

External links

* [http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/pers-us/uspers-m/w-mcgngl.htm Captain William L. McGonagle, USN, (1925-1999)] from the Naval Historical Center.

*cite news
url=http://www.mishalov.com/McGonagle.html
title=William McGonagle, 73, Hero of Israel Attack on the Liberty
author=Eric Page
date=March 9, 1999
work=The New York Times
accessdate=2006-07-23

*cite web
url=http://www.ussliberty.org/
title=USS Liberty Memorial
accessdate=2006-07-23