USS FRANK E. EVANS (DD 754) Association, INC.
Newsletter 57
2nd Quarter
2015
www.ussfee.org
Foot Locker Talk - Newsletter
PLEASE - SEND YOUR NEWS! fjab333@earthlink.net
johnjudyc@gmail.com
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Ahoy Shipmates, Family & Friends,
2015 Reunion
You are cordially invited to the 23rd reunion of the USS Frank E. Evans (DD 754) Association in the
city that started Mardi Gras, Mobile, Alabama. This year’s reunion will be held at the Holiday Inn
Downtown Historic Mobile, Alabama on September 23 – 27, 2015. The cutoff date for our blocked room
reservations at the $ 99.00 rate is August 24th, 2015. Breakfast is not included.
However, the
hotel is offering a full hot breakfast buffet at $7.00 per person, truly a bargain. We will begin
the reunion on Wednesday with a Casino / Pub Crawl. On Thursday we are offering two tours. Friday
we will visit the USS Alabama Memorial Park, tour USS ALABAMA (BB 60), enjoy a lunch and conduct or
memorial ceremony onboard the ship, which will be very similar to our visit to USS TURNER JOY (DD
951), but without the long walk. The reunion package should be in your hands shortly, if you haven’t
already received it.
Addition of Our “Lost 74” Names to the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial
You may be wondering what progress has been made in getting the Department of Defense to add the
“Lost 74" names to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall. Congressman Schiff reports he is still
attempting to set up a meeting with the new Secretary of Defense, Ashton Carter. Meanwhile, he is
not resting on this issue. He will introduce an amendment to the Rule Committee Print for H.R. 1735
during the week of May 18, 2015. This amendment, on page 528 of the Act, is significantly different
then the last amendment in that it requires the addition of the names to take place within 30 days
of enactment of the Act. Our current fight will be to ensure that this amendment gets floor
consideration. The Congressional Representatives are Congressman Peter Anderson “Pete” Sessions
(R-32nd District, Texas) Chairman of the House Rules Committee, and Congressman William McClellan
“Mac” Thornberry (R-13th District, Texas) Chairman of the Armed Service Committee. We will be
reaching out to our members from Texas to make contact with these representatives.
Once the bill passes the Rules Committee and is ready for Congressional vote, we will ask all our
members to contact their representatives to implore them to support having the names of our “Lost
74” added to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.
California Vietnam Veterans Memorial & Niobrara, Nebraska Memorial
In closing I want to thank everyone for their generous donations to the California Vietnam Veterans
Memorial in Sacramento. The dedication ceremony is described in an article of this newsletter. Also,
please read what the City of Niobrara is doing to recognize our “Lost 74.” The city needs our
support and we hope you will make a donation for this very important project.
Steve Kraus
Vice President, USS Frank E. Evans Association
1
MEMORIAL HEADSTONES AND DESCRIPTIONS
To date, no new FEE Memorial Stones have been set. Thanks to Judy (Cool) Akers; and Sharon Brady and
Peggy Rocchio some fine people from Find A Grave, two new headstones have been identified and
photographed: James R. Baker & Larry W. Cool; 26 remain MIA including Armstrong, known to exist but
the family has not produced the photo; 13 remain without contact. Here is the information about
those remembered in this newsletter. Thank you all who have cooperated or helped us in anyway, shape
or form.
James R. Baker - St. John Cemetery
Colliers, WV
Michael K. Clawson - Lone Mtn. Chapel,
Gallatin Canyon, MT
IN THE PRESENCE OF HEROES...a book by Mike Smith
This is a story about Mike and Johnnie
Smith, father and son, and how Mike
dealt with the memories of losing 74 of
his shipmates at sea, and how his
stories helped bring about Johnnie's
epiphany, and
ultimate enlistment in
the U.S. Navy. Ironically, Johnnie
relives his father's tragedy aboard his
own ship, an attack by terrorists, when
17 of his shipmates were killed....Two
men, Mike and Johnnie Smith in two
ships from two different eras... USS
FRANK E. EVANS and USS COLE...
U.S. Navy veteran Mike Smith offers a
glimpse of the spiritualism, adventure,
and Navy traditions of the ageless
brotherhood
of
Sailors
in
his
fascinating
memoir,
In
the
Presence
of
Danny V. Clute
Heroes.
