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- Over 325 words typed on two 10-1/2 inch high by 8 inch wide sheets of creamy white paper, with the "Department of the Navy Office of the Chief of Naval Operations" letterhead illustrated with the "Department of Defense" seal at the top of the first page. In his letter, Admiral Fleming responds to Congressman Seymour Halpern's inquiry on behalf of Mr. and Mrs. Wysocki "concerning the PUEBLO inquiry". He explains that "a Court of Inquiry is currently examining all the facts and circumstances relating to the seizure of PUEBLO and subsequent detention of the ship, its officers and crew." He goes on to assure the Congressman that the "Court of Inquiry is open to the public except when classified information is being introduced." and that "On 25 January, the Chief of naval Operations, speaking to the American Bar Foundation in Chicago discussed certain public misapprehensions which have arisen as a result of the PUEBLO inquiry." Boldly signed "A.F. Fleming". Folded for mailing with staple holes to the top left corner of both pages, else near fine. A Banner-class environmental research ship, the USS Pueblo was attached to Navy intelligence as a spy ship. The ship was attacked and captured by North Korea on January 23, 1968 precipitating a crisis known as the "Pueblo incident". One of the 83 crew members was killed during the attack and the others captured. The seizure of the American ship occurred only 3 days after North Korean forces had crossed the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), killing 26 South Koreans as they sought to attack South Korea's executive mansion (known as the Blue House). Further plaguing President Lyndon B. Johnson was the fact that the ship's seizure took place only a week before the start of the Tet Offensive in Vietnam. The abuse and torture of the sailors over their 11 month captivity became a major Cold War incident.Assistant Deputy Chief of Naval Operations Rear Admiral Allan Foster Fleming (1912-1987) graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. He first served aboard the USS Salt Lake City and subsequently reported for flight training. He joined Scouting Squadron Seventy Two as a Naval Aviator in 1939 attached to the USS Wasp and then served on the USS Hornet during the early months of WWII. He served with Brigadier General Jimmy Doolittle's flyers aboard the Hornet, participating in the raids on Tokyo, Midway, and the Battle of Santa Cruz where the Hornet was struck by an enemy bomb. Fleming was awarded the Purple Heart. He went on to further distinguish himself throughout the war, subsequently taking courses in Naval Warfare at the Naval War College in Newport, RI. Reporting for duty on the Staff of the Commander in Chief, naval Forces, Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean headquarters in London, he served as Atomic Plans Officer. He took command of the USS Pine Island in 1958 and subsequently of the USS Saratoga. In 1960, he served as the Director of the Astronautics Operations Division. After several subsequent command postings, he was assigned as Assistant Director, Strategic Plans Division, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, subsequently becoming its director. By 1967, Fleming assumed duty as Assistant Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Plans and Policy). Fleming assumed command of the Fleet Air, Mediterranean and Anti-Submarine Warfare Force, U.S. Sixth Fleet on June 30, 1969. He also served as Commander of the Maritime Air Forces, Mediterranean, a NATO command.The Queens, New York Republican Congressman Seymour Halpern (1913-1997) started his political career as a campaign aide to New York's powerful mayor Fiorella La Guardia and first served in New York's State Senate for 14 years before seeking a seat in the U.S. Congress. In Albany Halpern sponsored 279 bills that became law, including measures on schools, housing, civil rights, nutrition and mental health. A Liberal, he was something of an anomaly as the lone Republican representative from New York City, and generally garne. Seller Inventory # 97398
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Bibliographic Details
Title: A TWO-PAGE TYPED LETTER SIGNED by REAR ...
Publisher: Washington, D.C., February 10, 1969.
Publication Date: 1969
Condition: Fine
Signed: Signed by Author(s)
