Rep. Chu Introduces Bipartisan Legislation Honoring 74 Fallen Sailors on Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall with Rep. Flood and Sens. Schiff, Schumer and Cramer

WASHINGTON, DC - Ahead of Veterans Day, Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28) joined Rep. Mike Flood (NE-01) in leading a bipartisan group of lawmakers in introducing H.R. 5945, a bill honoring the 74 sailors who lost their lives in the fatal accident of the USS Frank E. Evansduring the Vietnam War by having their names memorialized on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.

In 1969, the USS Frank E. Evans sank off the coast of Vietnam after being accidentally sliced in half by an Australian aircraft carrier. Because the Department of Defense maintains the sinking of Frank E. Evans took place outside of the declared war zone, the sailors who perished have been deemed ineligible for inclusion on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C., despite the fact that these men were deployed to the region for the war. Several sailors and their families were from Los Angeles County including Jon Kenneth Stever from Altadena, CA.

"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 Representative Chu. "I have heard from the families and survivors who have long sought this recognition for their loved ones and am committed to supporting these efforts. These brave Americans deserve to be honored alongside their fellow service members at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial."

"The tragedy of the USS Frank E. Evans' sinking in 1969, closely following missions in the Vietnam combat zone, should never be forgotten," said Congressman Mike Flood (NE-01). "For decades, the names of the 74 crew members lost in the accident, which includes four sons of Nebraska, have remained absent from the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC. I want to thank Congresswoman Judy Chu of California for joining me in ensuring that these brave sailors receive the recognition they have long deserved for their sacrifice in service to our country, and so many of their families have fought for."

"The 74 service members who sacrificed their lives during the Vietnam war while aboard the USS Frank E. Evans deserve the same honor and recognition as all others on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial," said Senator Schiff (CA). "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. In their memory, I am proud to continue this bipartisan push for recognition in the U.S. Senate."

"For more than half a century, bureaucratic rules have stood in the way of honoring the brave men and women who nobly served their country and paid the ultimate sacrifice on the USS Frank E. Evans protecting the freedoms we hold dear. These heroes deserve to have their names added to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall," said Senator Schumer (NY). "Withholding their names from the Memorial wall denies these servicemembers and their loved ones the honor and recognition they deserve and earned. I have long pushed the Department of Defense to add these names to the memorial, and will not stop fighting until we are able to see their names engraved on the wall where they belong to ensure their service and sacrifice are fully recognized."

"As the Vietnam War recedes further into history, we learn more about the important contribution of many service members whose original missions were shrouded in secrecy or minimized by a cold-hearted bureaucracy. The sailors who died on the USS Frank E. Evans were no less brave than those who fought and served in the many well-known or non-classified theaters of the Vietnam War. Recognizing these brave veterans sends a strong message to all the families of those who were lost fighting in the shadows of the war. The USS Frank E. Evans Act will honor the sacrifice of these heroes by finally memorializing their service on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall," said Senator Cramer (ND).

"It has been over 56 years since 74 sailors of USS Frank E. Evans DD 754 left our homeland to fight in the Vietnam War. Words cannot express our frustration that we have waited this long for these heroes to be honored in their rightful place on the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial. It is difficult to imagine that a select few continue to believe an imaginary line in the water can be used to distinguish between those that deserve recognition and those that do not. The only reason USS Frank E Evans was in theater was to serve in the war. Our 74 sailors gave up their lives just as those others listed on the Wall. Today's bipartisan legislation, sponsored by Senators, Kevin Cramer (R), Adam Schiff (D) and Chuck Schumer (D) is the roadmap for recognition for these honored heroes," said Steve Kraus, President of the Frank E. Evans Association.

"Vietnam Veterans of America supports the USS Frank E. Evans Act, which would authorize the inclusion of the 74 brave sailors lost on June 3, 1969, aboard the USS Frank E. Evans on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall. 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. This legislation is an act of long-overdue recognition and respect. It honors the service, sacrifice, and shared legacy of all who served during the Vietnam era." said Tom Burke, Vietnam Veterans of America President

"The American Legion is proud to endorse the USS Frank E. Evans Act, which would add the names of the 74 sailors who lost their lives in a collision at sea on June 3, 1969, to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall. Although these sailors had recently completed combat operations within the designated Vietnam combat zone, their sacrifice remains unrecognized because the collision occurred just outside the official boundary. The American Legion remains steadfast in its commitment to honoring and commemorating all servicemembers who make the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our nation." saidJulia Mathis, National Legislative Director at The American Legion.

Full text of the legislation is available here. The bill has 8 original cosponsors.