Smith,
the
ship’s
postal
clerk,
Golden Gate Nat’l Cemetery
provides a vivid portrait of daily life
San Bruno, CA
and the tragic events aboard USS FRANK
E. EVANS during the Vietnam War, as
well as detailing his own son’s experience decades later aboard USS COLE.
When an Australian carrier rips into the side of USS FRANK E. EVANS, only its stern section remains,
and Smith loses seventy-four of his comrades in just minutes. Years later, Smith’s son Johnnie is
aboard USS COLE in Yemen for routine fueling when suicide bombers blow a hole in the ship’s hull,
killing 17 sailors and injuring 37 others. The story of USS FRANK E. EVANS and USS COLE are
testaments to the ingenuity and fighting spirit that has defined our Navy for 239 years. It is also
a story of incredible valor, personal fortitude and the power of sheer will. These parallel
incidents, witnessed and survived by this remarkable father-and-son team, highlight the camaraderie,
sacrifice, and heroism of U.S. Navy fighters. With many stories already lost to time, death, and a
reluctance to relive the past, In the Presence of Heroes comes just in time...
IN THE PRESENCE OF HEROES - Get it at WWW.Amazon.com
2
NIOBRARA TRIBUNE, NIOBRARA, NE (Excerpts)
5 Mar 2015, by Valorie Zach
In 1982, Linda Vaa, wife of Greg Sage, traveled to Washington, D.C. to see the newly dedicated
Vietnam War Memorial. Greg, Gary and Kelly Sages’ names weren’t there, and neither were the names
of their 71 lost shipmates. Vaa, now remarried, wrote to officials in Washington, DC to complain
that the names weren’t on the wall. Officials responded that the names weren’t there because,
according to the Department of Defense, only servicemen killed within the Combat Zone qualify.
In 1999, 16 survivors of the collision came to Niobrara when the Sage Brothers’ Memorial was
rededicated after having been moved from the football field to its present location along Highway
12, near Niobrara’s main street. Former U. S. Senator Chuck Hagel (NE) was the guest speaker.
For many years, it has been a wish of the people of Niobrara, to have the names of the Sage Brothers
and the other 71 lost sailors, placed on the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington, DC. When Ron Green,
a friend and schoolmate of the Sage Brothers, and a U.S. Marine sergeant and platoon leader in
Vietnam, heard about this he lead the charge in an effort to get the names of the lost Evans’crew
members added to the wall. Other soldiers killed outside the Combat Zone were listed on the memorial,
Green said. The wall includes the names of soldiers killed in accidents, pilots killed while flying
mail to Vietnam and servicemen killed while serving in South Korea in the Vietnam era, he said. Those
soldiers were listed because they were attached to combat units, Green maintained. “They never got
as close to Vietnam as the Sage boys,” he said. He contacted about 40 members of Congress, state and
federal officials and veterans groups.
J.J. Exon,and Bob Kerry, who both served as governors and U.S. Senators for Nebraska, said they would
help. Chuck Hagel, Secretary of Defense until February 2015, said he would help. The Nebraska
Legislature passed a bill supporting the names on the wall, by Senator Elroy Hefner and a senator
from Tecumseh. And many, many efforts have been made by the U.S.S. Frank E. Evans Association. Loise
Esola, a writer from Temecula, California quit her newspaper reporter job to write a book about the
Lost 74, in an effort to get their names on the wall.....But the names still aren’t on the wall!
So Niobrarans are taking matters into their own hands. They plan to erect a version of the Vietnam
Memorial Wall, right here in Niobrara, to honor the 74 sailors of the U.S.S. Frank E. Evans, who made
the ultimate sacrifice for us and the U.S. during the time of the Vietnam War. Jim Scott, commander
of the local American Legion Post, said the idea for the memorial came from the Niobrara Promoters,
who, about two months ago, asked him to help.
“We thought this would be something we could do,” expressed Marilyn Janovec, a member of the Niobrara
Promoters. “Even though we don’t have a dollar amount yet, we’re starting a fund.” A representative
of the Plainview Monument Company of Plainview, NE, has been asked for a cost estimate. “We’re
talking about getting black granite to match up with the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C.”
Scott said. Scott researched and has obtained the names of all 74 sailors. “We’re probably going to
need two stones,” he estimates. “We want to put the stones, on each side of the Sage Brothers’
Memorial Marker,” he said. “We’ll split up the names and put half on each of the stones.”
