Overview

STAY AFLOAT is a firsthand memoir of survival, silence, and the long fight to tell the truth about one of the most controversial incidents in modern U.S. naval history: the June 8, 1967 attack on the USS Liberty during the Six-Day War. Told in the steady voice of survivor Phil Tourney, this book begins with the raw reality of that day in international waters: the chaos, the damage, the loss, and the immediate confusion. But the attack was only the beginning. What followed was a decades-long shadow of dismissal, pressure to stay quiet, and a story that many Americans were never taught in school or shown in mainstream media. This is not a political book. It is a truth-and-memory book. It is about what happens when institutions protect narratives, when history becomes inconvenient, and when ordinary people are expected to move on without answers. Through Phil's eyes, readers see how a young sailor becomes a man who refuses to let his shipmates be reduced to a footnote, and how the modern rise of independent media and social platforms finally reopened public curiosity about the USS Liberty. STAY AFLOAT is for readers who care about military history, U.S. Navy stories, government transparency, and the human cost of a cover-up. It is also for anyone who believes patriotism and accountability can coexist, and that free people have a responsibility to examine the uncomfortable parts of their own history. Some stories don't disappear because they're false. They disappear because they're inconvenient. Phil Tourney spent a lifetime refusing to let this one sink.

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9780960125548

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Reviews

""There are moments in life that simply cannot be manufactured. Phil's sincerity, his pain, his moments of deep reverie and reflection. Phil Tourney is one of the bravest men I have ever met."" Candace Owens Author and Commentator ""Phil Tourney is a rare man. He's lived through what most people cannot imagine, and he has the courage to tell the truth about it with clarity and conviction. Stay Afloat is a sobering reminder of what can happen when power goes unchecked and honest questions are discouraged. I strongly recommend this book to anyone who cares about truth, accountability, and justice."" Dr. Charles O. ""Chuck"" Baldwin Pastor, Liberty Fellowship; Syndicated Columnist; Radio Host; Former Constitution Party Presidential Nominee ""Having Phil Tourney on my podcast was one of the most meaningful conversations I've ever had. What he lived through, and what he's carried for nearly six decades, is heavy and real. The men of the USS Liberty deserved better than to have their story buried. Stay Afloat is a story that needed to be told, and I'm glad Phil is the one telling it."" Jake Shields Host, Fight Back with Jake Shields, Former UFC Veteran & World Champion ""As someone who once supported Israel without question, Phil Tourney's story was a turning point for me. His firsthand account of the USS Liberty forced me to confront the danger of blind allegiance to any nation, especially when questions are discouraged, and truth is buried for decades. Phil tells this story with integrity and courage, no matter the cost. If you strongly support Israel, as I once did, this book, Stay Afloat, deserves your honest attention. Just read it and decide for yourself what you think the truth is."" Jeremy Slayden JSlay: Made in the USA Podcast ""The USS Liberty is one of the most consequential and least-discussed events in modern American military history. For decades, the story was minimized, and people who raised questions were dismissed. Phil Tourney kept pushing until the public finally started listening. Stay Afloat is a firsthand account that belongs on the historical record, and I could not put it down once I started. It was a history lesson and Phil's life memoir wrapped into one, and I highly recommend everyone read this hidden story that deserves to be heard."" Erik Warsaw Host, The Erik Warsaw Podcast ""Phil survived the attack on the USS Liberty. And for decades, he's taken hits simply for telling the truth about what happened. This book, Stay Afloat, is proof he never abandoned his oath or his shipmates. I'm honored to have Stay Afloat on my shelf, and I'm grateful Phil put this story on the record."" Owen Shroyer Host, Owen Report ""Phil shared his story at Old State Saloon in front of a live audience, and you could feel the room change as people listened. He loves the country, the Navy, and the shipmates he lost, and he wants Americans to know the truth. We should never let the memory of the USS Liberty fade. Stay Afloat helps make sure it won't."" Mark Fitzpatrick Owner, Old State Saloon

Author Information

Phil Tourney is a U.S. Navy veteran and survivor of the 1967 attack on the USS Liberty, one of the most controversial incidents in modern American military history. Serving aboard the intelligence ship during the Six-Day War, Tourney lived through the assault that killed 34 American servicemen and wounded 174 others.For nearly six decades, he has dedicated his life to honoring his fallen shipmates and ensuring that their story is not forgotten. As a leading voice among USS Liberty survivors and former President of the USS Liberty Veterans Association, Tourney continues to advocate for truth, accountability, and recognition of the men who served aboard the Liberty. He is also the host of The Phil Tourney Podcast, where he shares survivor testimonies and historical insights surrounding the attack.

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