MEMORIALS 1993 - Fredricksburg, Texas

MEMORIALS
1993 - Fredricksburg, Texas - The U.S.S. FRANK E. EVANS Association was
successful in placing a plaque at the Admiral Nimitz museum in Fredricksburg,
Texas through contributions made by shipmates.
1994 - Las Vegas, Nevada & Australia -On the 25th anniversary of the collision,
a special memorial service was held at our reunion in Las Vegas, Nevada. Jim
Rogers, formerly of local radio station WBAP narrated that service. Contact was
made with the HMAS MELBOURNE Association and each year since they have sent a
representative to our reunions.
A plaque was sent to Australia for the 3
June 1994 services commemorating the 25th
Anniversary of the sinking of our ship
U.S.S. FRANK E. EVANS (DD 754). John M.
Gamber and Florentino F. (Mike) Macayan,
surviving shipmates, were present.
In June 1999, two identical plaques were
presented to Mr. James Strong, CEO of
Qantas Airways Limited, and his personal
secretary Dianne (Di) Craig (aka "Our Texas
Rose"). Dianne saw to it that everything
was set up for our traveling requirements
to Australia to commemorate the 30th
Anniversary of the collision. Fifty-two
Americans were present.
Each plaque was laser burned on wood with
some gold leaf to highlight the names and
the wreath.
1998 - Arlington National Cemetery - The U.S.S. FRANK E. EVANS Association was
successful in having a tree planted and a plaque placed at Arlington National
Cemetery.
Political pressures, however, prevented us from acknowledging the 74 or making
any mention of the accident. We were limited to dedicating the plaque to “All who
ever served aboard U.S.S. FRANK E. EVANS.” Acknowledgment and memorialization of
the 74 were summarily refused.
1999 - Niobrara, Nebraska - On Memorial Day, 31 May, in Niobrara, Nebraska, there
was a special Memorial Service honoring the three Sage Brothers from that
community who were lost in the collision. The town of Niobrara had erected a
memorial to the three brothers. Subsequently, due to floods, the entire town had
to relocate and the service rededicated the memorial in its new location.
Approximately 30 U.S.S. FRANK E. EVANS survivors attended the special services.
1999 - Sydney, Australia - On 3 June 1999, the Australians hosted a special
memorial service. Extraordinary steps were taken by the Australians to make this
30th Anniversary Memorial Service very special. Fifty-two members from the U.S.S.
FRANK E. EVANS Association made the trip to Sydney, Australia.
MELBOURNE Association members opened their homes to our members to hold down
expenses as much as possible. Additionally, each U.S.S. FRANK E. EVANS
Association member arriving in Sydney over a spread of approximately five days
was met at the International Airport by a delegation of HMAS MELBOURNE
Association and provided transportation to either the hotel or to their host
families. Some flights arrived as early as 0530 hours.
The memorial service was held at the Anzac National Military Shrine in Sydney,
Australia. Commander A. W. Greedy, AM Royal Australian Navy (RAN) was master of
Ceremonies. Senior Chaplain Brian Rayner OAM RAN opened with the hymn, “O God,
Our Help In Ages Past.” Music was provided by the RAN band. Following in order
were: Quote of the Naval Ode with the audience responding, “Lest We Forget,”
Reveille, Naval Hymn, “Eternal Father,” Naval Prayer, National Anthems of both
countries, Lord’s Prayer, followed by addresses from Captain B. Swam, AM RANR
(President of the HMAS MELBOURNE Association) and J. C. Campbell, President of
the U.S.S. FRANK E. EVANS Association, a letter from the honorable U. S. Senator
Kay Bailey Hutchison, and Chaplain’s Commemoration.
Wreath laying was by Captain John Phillip Stevenson, Captain of HMAS MELBOURNE
the morning of the collision, and by Mrs. Janice Lehman, widow of Radarman 1st
Class Eugene Francis Lehman who was lost that fateful morning.
Again, the RAN band quietly played the Naval Hymn while a HMAS MELBOURNE sailor
and a U.S.S. FRANK E. EVANS survivor called the Honor Roll, alternately reading
the name of one of the 74 crewman lost.
This was followed by all members of the congregation being invited to enter the
sacristy of the memorial and casting a red poppy into the shrine as an act of
remembrance. The poppy was the only flower on the fields of Flanders after the
fighting in the First World War and is used in this symbolic way at all services
of remembrance. From there the Congregation proceeded down the stairs for a short
reception where a portion of the shrine has been dedicated as a museum to the
U.S.S. FRANK E. EVANS and those crewmen lost.