Former Niobrara art teacher, Marilyn Janovec, also a member of the Niobrara Promoters, drew the
design for the memorial. Plainview Monument
representative, Dale Powers, came to get facts
for the cost estimate. Plans are to have the
memorial done by Veteran’s Day in November 2015,
and possibly dedicated at that time. “This way,
we will have the names on the wall. We thought
for sure that with Hagel, we’d get the names in
Washington, D.C. He sure talked a good talk when
he was here in 1999,” Scott said.
A special account is being set up. Send donations
“For the Lost 74”
Jim Scott
28 Cherry Street
PO Box 97
Niobrara, NE 68760
to:
Niobrara Promoters
PO Box 98
Niobrara, NE 68760
THIS IS THE ARTIST’S RENDERING
3
BT3 WILLIAM D. “BILL” RANKIN
11 Mar 2015
William D. “Bill” Rankin, was born 9 Nov 1932, in Willard, Kansas, the son of Calvin SR. and Mildred
(Caldwell) Rankin. He grew up and attended school in Dwight, Kansas. Bill served in the Navy for
four years during the Korean War, serving aboard the destroyer USS FRANK E. EVANS (DD 754).
On 28 May 1960, Bill was united in marriage to Estella Streit in Tipton Kansas. He worked as a sheet
metal mechanic for thirty plus years by trade, and was a professional handyman, building and
remodeling numerous homes in and around Dickinson County. He was a member of the Abilene Elks Lodge,
St. Andrews Catholic Church, and the Frank E. Evans Association.
On 11 Mar 2015, a Wednesday, after a tragic farming accident, Bill Rankin passed away at Via Christi
Hospital in Wichita. He was 82 years old.
Bill is survived by his loving wife Estella, daughter Karlene, sons Larry and Mark, nine
grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, a son, and two
brothers, including Calvin JR.A Mass of Christian Burial was held at St. Andrew’s Catholic Church
on 14 March 2015, with burial at Mt. St. Joseph Cemetery, Abilene, Kansas.
BT3 JACK T. VAN PELT
23 Mar 2015
It is our sad duty to report that our long time Association member
and USS FRANK E EVANS (DD 754) Plank Owner, Jack Theodore Van Pelt
passed away Monday, 23 March 2015. After attending the 2014
reunion in Seattle, WA, his health began to decline... first a
broken hip and surgery, then, for some reason, the hip broke
again.
He continued to decline and just asked to be sent home
where he could be comfortable and with his family.
Here are excerpts from his obituary which appeared in the York
Daily Record...Dallastown, PA: Jack T. Van Pelt, 88, died at his
residence surrounded by his loving family. He was the husband of
the late Grace M. (Fuhrman) Van Pelt. Jack was born in
Philadelphia on June 16, 1926, the son of the late Robert and
Grace Sweeney. He was very proud of his service in the U.S. Navy
during World War II and the Korean War. He was especially proud of
having served aboard the destroyer USS Frank E. Evans (DD 754).
Jack was a sales associate and terminal manager in the
trucking industry for 61 years. Over the 61 years, he was
employed at the following trucking firms: Motor Cargo,
Consolidated Freightways, Goodway Transport, Ryder-PIE and
Landis Freight.
He was a member of Advent Lutheran
Church, Stewartstown VFW Post 7046, Red Lion American
Legion Post 543, Victory Athletic Association, and the USS
Frank E. Evans Association. Jack was the president of the
Traffic Club three times and served as a Little League
coach. He graduated from William Penn Senior High School
in 1948.
Jack,
a
loving
husband,
father,
grandfather,
and
great-grandfather
enjoyed
traveling
and
especially
spending holidays with his family. Jack is survived by son
Jay, daughter Cheryl, nine grandchildren, and five-great
grandchildren. He was preceded in death by daughter
Marcia. A funeral service was held March 28, 2015 at
Advent
Lutheran
Church,
followed
by
entombment
in
Susquehanna Memorial Gardens with military honors provided
by the York County Veterans Honor Guard.
RIP...LEST WE FORGET...
JOHN COFFEY FOR THE USS FRANK E. EVANS (DD 754) ASSOCIATION
4
CORRECTIONS
to 1 st Quarter 2015
GREETINGS FROM CEDAR FALLS, IOWA
should have been from BAXTER, MINNESOTA, it’s
the Brainerd/Baxter Library, and the contributor should have been Larry Cuzzupe, not Larry Webb. Both
Larry’s have been regular contributors, so it was easy for me to have made this mistake, for which
I truly apologize. In any event, it’s always great news when we hear that our story is getting out
there. One day, perhaps, just maybe....please keep getting the word out, and send your news to:
fjab333@earthlink.net.
