A look back at local, national and world events through Deseret News archives.
On Dec. 23, 1968, 82 crew members of the U.S. intelligence ship Pueblo were released by North Korea, 11 months after they had been captured.
Within a day or two they were back in San Diego, reuniting with loved ones and debriefing.
But as Christmas Day came and went, one story stood out. On Jan. 26, fellow sailors told the story of their crewmate: Seaman Duane Hodges, the one who did not come home alive.
There were two major events surrounding Christmas 1968: the Apollo 8 mission to surveil the moon, and the return of the USS Pueblo crew.
The Pueblo’s capture Jan. 23, 1968, by a communist nation was a shock to the United States, then deeply involved in the Vietnam War. North Korea said the spy ship, disguised as an environmental research ship, was inside its waters. The U.S. government said the Pueblo was in international waters.
North Korean ships surrounded the Pueblo and opened fire, killing one sailor and wounding 10. North Korean forces boarded the ship and brought it ashore. Its 82 crew members were held 11 months.
After their release, the hostages went to San Diego for debriefing. The Deseret News and other news organizations followed the incident, including the homecoming of northern Utah crew member Dale Rigby.
After their release, Cmdr. Lloyd “Pete” Bucher was blamed for letting the Pueblo fall into enemy hands without firing a shot and for failing to destroy the ship’s classified material, including dozens of spy books and encryption machines.
Here are two excerpts from Associated Press coverage on Dec. 25-26:
“SAN DIEGO, Calif. — Every Pueblo crewman’s mother at the airport had a son to meet, to hug, to greet with tears of joy — all but one. Mrs. Jesse Hodges came from Oregon to meet a coffin.
“She stood, small and gray haired, with her husband, ... in a sea of Pueblo relatives and Navy officers. But still very much alone.
“The body of her boy, Duane, was the last off the plane when 82 surviving officers and crewmen of the U.S. Intelligence ship Pueblo returned to the United States Tuesday.
“An honor guard of sailors in gleaming white helmets carried Duane’s casket, covered with his country’s flag, across the runway apron at Miramar Naval Air Station.”
And ...
“SAN, DIEGO, Calif. — Seaman Duane Hodges, the only fatality when North Korea seized the USS Pueblo on the high seas last January, was felled while destroying secret papers, according to Cmdr. Lloyd Bucher.
“’Our son was standing on the deck, bending over, destroying secret papers when he was hit by enemy fire,’ said Mrs. Hodges. ‘He died soon after with little pain, singing a Christian hymn.’”
Here is the citation from the military:
“When PUEBLO came under fire from these North Korean units, Petty Officer Hodges rendered invaluable assistance in the face of the intense hostile fire while participating in the unfamiliar task of destroying classified materials,” according to Homeofheroes.com. “Mortally wounded while carrying out this assignment, Petty Officer Hodges, by his courage, initiative, and inspiring dedication, he reflected credit upon himself and upheld and enhanced the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.”
Here are some stories from Deseret News archives about the USS Pueblo incident, about some of the crew and the challenges they faced, and other Utah wartime medal winners:
“Pueblo incident still a mystery 25 years later”
“Utah POWs recognized for their courage, sacrifice”
“Flashbacks still haunt Utah POW 38 years later”
“Lloyd Bucher, commander of spy ship Pueblo, dies at 76″
“USS Pueblo captives get $65 million”
“Utah’s medal winners are roll of amazing heroes”
