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USS Pueblo Ceremony of Remembrance Held by Naval Oceanographic Office

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS101209-24
12/9/2010

By Lanee Cooksey, Naval Oceanographic Office Public Affairs

STENNIS SPACE CENTER, Miss. (NNS) -- Two former Naval Oceanographic Office (NAVOCEANO) employees joined Navy personnel at Stennis Space Center, Miss., Dec. 9, for a "living" history ceremony in remembrance of the North Korean capture of the USS Pueblo (AGER 2) and the subsequent detainment of American Navy personnel in 1968.

Former NAVOCEANO surveyors, Harry Iredale and Dunnie Tuck, were members of the USS Pueblo crew, assigned to the ship for the then highly classified electronic intelligence collection mission of the vessel.

NAVOCEANO Commanding Officer Capt. Brian Brown thanked them for participating in the ceremony.

"It is very special to NAVO to have two of our former teammates with us again," said Brown. "You don't seem angry or bitter, and that is uplifting to all of us. Thank you and your families very much for being with us today."

NAVOCEANO Command Historian Dr. Jack Breyer detailed how the USS Pueblo, an environmental research ship sent to collect intelligence against the North Koreans off their eastern coast, was attacked and seized Jan. 23, 1968, in international waters.

During the attack, one crew member was killed, and several others were seriously injured. Eighty-two crew members, including Tuck and Iredale, were taken prisoner for 11 months. During that time, the crew was subjected to beatings, death threats, and forced confessions. The crew was released from captivity Dec. 23, 1968, following a negotiated false apology issued by the United States government.

Iredale, a former 13-year NAVOCEANO employee; and Tuck, a 33-year employee; gave their personal accounts of their experiences.

"Captives were taken day and night to be interrogated and beaten," said Iredale.

"We learned to play the game with them...nobody bought the many propaganda sessions," said Tuck.

Tuck also noted that just prior to their release from captivity he was beaten one last time for his parting comments.

"The North Koreans asked the group if any of them would want to come back to North Korea," Tuck said. He then answered by saying, "Yes, as a bomber on a B-52."

Today, although the USS Pueblo remains in the hands of the North Koreans and serves as a museum in Pyongyang, the vessel is still considered a commissioned ship in the United States Navy.

Rear Adm. Jonathan White, commander, Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command, delivered remarks and presented both men with framed, signed images of Pueblo, the oceanographic survey ship USNS Bowditch painted by Cmdr. Lloyd Bucher, the commanding officer of the USS Pueblo during the incident.

To conclude the ceremony, Capt. Brown unveiled a tribute display to commemorate NAVOCEANO's Pueblo survivors that will be placed in the command's main building.

NAVOCEANO, comprised of approximately 1,000 military, civilian and contractor personnel, is responsible for providing oceanographic products and services to all elements within the Department of Defense.