2004 - Long Beach Navy Memorial In Place
Saturday July 10, 2004-As
the
American
flag
unfurled
beneath
the
outstretched wings of the
eagle perched atop the 61foot flagpole shaped like a
ship's mast, which once
stood in front of the now
demolished Long Beach Naval
Hospital, the gentle breeze
blowing off the Pacific
Ocean
sent
it
flapping
toward downtown. For the hundreds of people who attended the
dedication of the Long Beach Navy Memorial at Pierpoint
Landing on Saturday morning, the symbolism was hard to
miss."It's this ocean that carried so many brave and noble sailors to Long
Beach,” said Assembly woman Jenny Oropeza, gesturing to the calm waters
stretching
to
the
horizon. "We in Long
Beach owe much to the
heritage of the Navy,
which did so much to
shape the character
of our city.” For
many of the people in
the audience, that
story was a personal
one.
Conservative
Congressman
Dana
Rohrbacher, choked up while sharing the story of
his unlikely friendship with Ken Frye, a "peacenik” during their days at Harbor
Junior College who was later killed along with 73 other sailors when USS FRANK
E. EVANS (DD 754) collided with an Australian aircraft carrier on June 3, 1969.
After the dedication, Rohrbacher knelt beside the granite tablet inscribed with
the names of the 74 sailors who died that fateful day, and pointed to his
friend's name. "Let's see, there he is Henry Kenneth Frye,” Rohrbacher said
quietly. “He joined the Navy because he felt it was the right thing to do.”
Bob Winston RAN
74 Heroes
2006 - Independence, Missouri
Families Find Closure
Monday, September 25, 2006
What families call a missing panel to
the Vietnam Memorial was dedicated
Friday at Mount Washington Forever
Cemetery. The 74 names listed are those
of sailors who died during a naval
training exercise aboard U.S.S. FRANK E.
EVANS (DD 754).
On 3 June 1969,FRANK E. EVANS was pulled
from combat to train with MELBOURNE, an
Australian aircraft carrier. The ships
collided, and EVANS sank in
four
minutes. The names of those who died
aboard EVANS have been left off the
Vietnam memorial in Washington, D.C.
because they were not in combat at the
time.
CEO of Mount Washington Forever in
Independence, Missouri, Randy Murray
opened a tearful ceremony. Murray said
that the panel was 37 years in the
making. "This really is a story, an
amazing story, but one of injustice,"
Murray said. "We believe these men were
the Vietnam Memorial's missing panel."
The only body recovered was that of
Kenneth Glines of Independence. He was
entombed at Mount Washington. For this
reason, Mount Washington was chosen for
a reunion. In addition to the 200 U.S.S.
FRANK E. EVANS crew members, other
veterans from World War II, Korea, and
Vietnam were present.
In the audience were two mothers of the
lost, Mrs. Fran Kerr and Mrs. Eunice
Sage. Mrs. Kerr lost her son James, and
Mrs. Sage lost three sons abroad FRANK
E. EVANS, Gary, Gregory and Kelly Jo.
Along with other surviving members, the
mothers were honored with applause.
The ceremony concluded with a rifle
salute and "Taps" playing as the panel
was unveiled. It will continue to be
displayed at Mount Washington Forever
Cemetery.
2007 - Higginsville, Missouri
About 120 people were present for the
dedication of U.S.S. FRANK E. EVANS
(DD 754)monument at the Missouri
Veteran’s Cemetery in Higginsville.
The monument was dedicated to the four
sailors from Missouri who died in
service to their country on 3 June
1969 while on board U.S.S. FRANK E.
EVANS (DD 754). The men were ETR3
James W. Davis of Springfield, SA
Kenneth W. Glines of Independence, SA
Steven A. Guyer of St. Joseph, and RM2
Ray P. Lebrun of St. Louis. ETR3
Davis’ sisters Neldean Munsey and
Claria
Lafferty
attended
the
dedication which culminated with a 21
Gun Salute by American Legion Post 223, Higginsville, Missouri.
MEMORIAL DAY EVENTS
Shipmates participate in local Memorial Day events to commemorate those who
served aboard U.S.S. FRANK E. EVANS (DD 754).
MEMORIALS BY OTHERS
NORTH LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA
This plaque is located on a flag pole in Houghton Park, North Long Beach,
California along with another memorial listing other men from Long Beach that
lost their lives in the Vietnam War. The city of Long Beach was shown as their
home address at the time of the collision. Larry Reilly was originally from
Syracuse, NY. His father Chief Reilly confirmed that several years ago.
