Task & Purpose Reports on the Fight for the Lost 74
Task & Purpose, a website dedicated to military news, recently published an article about the USS Frank E. Evans & the fight for recognition for the Lost 74. Matt White quotes several survivors and family members for the article, and it does a nice job of telling the story of why this fight is so important to survivors, the families & friends of the Lost 74.
You can check out the article here: https://taskandpurpose.com/history/uss-frank-e-evans-vietnam-war-wall/
I have been supporting this Project for years by writing and calling my OHIO Congress People and Senators but to no avail ! Never a return call or message!!! I feel that with the new Government Administration there may be a good chance to right this great injustice. This Bill has stalled again and was given to the Department of The Interior and The National Park Service ! I believe we need to try to contact the Secretary of Defense and The President of the United States !!! I am a US Navy Vietnam Veteran and Proudly served on the USS William C Lawe (DD 763) as a BT2.
Thank you for all your support Rich – it is very much appreciated. Every voice counts.
From a different point. My name is Patrick Richardson. I was aboard HMAS Melbourne June 3 / 1969 . I went into the water to release life rafts & tow them out to where the Evans was sinking , after it had sunk we got into the raft , l kept lookout . Within a minute l saw 2 heads about 300yds away . I dived into the water, swam to these men & started to tow them back to the life-raft, another Melbourne sailor assisted me , to tow the final 100yds , got the men into the life-raft, some minutes later we transferred these men to a search boat . I have Not seen these men since . For my actions that morning I was awarded the US Navy & Marine Corps Medal . I have Always found it strange that a handful of Aussies were honoured for their valour. But none from the Evans . I went to my first Evans reunion in 2010& have been nearly every year , except covid . AND . I am now married to a widow of a survivor of the Evans . I was diagnosed PTSD & left the Navy soon after this . As for all the calls for help I could only rescue two . I still hear all those call . I still hear a the pain . A lot has eased after I started coming to the Evans reunion.
Hi Pat! Thanks so much for being a part of our community. Your actions that night are in part why there are not more than 74 men who died. You & your wife are a huge part of our community and we are thankful to have you with us each year at the reunion.