the 2013 USS FEE Brochure

USS FRANK E. EVANS
(DD 754) ASSOCIATION
VIETNAM VETERANS
MEMORIAL WALL
The USS Frank E. Evans (DD 754) Association was formed in
1992 by Machinist Mate Third Class H. G. Nichols (50-53). At the
first reunion in Fort Worth, Texas, the attendees agreed to meet
annually. In 1999 the association was incorporated as a (501) (c)
(19) Military Organization.
The names of the “Lost 74” are not inscribed upon the Vietnam
Veteran’s Memorial Wall in Washington, DC because they were
killed outside the designated “Combat Zone,” an area used by the
Department of Defense to determine if an individual was a
Vietnam conflict fatality. The USS Frank E. Evans (DD 754)
Association disagrees with the Department of Defense’s decision
to exclude these men from obtaining the proper recognition the
“Lost 74” deserve. They gave their lives in defense of our country
and they died in the Vietnam War! The Association has been
working diligently to have the Department of Defense make an
exception to their instructions and add the names to the Vietnam
Veteran’s Memorial Wall.
Membership has grown to over 200 members consisting of
Shipmates, Family and Friends. Membership is open to those
who agree with the goals and objectives of the association.
Simply stated they are to promote camaraderie, patriotism, history
of the ship and commemorate our deceased.
Those wishing to join the association can go to the association’s
website www.ussfee.org and complete the membership application. Dues are minimal. A portion of all dues are used to fund the
Cal Rankin Memorial Fund. This fund, in honor of shipmate Cal
Rankin, was established to fulfill his dream to have memorials built
in each of the home states of our “Lost 74.”
FRIENDSHIP ALLIANCE
In 2010 the association held its reunion in San Diego. As part of
the events a tour was conducted aboard USS KIDD (DDG 100).
In the months following the reunion, conversations ensued
between USS KIDD and USS Frank E. Evans Association about
forming a special alliance. As a result a “Friendship Alliance” was
formed. This alliance bridges the gap between the old and new
Navy. This “Friendship Alliance” is a first of its kind and is growing
into a long term relationship between association members and
the crew of USS KIDD.
“Lost 74”
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YN3
RD3
ET3
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BT2
HMC
RD2
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YN3
ETN3
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SA
ETR3
SA
SN
SA
GMG3
SA
SA
SA
SA
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STG3
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BM3
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SA
STG3
SA
SA
RD3
EMC
RD2
Alan Herbert Armstrong
James Robert Baker
Andrew James Botto
Thomas Belue Box
James Franklin Bradley
Robert George Brandon
Harris Melvin Brown
William Daniel Brown II
Charles William Cannington
Christopher John Carlson
Michael Kale Clawson
Danny Victor Clute
James Richard Cmeyla
Larry Wayne Cool
Patrick Michael Corcoran
Joe Eddy Craig
James Wilburn Davis
Leon Larry Deal
James Fred Dykes III
Raymond Joseph Earley
Steven Frank Espinosa
Stephen Don Fagan
William Donald Fields
Alan Carl Flummer
Henry Kenneth Frye
Francis Joseph Garcia
Melvin Hollman Gardner Jr.
Donald Eugene Gearhart
Patrick Gene Glennon
Kenneth Wayne Glines
Joe Luis Gonzales
Larry Allan Gracely
Devere Ray Grissom Jr.
Steven Allen Guyer
Terry Lee Henderson
Edward Philip Hess
Garry Bradbury Hodgson
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RD1
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IC2
LTJG
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LTJG
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RD2
RD3
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RD3
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Dennis Ralph Johnston
James William Kerr
Willie Lee King
George Joseph Laliberte
Raymond Patrick Lebrun
Eugene Francis Lehman
Isaac Lyons Jr.
Douglas Roy Meister
Andrew Martin Melendrez
Frederic Conrad Messier
Timothy Lynn Miller
John Townsend Norton Jr.
Gregory Koichi Ogawa
Michael Anthony Orlikowski
Linden Russell Orpurt
Dwight Scott Pattee
Craig Allen Pennell
Jerome Pickett
Earl Frederick Preston Jr.
Lawrence John Reilly Jr.
Victor Thomas Rikall
Gary Loren Sage
Gregory Allan Sage
Kelly Jo Sage
John Alan Sauvey
Robert James Searle
Gerald Wayne Smith
Thurston Perry Smith Jr.
John Raymond Spray
Jon Kenneth Stever
Thomas Fred Tallon
Ronald Arthur Thibodeau
Jon Wayne Thomas
John Thomas Tolar
Gary Joseph Vigue
Con Wesley Warnock
Henry Dennis West III
USS FRANK E. EVANS
(DD 754)
“The Gray Ghost”
“The Fighter”
NAMESAKE
COLLISION
Named in honor of Brigadier General Frank Edgar Evans, USMC.