Isn’t it amazing how much can be accomplished if nobody cares who gets the credit??? Thanks again
to our two Larry’s....we really appreciate all you do and have done for the Association.
Frank Jablonski
REMEMBERING CALIFORNIA HEROES
29 March 2015
By Steve Kraus
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Committee was created when Governor Edmond Brown Jr. signed Assembly
Bill 287 into law on September 6, 2013. The committee was tasked with compiling a list of Vietnam
Veterans from California to be added to the California Vietnam Veterans Memorial. In addition, the
committee was tasked with including the names of California Veterans who later died as a result of
illness or injury, including physical or mental injuries documented by the Department of Defense,
the Department of Veterans Affairs, or licensed medical professionals who can be reasonably assumed
their patient’s death resulted from military service in the Vietnam War. Each list was due to be
completed no later than November 2014.
The 22 Evans sailors from California begin about halfway down starting with Andrew
Botto. The person to the left in the reflection is F.E.E. Chaplain Al Collins. Pete
Peters is on the right. Courtesy, in the center, Terry Vejr.
When the Association heard of this we started taking action meeting with the committee to tell them
the story of our “Lost 74.” We told them we believed they belonged on the Vietnam Memorial Wall in
Washington D.C. and that 22 of the lost were from California. In October 2014, we presented our
final case for inclusion on the California Vietnam Veterans memorial and the committee approved the
addition to the California State Memorial.
Mr. Pete Conaty, Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army, Retired is credited with helping us with this major
achievement. Without his guidance and support we would not have been able to accomplish this
enormous task. Our association owes Pete Conaty a huge “Bravo Zulu” for a job well done. Our
celebration began on Saturday evening. Rich and Wendy Burke arranged an evening buffet dinner on the
5
patio of Vallejo’s Restaurant, just a short walk from the California Vietnam Veterans Memorial and
the Sacramento Capitol steps. We were excited to have about 50 attendees including some of the
committee members who had approved the addition of our 22 sailors to the memorial.
In all, 74 Navy servicemen died that day, including Jim Reilly's brother, Lawrence. "We think this
is a significant step in the right direction with California recognizing that these men deserve to
be on the Vietnam Memorial," said Jim Reilly.
Sunday, March 29, 2015 was a brilliant spring day in the City of Sacramento. The soulful sound of
bagpipes resonated for a somber tribute to 32 Californians who lost their lives during the Vietnam
War. Over 100 association members, relatives of the lost, families and friends gathered together to
dedicate the 22 name additions to the California Vietnam Veterans Memorial. The news media from two
local stations stayed for the entire day and took the time to meet with survivors and relatives of
the lost. Both stations were ABC and CBS affiliates so our press coverage was broadcast throughout
the United States. The ceremony lasted about two hours. The program included military honors,
several guest speakers, songs by Misty Peterson, and benediction by our very own USS Frank E. Evans
Chaplin, Al Collins. All in all it could not have been a better day! Our special thanks goes out to
Rich Burke for his drive and dedication in being the liaison from our association to the committee;
“Bravo Zulu” to Rich.
WELCOME HOME WILLIE LEE KING
Thomaston Times (Georgia) April 18, 2015
The American Veterans Traveling
Tribute Vietnam Memorial Wall was
in Upson County, Georgia this past
weekend giving citizens from the
community and surrounding counties
the
opportunity
to
honor
and
remember
those
who
paid
the
ultimate
sacrifice
during
the
Vietnam War. On Saturday, a group
of local veterans, many of whom
served during Vietnam, were at the
wall to help people locate the
names of their loved ones and to
pay
respect
to
their
fallen
comrades.
Victor Calle, a Vietnam Veteran who
served in the United States Army,
stated he had seen the memorial
wall in Washington, D.C., but this
wall held more meaning to him
because he was able to visit it in
the community he calls home. Calle
was also one of the volunteers who
helped to assemble the wall and said doing so allowed him to feel a greater connection to all of his
fallen comrades who he served with.
“The boots and the helmet (placed in the center of the display) are my favorite spot in all of this.
It is just so beautiful to me and it brings back so many memories from the time I served,” said
Calle. “I am very proud that we were able to have this here in Thomaston.” Thanks to Timarie Dawson
TWO SURVIVORS REUNITE
April 2015
Terry Vejr received a phone call from Sydney (Robert) Baughman in early April 2015. Robert had moved
back to Oregon after living in Montana for a few years. Terry met Robert at his home in Tillamook.
