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.

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 applica-tion. 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.”

USS FRANK E. EVANS(DD 754) ASSOCIATION

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.

FRIENDSHIP ALLIANCE

USS FRANK E. EVANS(DD 754)

“The Gray Ghost”“The Fighter”

ENS Alan Herbert ArmstrongSN James Robert BakerYN3 Andrew James BottoRD3 Thomas Belue BoxET3 James Franklin BradleyENS Robert George BrandonSA Harris Melvin BrownBT2 William Daniel Brown II HMC Charles William Cannington RD2 Christopher John CarlsonSN Michael Kale ClawsonSN Danny Victor CluteYN3 James Richard CmeylaETN3 Larry Wayne CoolSN Patrick Michael CorcoranSA Joe Eddy CraigETR3 James Wilburn DavisSA Leon Larry DealSN James Fred Dykes IIISA Raymond Joseph EarleyGMG3 Steven Frank EspinosaSA Stephen Don FaganSA William Donald FieldsSA Alan Carl FlummerSA Henry Kenneth FryeSN Francis Joseph GarciaSTG3 Melvin Hollman Gardner Jr.SA Donald Eugene GearhartBM3 Patrick Gene GlennonSA Kenneth Wayne GlinesSA Joe Luis Gonzales STG3 Larry Allan GracelySA Devere Ray Grissom Jr.SA Steven Allen GuyerRD3 Terry Lee HendersonEMC Edward Philip HessRD2 Garry Bradbury Hodgson

SA Dennis Ralph JohnstonSA James William KerrBMC Willie Lee KingRDC George Joseph LaliberteRM2 Raymond Patrick LebrunRD1 Eugene Francis LehmanSA Isaac Lyons Jr. SA Douglas Roy MeisterSA Andrew Martin MelendrezSN Frederic Conrad MessierSA Timothy Lynn MillerENS John Townsend Norton Jr.ENS Gregory Koichi OgawaSA Michael Anthony OrlikowskiIC2 Linden Russell OrpurtLTJG Dwight Scott PatteeSA Craig Allen PennellSA Jerome PickettYN2 Earl Frederick Preston Jr.BT3 Lawrence John Reilly Jr.RD2 Victor Thomas RikallBM2 Gary Loren SageRD3 Gregory Allan SageSA Kelly Jo SageSA John Alan SauveyBTFN Robert James SearleFA Gerald Wayne SmithSN Thurston Perry Smith Jr.ST2 John Raymond SprayLTJG Jon Kenneth SteverSA Thomas Fred TallonRD2 Ronald Arthur ThibodeauRD3 Jon Wayne ThomasSA John Thomas TolarQM3 Gary Joseph VigueRD3 Con Wesley WarnockSA Henry Dennis West III

“Lost 74”

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.

VIETNAM VETERANSMEMORIAL WALL

Named in honor of Brigadier General Frank Edgar Evans, USMC.

• 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

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).

• 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.

NAMESAKE

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 altera-tions 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 shrap-nel. She completed a total of six deployments during the 1950’s. She visited many ports of interest but probably the most memo-rable 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.

HISTORY

SHIP • 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 • 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 • 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

CHARACTERISTICS

• 11 Battle Stars • 1 - World War II • 5 – Korea • 5 – Vietnam • 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

AWARDS & MEDALS

COLLISION

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.

• 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

CONSTRUCTION

29 March 1969USS FRANK E. EVANS (DD 754)Underway to WestpacLong Beach, California