Honoring Civilians in Covert Operations
Santa Barbara, California – June 7, 2025 – On the morning of Tuesday, June 7, 1960, at sunrise, seven civilians departed Santa Barbara Harbor aboard the vessel MARIE to conduct a classified underwater electronics test near Santa Cruz Island. An extensive search and rescue operation took place from Thursday to Saturday, June 9-11, 1960.
They were never seen alive again.
The MARIE was operating under a U.S. military contract during the height of the Cold War. To this day—65 years later—the full account remains classified.
These civilians wore no uniforms, yet they served the nation with courage and commitment as those who did. Their vessel – MARIE (Operational No. 253652, LCVP Ex. C-23127)—and their mission were part of a broader pattern of civilian contributions to national security.
(See: Hooker v. Raytheon Company, 212 F. Supp. 687 (S.D. Cal. 1962).)
Their story, like many others lost in Cold War shadows, deserves remembrance.
THE BROADER SACRIFICE: Civilians on the Front Lines of the Cold War
From airfields to Arctic waters, from submarines to satellites, civilians helped build and defend the modern world—often at great personal risk.
- 1948 – Georgia: Three civilians perish in a B-29 crash during an electronics payload test.
- 1949 – Arctic Ocean: A civilian aboard USS Cochino is lost in icy waters during a naval intel mission.
- 1960 – Soviet Union: Civilian pilot Francis Gary Powers is shot down and captured during a high-risk U-2 reconnaissance flight.
- 1960 – Channel Islands: Seven civilians vanish during a payload’s underwater science test.
- 1967 – Mediterranean: Civilians aboard USS Liberty are killed in an attack during a SIGINT mission.
- 1968 – North Korea: Civilians aboard USS Pueblo are captured and held in brutal captivity for nearly a year.
WHY IT MATTERS
Though unarmed, they stood on the front lines of innovation, deterrence, and survival.
Their service shaped history.
Their stories—once hidden— echo here.
These were sacrifices made in silence, in service, and in shadow.
WHAT CAN YOU DO
Remember the MARIE, Honor them all, Hold a:
- Moment of Silence – to reflect backward.
- Lantern of Light – to reflect forward.
- Minute of Honor – to reflect on their story and your story.
Watch this 1-minute video: https://vimeo.com/129907030 (Featuring emcee F. Sutter Fox, Captain USCG (Ret.); and voice of C. Doug Kroll Ph.D., former Coast Guard officer who became a Navy chaplain, and retired as a Commander from the Naval Reserve (Ret.) at the first ever remembrance at the 50th) (1 min)
Then, be grateful for the gift of today, and join us in honoring their legacy:
Life is a Treasure Hunt!
Teresa Newton-Terres
For your information, the vessel MARIE, identified by vessel number 253652 and LCVP Ex. C-23127, was created by Chris Craft in Algona, Michigan, in 1943. This vessel is part of the legal case Hooker v. Raytheon Company, 212 F. Supp. 687 (S.D. Cal. 1962). For additional details, refer to “Mystery of the Marie: Memoir of My Childhood Tragedy and How It Surfaced a Cold War Mystery,” 2022 edition, by Teresa Newton-Terres, ISBN 9780979144752. www.MysteryoftheMarie.com .
Marie Incident Remembered: