Families Fight for USS Frank E. Evans Sailors Left Off Vietnam Memorial

The USS Frank E. Evans sank in June 1969, marking one of the most tragic incidents in Navy history during the Vietnam War. Despite the loss of 74 sailors that fateful night, their names remain absent from the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

An Australian aircraft carrier collided with a destroyer during a multinational exercise in the South China Sea, resulting in the vessel splitting in half. In a rapid turn of events, the forward section, which housed the majority of the crew, submerged in less than ten minutes. Survivors recount the turmoil and frantic attempts to flee as water inundated the vessel.

In a surprising decision, the Pentagon has determined that the recent accident involving the ship, known for its significant combat history in Vietnam and its support of Marine and Army units through the firing of thousands of rounds, took place outside the officially designated war zone. The names of those who were lost have been omitted from The Wall.

The Navy reported that the ship was engaged in Operation Sea Spirit, an exercise that is not directly associated with the Vietnam conflict. Officials subsequently highlighted the presence of 16 new sailors on board, who had not yet been deployed to the combat zone, as additional justification for their actions.

Families and former crew members, including survivor Steve Kraus, who currently leads the USS Frank E. Evans Association, are actively advocating for recognition. “We all believed we were part of the Vietnam War,” remarked a survivor. “Why wouldn’t they be on The Wall?”

The Department of Defense has consistently rejected appeals, notwithstanding the ship's extensive five-year combat service in Vietnam and the significant sacrifices made by its crew.

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