Back on June 3, 1969 the USS Frank E. Evans collided with the USS Melbourne during War Games in the South China Sea. A large portion of the USS Frank E. Evans sunk in less than two minutes, killing 74 men. The bodies of those 74 men never returned home and remain at the bottom of the South China Sea.

Prior to the War Game exercise, the Frank E. Evans was shelling DeNang. They ran low on ammunition and went to Subic Bay to load up with more ammunition. After getting the ship loaded with more ammunition they were called to perform military games which is where the accident occurred.

Today, those 74 men who sacrificed their lives do not have their names on the wall in Washington. Our government continues to say they were not in the war zone at the time of the accident, which they weren’t. However, there are other names on the wall where those serving were not in the war zone.

To honor those men from the USS Frank E. Evans and all other veterans who have protected our boarders, we will honor those males and females by running on Sunday, May 27th.

05-26-2024, 08:30 am - 11:30 am