They spent over three hours telling sea stories and otherwise catching up. They put together a few
more pieces of the puzzle.
Robert, one of the forward bridge lookouts, talked about the time he spent in the water after the
collision. Robert was covered in oil and could barely breathe because he swallowed so much oil and
6
saltwater. Hanging on to some debris, he briefly let go and was swept away by the current. A
helicopter held its spotlight on him and a boat picked him up. He was transported from Melbourne to
Kearsarge by helicopter and spent almost two weeks in sick bay.
Terry gave Robert a copy of American Boys
and the book about the 278 Men. They
looked for their 1st Division mates, the
ones Robert wanted to see. When Dick
Messier’s photo came up, Robert said "Oh,
Messier, my bowling buddy... I lost a lot
of money to him." When Robert was looking
at
Thibeault's
information
Terry
remembered
he
had
Bill's song, Where's
The
Glory
on
his
phone. Robert's wife
and
brother
were
there
to
listen
too..they loved it!
Then to Bob Petty...
Robert said he had a
picture
of
Terry,
Robert and Bob Petty
at the China Sea EM
Club, probably taken
in late June 1969.
They all stayed in
Subic Bay the entire month of June waiting to testify at the hearing. Robert’s
sister still has a box of letters and some pictures Robert sent home in 19681969...maybe we’ll get to see them at a later time?
Terry keeps in touch with Tom Vargo; they called him so Robert and Tom could
talk...the first time since June 1969.
Robert had a rough time after the accident including a few small strokes in the
past three years, but doesn't have any permanent damage. We were friends then
and still are...Sydney Robert Baughman and Terry Vejr...Lest We Forget!
A souvenir and memory from the past - This ash tray belongs to
Robert. On the bottom is printed, “Huzan China..Yokohama, Japan.”
THE PUSH FOR EQUALITY
“The sacrifice & fight for respect of the 74 U.S. Sailors of
Vietnam”
by Travis Reiter
...I, Travis Reiter, am 16 years old and from South Kitsap High
School, Port Orchard, Washington. I
wrote this because YN1
Michael L. Reiter, my grandpa, opened up to me a little more than
he did anyone else. He told me stories that ended in tears, and
spontaneous pauses of silence. I could see his pain, and see him
reliving the morning of the collision as if it happened that day.
My grandpa helped the Association and he died before the 74 got memorialized. My grandpa had the
biggest impact on my life, and I owe it to him to pick up where he left off...
...Off the coast of Vietnam a group of ships were aiding the war effort in the South China Sea. In
the early hours of June 3rd 1969, the destroyer (DD-754) USS Frank E. Evans, and the carrier HMAS
Melbourne participated in manoeuvres. In preparation for the carrier to launch her Grumman S-2
aircraft, Stevenson, captain of the Melbourne, ordered Evans to the “Plane Guard” position. Evans
7
was off the port bow of Melbourne and proceeded to turn starboard directly in front of the carrier.
A radio message warned Evans of the collision course that they were now on. The ships sailed closer
and collision was inevitable. Both ships tried to maneuver out of the way, but it was too late.
Melbourne cut Evans in two and sailors desperately abandoned their now sinking ship. The carrier
immediately launched its boats, buoys and helicopters to save the sailors. Evans’ bow sunk in just
minutes while the aft stayed afloat.
How this relates to me is, my grandpa happened to be one of the lucky few that survived, and lived
to tell the story. My grandpa was my best friend. He told me anything I asked. We bonded through his
stories of life and war. He inspired me and was the strongest person I knew. He died when I was too
young to understand the significance of those stories. I wasn’t able to grasp the severity of the
events he lived, and how severely they agonized him. I do, however, remember making a promise to
myself and to him, that I will tell his story. In his passing he left me all his war plaques,
awards, medals and even his own collection of documents and newspapers he put together in a binder.
Five years after his death I still read that binder, and learn more each time I open it, and I learn
more that I didn’t know about my grandpa. The purpose of the binder was because he relived the
events of that morning every waking hour and in every nightmare. He kept that binder as a way to
“ease” his suffering. That binder is the reason I am writing this today and dedicating my time to
achieve what my grandpa couldn’t in life, getting the lost 74 sailors on the Vietnam memorial wall.
