I was in the engineroom aboard HMAS Parramatta, our ship was acting as plane guard for USS Kearsarge, prior to this we had been plane guard for the Melbourne. At approximately 3am the bridge called for high speed and the Captain announced on the tanoy system the USS Evans had been in a collision with Melbourne. We took up station at the scene of the accident to help where appropriate.
Pat Corcoran sat behind me in homeroom at Father Judge High School. When I enlisted in the Marines he said not me I'm going in the Navy and we joked about it with each other as you can imagine. He served his country as much as anyone who served in country during Viet Nam and they all should be recognized for their service and sacrifice as well. Semper Fi Pat
The two men responsible were the OOD and JOOD in command of the USS Frank E Evans at the time. I feel sorrow for the families of the sailors who died and can relate to them, because my own grandfather (WWII RAN) was KIA and his body was lost at sea without burial. It is a travesty of justice that her blameless crew who lost their lives doing their duty, are not given the recognition they deserve because of politics. LEST WE FORGET.
I will never forget. can still hear a voice calling out " Over Here Over here'" I spoke to 2 survivors sitting on a bench wearing the clothes they had been given ,shoes no socks or laces, I can't remember what I said. Choppers flying all around searching.
I am a first cousin of the Sage brothers who perished on that horrible day. Can things still be done to get their names as well as all the others on the wall?
Iwas aboard USS Oriskany ( CVA 34 ) on Yankee Station in S.China Sea when collision occurred. It was a horrible event, and the whole crew on the O Boat were in a bad mood for many days after. I can remember trying to find out why it happened, because I was in OI Division ( Radar ), where we had to give reccommendations to the Bridge, but nothing ever came out to us. We'll never be able to repay the debt except to be good American citizens. Hope to go where i think they are now.God Bless em all.
My father was on the Evans the night of the collision and was the Chief of the Watch. I always thought the picture that shows at the 5:38 mark was him since the picture looks like him and the injuries were consistent with those he received. But when I googled the picture it turns out to be from the Hindenburg accident. What gives?
My wife's brother died on the Frank E Evans. My wife had correspondence with our US Senator Lisa Murkowski's office and was assured by her that she was behind legislation supporting having the 74 names placed on the wall . Surprise, surprise, partisan politics and pork barrel concessions win the day. Shame on you Lisa Murkowski. ....Unfortunately, Senator Cramer’s unanimous consent request was objected to by Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), meaning the Senate did not pass this legislation. However, Senator Murkowski said she will work with the senators to find resolution on this issue. Senator Cramer concluded by vowing to continue his efforts and to never stop fighting to see the names of these sailors added to the wall where they belong.
Thanks to the internet i found out all these years later that my ship the "Everett F. Larson" was almost hit by this carrier the night before. When i read this news about three years ago i fell to my knees and cried. I was only 19 at that time and never heard a word about that. I'm sure the sailors on watch on the bridge that night knew and maybe they told, but it never got to me until the internet 45 years later. I was asleep in the front berths that night when we went to general quarters. All i heard was (general quarters, general quarter, this is not a drill). I knew we were no where near Vietnam and earlier that day we saw a Russian trawler who was picking up all the trash we threw over board hoping to get some info i assumed and was told. Now that i am thinking about it, they were very aggressive way back then, LOL
my grandfather was onboard the melbourne that night, he says it is something he would never forget.
I was an RD3 aboard the USS Tawasa-ATF-92. The Tawasa was a fleet tug that towed what remained of the Evans to Subic Bay. Vern Irwin
This is a fantastic doco. It is absolutely atrocious that the US govt. won't recognize these servicemen.
I was in the engineroom aboard HMAS Parramatta, our ship was acting as plane guard for USS Kearsarge, prior to this we had been plane guard for the Melbourne. At approximately 3am the bridge called for high speed and the Captain announced on the tanoy system the USS Evans had been in a collision with Melbourne. We took up station at the scene of the accident to help where appropriate.
Pat Corcoran sat behind me in homeroom at Father Judge High School. When I enlisted in the Marines he said not me I'm going in the Navy and we joked about it with each other as you can imagine. He served his country as much as anyone who served in country during Viet Nam and they all should be recognized for their service and sacrifice as well. Semper Fi Pat
Love you, David. The truth shall be know, the 74 who died rightly honored on the wall.
God rest the 74 lost souls. I pray that the names of those whose lives were sacrificed WILL someday grace the Vietnam War Memorial.
Dear God,
PLEASE grant their prayers for the Lost 74.
My great Uncle was one of the men lost on the USS Frank Evans. I am starting a petition to change this.
The two men responsible were the OOD and JOOD in command of the USS Frank E Evans at the time.
I feel sorrow for the families of the sailors who died and can relate to them, because my own grandfather (WWII RAN) was KIA and his body was lost at sea without burial.
It is a travesty of justice that her blameless crew who lost their lives doing their duty, are not given the recognition they deserve because of politics.
LEST WE FORGET.
I will never forget. can still hear a voice calling out " Over Here Over here'" I spoke to 2 survivors sitting on a bench wearing the clothes they had been given ,shoes no socks or laces, I can't remember what I said. Choppers flying all around searching.
I am a first cousin of the Sage brothers who perished on that horrible day. Can things still be done to get their names as well as all the others on the wall?
Lest We Forget our lost 74 shipmates
Iwas aboard USS Oriskany ( CVA 34 ) on Yankee Station in S.China Sea when collision occurred. It was a horrible event, and the whole crew on the O Boat were in a bad mood for many days after. I can remember trying to find out why it happened, because I was in OI Division ( Radar ), where we had to give reccommendations to the Bridge, but nothing ever came out to us. We'll never be able to repay the debt except to be good American citizens. Hope to go where i think they are now.God Bless em all.
typical of US government in their treatment of brave servicemen and women.
My father was on the Evans the night of the collision and was the Chief of the Watch. I always thought the picture that shows at the 5:38 mark was him since the picture looks like him and the injuries were consistent with those he received. But when I googled the picture it turns out to be from the Hindenburg accident. What gives?
I knew one of the survivors named Bob Codemo, from the sunken forward section. Those events really messed up his mind. I often wonder how he is doing.
i want to see more.
put em up
My wife's brother died on the Frank E Evans. My wife had correspondence with our US Senator Lisa Murkowski's office and was assured by her that she was behind legislation supporting having the 74 names placed on the wall . Surprise, surprise, partisan politics and pork barrel concessions win the day. Shame on you Lisa Murkowski. ....Unfortunately, Senator Cramer’s unanimous consent request was objected to by Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), meaning the Senate did not pass this legislation. However, Senator Murkowski said she will work with the senators to find resolution on this issue. Senator Cramer concluded by vowing to continue his efforts and to never stop fighting to see the names of these sailors added to the wall where they belong.
Thanks to the internet i found out all these years later that my ship the "Everett F. Larson" was almost hit by this carrier the night before. When i read this news about three years ago i fell to my knees and cried. I was only 19 at that time and never heard a word about that. I'm sure the sailors on watch on the bridge that night knew and maybe they told, but it never got to me until the internet 45 years later. I was asleep in the front berths that night when we went to general quarters. All i heard was (general quarters, general quarter, this is not a drill). I knew we were no where near Vietnam and earlier that day we saw a Russian trawler who was picking up all the trash we threw over board hoping to get some info i assumed and was told. Now that i am thinking about it, they were very aggressive way back then, LOL