During a SEATO exercise code named “Sea Spirit” the Australian
carrier HMAS MELBOURNE (R 21) collided with United States
Destroyer USS FRANK E. EVANS (DD 754).
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Born 19 November 1876, Franklin, Pennsylvania
Graduate Princeton University
Infantryman Spanish-American War
Commissioned USMC 15 February 1900
Served in Philippines 1st Marine Brigade
Award Navy Cross for Gallantry – Belleau Wood
Retired 1 December 1940
Deceased 25 November 1941
Buried Arlington National Cemetery
CONSTRUCTION
During the height of WW II construction began on USS FRANK E.
EVANS (DD 754), her mission was to provide service as a surface
attack vessel, submarine hunter and submarine and aircraft
defense.
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Bethlehem Steel Company, Staten Island, New York
Allen M. Sumner Class Destroyer
Keel Laid 21 April 1944
Launched 3 October 1944
Commissioned 3 February 1945
Sponsor Esther Caldwell Townsend Evans, Wife
First Commanding Officer Commander Harry Smith, USN
HISTORY
USS FRANK E. Evans (DD 754) served in WW II, Korea and
Vietnam. She was decommissioned and re-commissioned twice.
Her shakedown training took place out of Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
in February 1945. Upon completion of training and some alterations she deployed to the Pacific via the Panama Canal in May
1945. Her original home port, through 1951 was San Diego. In
1952 her homeport was changed to Long Beach, California. She
spent her first Christmas in Tsingtao, China and her last in Long
Beach. When deployed to Korea in 1951, four crew members
were slightly wounded when the ship took several hits from shrapnel. She completed a total of six deployments during the 1950’s.
She visited many ports of interest but probably the most memorable was her trip to Australia in which many of the crew had the
opportunity to visit the 1956 Olympic Games. In 1961 the ship
underwent a FRAM II modernization. Once complete a new wave
of anti-submarine warfare training began. As the Vietnam War
escalated she once again began deployments in support of the
war effort.
CHARACTERISTICS
SHIP
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Length 376 feet, 5 inches
Beam 41 feet, 1 inch
Displacement 2, 200 tons
Draft 15 feet, 8 inches
Speed 34 knots
Main Propulsion 60,000 SHP
Power Source General Electric Turbines
Crew 336
WEAPONS
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6 - 5 inch / 38 dual purpose guns
12 X 40 mm AA
11 X 20 mm AA
10 X 21 torpedo tubes (2 x 5)
6 X depth charge projectors
2 X depth charge racks
POST FRAM II, COMPLETED OCTOBER 1961
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6 - 5 inch / 38 dual purpose guns
2 dash helicopters
2 MK 32 triple torpedo mounts, holds 6 homing torpedoes
2 MK 10 7.2 inch hedgehog projectors
Variable depth sonar
Crew 322
AWARDS & MEDALS
• 11 Battle Stars
• 1 - World War II
• 5 – Korea
• Navy Unit Commendation
• China Service Medal
• Navy Occupation Service with Asia Clasp
• Korean Service Medal
• Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
• Vietnam Service Ribbon
• Republic of Korea Presidential Unit
• Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit
• United Nations Service Medal
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3 June 1969 (2 June 1969 in the United States)
0315 Hours South China Sea
Clear, Moonlit, Calm Seas
110 Degrees 47.7 Minutes East, Longitude
08 Degrees 59.2 Minutes North, Latitude
1,100 Fathoms (1.09 miles), Depth
USS FRANK E. EVANS Struck at Frame 92
110 Nautical Miles from Designated Combat Zone
200 Nautical Miles from Closest Point of Main Land Vietnam
775 Nautical Miles from Manila Bay
74 Sailors Lost
1 Sailor’s Body Recovered (Kenneth Glines)
3 Brothers Were Lost (Gary, Gregory & Kelly Jo Sage)
Senior Master Chief Reilly Served with His Son, His Son Was Lost
204 Survivors from USS FRANK E. EVANS
All Survivors Recovered by 0340 Hours
Ships on Station at Time of Collision
• USS FRANK E. EVANS
• HMAS MELBOURNE
• HMS CLEOPATRA
• HMNZS BLACKPOOL
• USS JAMES E. KYES
• USS EVERETT F. LARSON
• Commanding Officer USS FRANK E. EVANS, Albert McLemore
• Officer of the Deck USS FRANK E. EVANS, LTJG Ronald Ramsey
• Junior Officer of the Deck, LTJG James Hopson IV
The commanding officer and officer of the deck were found guilty
of dereliction of duty and sentenced accordingly.
• 5 – Vietnam
29 March 1969
USS FRANK E. EVANS (DD 754)
Underway to Westpac
Long Beach, California