Injustice
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by
their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit
of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their
just powers from the consent of the governed.” U. S. Declaration of Independence – Benjamin Franklin
“Article I. All men are born free and equal, and have certain natural, essential, and unalienable
rights; among which may be reckoned the right of enjoying and defending their lives and liberties;
that of acquiring, possessing, and protecting property; in fine, that of seeking and obtaining their
safety and happiness” Massachusetts Constitution – John Adams
The first sentence of the Declaration of Independence, “All men are created equal…” is the sentence
that the United States was founded upon. With that sentence, we became independent from England to
become the great nation we are today. Does that sentence hold its meaning past life itself? Are all
men equal in life and not death? That’s what it seems when the 74 U.S Sailors of the U.S.S Frank E
Evans were denied their right to be memorialized with the rest of their brothers on the Vietnam
Memorial Wall. These veterans are still fighting to this day to get the respect they deserve.
When tragedy struck, these sailors were in the South China Sea aiding the war effort in Vietnam,
occasionally taking part by firing their artillery into
the combat zone. When Evans was split, they were off the
gun line with the rest of the group manoeuvring with
Melbourne. When the ship was cut in two, men were racing
to get off the ship. Suddenly awoken by the event, many
were frightened.
My grandpa rushed up the decks from berthing, and held
a hatch open along with another sailor allowing the
sailors to escape while water gushed through the hatch
and into the bowels of the ship. As more and more water
filled the ship, the heavier the hatch became. Soon my
grandpa had to let go, otherwise he too would perish with
the Evans. The sailor next in line, the one that my
grandpa had to close the hatch on, my grandpa was
supposed to be best man at his wedding. Through all of
this, the only thing my grandpa could think about was
getting home to see my grandma and his daughter along
with my dad who was 6 months old at the time. He was
8
rescued and brought aboard Melbourne... My grandma thought he was dead. It wasn’t until a few days
later that she received a letter from my grandpa saying he was ok. He lived to see his family and
me too!
My grandpa was ranked Yeoman first class at the time and by the end of his 30 year naval career he
obtained the rank of Lieutenant Commander. If this event clung to my grandpa and tortured him
throughout his career and for the rest of his life, I can’t imagine what the other survivors and
even the families of the deceased have had to go through. These men didn’t have to give their lives
for their country but they risked so willingly. Since each man is entitled the right to live, and
defend their lives, is that not what these men were doing? Aiding the war effort in cleansing
Vietnam of communist influence, saving the lives of Vietnamese citizens, they were fulfilling the
right our creator bestowed upon them. The right that we as a nation stated all men share. “That of
acquiring, possessing and protecting property...” the sailors along with the rest of our military
in Vietnam were protecting the country. If we didn’t intervene there is no saying what could have
happened in future history.
Because the 74 sailors didn’t die in combat and were away from the conflict at the time of the
collision, they are considered unequal to the men that died during combat. The 74 sailors helped the
war effort just as much as the next soldier, the only thing separating them from each other was
branch of military. The cruel fact that they are denied equality on the wall memorializing what they
died for is unjust. It is something that to this day these veterans continue to fight to get their
fallen the same respect as the other men who gave their lives for the war effort.
Theodore Roosevelt once said “A man who is good enough to shed blood for his country is good enough
to be given a square deal afterwards.” The 74 sailors were starved of this square deal, and are
deprived of their right to be recognized for their service. It is not only morally right to these
sailors, but it’s morally right to our country to uphold what we promised so long ago. Instead of
alienating these men from their contribution to Vietnam, we need to shift our gaze from the
technicalities and focus on the sacrifice of these men and grant them what they deserve.
HISTORIC NEWSPAPER ARTICLES
Thanks to Terry Vejr
9
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS
Welcome and warm wishes to all new members. Interested in joining? Contact Donna Kraus at krausdf@cox.net or
760-941-8184, or go to our website www.ussfee.org We have 260 members.
NAME
RANK
RELATIONSHIP
SERVED
CITY
STATE
Adams, James
None
Friend Gary Kraus
NA
Oroville
CA
Bauman, Dorothy
None
Nephew Bill Campbell
NA
Staples
MN
Camagna, Andrew
None
Nephew Andrew Botto
NA
Hughson
CA
Carver, David
None
Son Russell Carver
NA
Marion
IA
Carver, Don
None
Son Russell Carver
NA
Cedar Rapids
IA
Carver, Duane
None
Son Russell Carver
NA
Fairfax
IA
Cherry, Sean
None
Nephew Federick Messier
NA
Coeur d'Alene
ID
Goff, Marisa
AO3
Niece Steve Kraus
06-10
Oceanside
CA
Haugen, Georgianna
None
Widow Jerry Haygen
NA
Cody
WY
Kraus, Jess F.