PHILADELPHIA VIETNAM VETERAN’S MEMORIAL (SN Patrick M. Corcoran)
On the weekend of October 22-26, 1987, a
memorial was completed in Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania. The Philadelphia Vietnam
Veterans
Memorial
stands
at
Penn's
Landing, near the Liberty Bell and
Independence Hall, two of the most famous
Philadelphia landmarks. Philadelphia is
the largest city in the state of
Pennsylvania,
whose
state
motto
is
"Virtue, Liberty, and Independence".
Furthermore,
the
Liberty
Bell
and
Independence Hall are two of the greatest
reminders of the freedom we all enjoy.
The
Philadelphia
Vietnam
Veterans'
Memorial is a tribute to the six hundred
and forty-three men from Philadelphia
that gave their lives for the sake of freedom during the Vietnam War. The
Memorial recognizes the names of the men that fought in the longest war in our
Nation's history.
Although the memorial is a fitting tribute, it was not complete that day.
Something was missing. There were thirteen names omitted from the Memorial.
Although the thirteen men were born and raised in Philadelphia, officials left
their names off the Memorial because their families had moved away from the
Philadelphia area. However, on the tenth anniversary of the completion of the
Philadelphia Vietnam Veterans Memorial, officials added the names of the thirteen
men. Now they join their brothers on the Memorial, finally given the recognition
they so rightly deserve.
The thirteen names added this past October are:
Richard Bariglio, SFC Army, Sept. 26,
1932 - November 10, 1969
* Patrick M. Corcoran, Seaman Navy,
Date of Birth: unknown Killed: June
3, 1969
Patrick T. De Marco, PFC Army, March
2, 1948 - January 13, 1969
Richard J. Flagiello, PFC Army, June
29, 1949 - May 12, 1969
Stephen B. Kirschner, PVT Marine
Corps, June 22, 1947 - January 8,
1968
Joseph
E.
Lauer,
1948-May 31, 1968
December
19,
Thomas C. Mann, SGT Army Selective
Service, October 12, 1948 - January
11, 1969
Frank J. Mastromatteo, LCPL Marine
Corps, February 3, 1949 - April 8,
1968
Francis G. Patton, PFC Army Selective
Service, December 6, 1945 - May 13,
1969
Henry N. Rockower, PFC Army Selective
Service, April 27, 1946 - April 2,
1970
Charles E. Smith, PSG Army Regular,
January 3, 1921 - January 15, 1967
Guido Silvestro Reali, Jr., April 26,
1943 - February 7,1968
David H. Cooper III, 2LT Marine Corps
Regular, June 22, 1941 - March 25,
1967
BEVERLY NATIONAL CEMETERY - BEVERLY, NEW JERSEY
SN PATRICK MICHAEL CORCORAN
Section MA-Site 33
CITY OF BURBANK, CALIFORNIA VIETNAM VETERANS (SA James W. Kerr)
30 May 1997 - Veterans Memorial Glendale,
California
Jim’s sister Gerry Kerr
Hemphill
ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY
Section East-Site 4888
Arlington National
Cemetery
GOLDEN GATE NATIONAL CEMETERY - SAN BRUNO, CALIFORNIA
SA JOE EDDIE CRAIG
Section MA-Site 103
ENS GREGORY KOICHI OGAWA
Section MA-Site 111
GMG3 STEVEN FRANK ESPINOSA
Section MA-Site 112
SN DANNY VICTOR CLUTE
Section MA-Site 113
UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY - NAVY & MARINE CORPS MEMORIAL STADIUM
Upgraded Seats Section
LTJG DWIGHT SCOTT PATTEE
FT. ROSECRANS NATIONAL CEMETERY - SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA
SA DEVERE RAY GRISSOM JR.
Section MA-Site 106
ATHENS CITY CEMETERY - ATHENS, ALABAMA
RD3 THOMAS BELUE BOX
BOWMAN WAR MEMORIAL - BOWMAN, SOUTH CAROLINA
SA HENRY DENNIS WEST III
LONE MOUNTAIN CHAPEL, GALLATIN CANYON - BIG SKY, MONTANA
SN MICHAEL KALE CLAWSON
MEMORIAL PARK CEMETERY, PERRY TOWNSHIP, ALLEN COUNTY - LIMA, OHIO
STG3 LARRY ALLAN GRACELY
SPRING RUN BRETHREN CEMETERY - MCVEYTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA
SA DONALD EUGENE GEARHART
“Lest We Forget!”