House dome (Photo – house.gov)
A new bipartisan bill, H.R. 5945, has been introduced in Congress to honor the 74 sailors who tragically lost their lives in 1969 aboard the USS Frank E. Evans during the Vietnam War.
By News Desk
The bill, co-sponsored by Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28) and Rep. Mike Flood (NE-01), aims to have the names of these sailors memorialized on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., alongside their fellow service members who perished in the war.
The USS Frank E. Evans sank on June 3, 1969, after being accidentally sliced in half by an Australian aircraft carrier off the coast of Vietnam. Although the sailors were part of the broader military effort during the Vietnam War, the Department of Defense has excluded them from the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall due to the sinking occurring just outside the declared combat zone. This bureaucratic ruling has meant that the names of the fallen sailors have not been recognized, despite their service in the region and their tragic deaths in connection with the war.
“I am proud to join Rep. Flood and Senators Schiff, Schumer, and Cramer in introducing the bipartisan USS Frank E. Evans Act to honor the 74 sailors, including 22 Californians, whose ultimate sacrifice must not be forgotten,” said Rep. Chu. “I have heard from the families and survivors who have long sought this recognition, and I am committed to supporting these efforts. These brave Americans deserve to be honored alongside their fellow service members on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.”
The legislation has received strong support from both sides of the aisle and from veterans’ groups, including the Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) and The American Legion. Tom Burke, President of the VVA, emphasized the importance of the bill, stating, “These sailors served with honor during the Vietnam War and made the ultimate sacrifice while participating in operations connected to that conflict. Their names deserve a permanent place beside their brothers and sisters who gave their lives in the same war.”
Senator Adam Schiff (CA), one of the bill’s Senate supporters, expressed his continued commitment to the effort, noting, “The sailors aboard the Frank E. Evans were true patriots who made the ultimate sacrifice. Their families should be able to visit and pay tribute to them on the Capitol Mall like the thousands of other families that lost a loved one half a century ago.”
Leave a Reply