None
Nephew Steve Kraus
NA
Carlsbad
CA
Kraus, Kyle
None
Nephew Steve Kraus
NA
St. Louis
MO
Kraus, Timothy J.
None
Nephew Steve Kraus
NA
Vista
CA
Krieger, Billie
None
Granddaughter Charles Wright
NA
Las Vegas
NV
Krizan, Daniel P.
GMSN
Shipmate
68-69 (S)
Mansfield
OH
McAbbe, Lewis
None
Served with Earl Preston
67-69
Lutz
FL
Moore, Jennifer
None
Niece Steve Kraus
NA
Oceanside
CA
Nichols, Erica
None
Granddaughter Nick Nichols
NA
Dallas
TX
Reilly, Larisa
None
Niece Lawrence Reilly Jr.
NA
Novato
CA
Slaughter, Randy
DK3
USS Kearsarge (CVS 33)
68-69
Glendale
CA
Tessier, Donald
None
Friend Gary Kraus
NA
San Diego
CA
IN MEMORIAM
NAME
RANK
SERVED
CITY & STATE
DECEASED
SALITO, “Buster” Sebastian
SN
56-58
Metairie, LA
2/26/2015
RANKIN, William “Bill” D.
BT3
53-56
Witchita, KS
3/11/2015
VAN PELT, Jack T.
BT3
44-46 (Plank Owner) Dallastown, PA
3/23/2015
IN MEMORIAM RELATIVES
NAME
RELATIONSHIP
CITY & STATE
DECEASED
COOKE, Joan Cicily
Mother-Richard Cooke (RAN)
Murray Bridge, S. Aust
4/21/2015
Again I have the sad duty to report the loss of our Aussie friend and association member, Richard
Cooke’s mother, Joan Cicily Cooke. She was born 13 April 1919, in Birmingham, England, and passed
away 21 April 2015, in Murray Bridge, South Australia, at the young age of 96. She was married to
Philip Cooke, who is deceased. John Coffey.
“Me Mum passed away peacefully at 0215 South Australian time after a
short illness. I am grateful for being able to spend the last moments
of her life with her and was able to hold her hand and stroke her hair
as she passed. Over the past week, as she lay in her hospital bed, Mum
did a good job of making things a lot easier for us. She told us that
she was happy about things and this is a happy ending for her. She made
us laugh and she made us cry. She told us she had wanted to kill us all
at some stage or another. The last few days were really tough as she
lost consciousness and struggled to breathe. It was sad and very
emotional to see her like that. We had to keep reminding ourselves of
what Mum had said to us about it being her happy ending. Mum leaves
behind six children; five girls and one awesome boy (That would be Me),”
Richard Cooke RAN
Bless you all my USS Frank E. Evans Family. I love you. Thank you!
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REUNION — 2015 — MOBILE, ALABAMA
SEPTEMBER 23 THROUGH 27
Holiday Inn Downtown Historic, Mobile, Alabama
$99.00 (+ taxes) Cutoff
date
24 Aug 2015
301 Government St., Mobile, Alabama
Reservations: Direct - 251-694-0100
Central Reservations - at 888-465-4329
Internet providers
WILL NOT
GIVE US CREDIT for our quota
of blocked rooms.
COMPLIMENTARY AIRPORT SHUTTLE and/or SELF-PARKING
TOURS: Casino/Pub Crawl - Delta Safari/ Five Rivers Castle/Candy Kitchen/Fairhope - USS ALABAMA Memorial Park
EARLY REGISTRATION INCENTIVES (by
1 Jul 2015 )
Drawing for a free one night stay
Assigned table seating
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USS FRANK E. EVANS (DD 754) ASSOCIATION, INC.
4587 BLACKWELL RD.
OCEANSIDE, CA 92056
WWW.USSFEE.ORG
FORWARDING SERVICE REQUESTED
Vietnam Veterans of
California
Capitol Park
Sacramento, California
29 March 2015
LEST WE FORGET...
OUR “LOST 74" EARNED THEIR PLACE ON THE VIETNAM MEMORIAL WALL
WWW.USSFEE.ORG
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