Melbourne-Evans Collision explained by U.S. Sailor who was there

To the memory of the seventy-four sailors lost aboard the Destroyer USS Frank E. Evans (DD 754):
Lt. (j.g.) Jon K. Stever
Ens. Alan H. Armstrong
Ens. Robert G. Brandon
Ens. Gregory K. Ogawa
Ens. Dwight S. Pattee
Ens. John T. Norton Jr.
HMC Charles W. Cannington
EMC Edward P. Hess
BMC Willie L. King
RD1 George J. La Liberte
RD1 Eugene F. Lehman
BT2 William D. Brown III
RD2 Christopher J. Carlson
RD2 Gary B. Hodgson
RM2 Ray P. Lebrun
IC2 Linden R. Orpurt
YN2 Earl F. Preston Jr.
RD2 Victor T. Rikal
BM2 Gary L. Sage
STG2 John R. Spray
RD2 Ronald A. Thibodeau
ETN3 James F. Bradley
YN3 James R. Cmeyla
BTM3 Larry W. Cool
ETR3 James W. Davis
GMG3 Steven F. Espinosa
STG3 Melvin H. Gardner Jr.
BM3 Patrick G. Glennon
STG3 Larry A. Gracely
RD3 Terry L. Henderson
BT3 Lawrence J. Reilly Jr.
RD3 Gregory A. Sage
RD3 Jon W. Thomas
QM3 Gary J. Vigue
RD3 Con W. Warnock
SN Andrew J. Botto
SN Thomas B. Box
SN Michael K. Clawson
SN Denny V. Clute
SN Patrick M. Corcoran
SN James F. Dykes III
SN James R. Baker
SN Francis J. Garcia
SN Fredric C. Messier Jr.
SN Thurston P. Smith Jr.
SA Harris M. Brown
SA Joe E. Craig
SA Leon L. Davis
SA Raymond J. Earley
SA Stephen D. Fagan
SA William D. Field
SA Alan C. Flummer
SA Henry K. Fyre
SA Donald E. Gearhart
SA Kenneth W. Glines
SA Joe L. Gonzales
SA Devere R. Grissom
SA Steven A. Guyer
SA Dennis R. Johnston
SA James W. Kerr
SA Isaac Lyons Jr.
SA Douglas R. Meister
SA Andrew M. Melendrez
SA Timothy L. Miller
SA Michael A. Orlikowski
SA Craig A. Pennell
SA Jerome Pickett
SA Kelly J. Sage
SA John A. Sauvey
BTFA Robert J. Searle
FA Gerald W. Smith
SA Thomas F. Tallon
SA John T. Tolar
SA Henry D. West III
Learn more about the lost 74: www.ussfee.org...

[@terryvejr7622]

Keith, I’m a survivor of this collision. Thank you for getting the facts right. Lest We Forget.

[@wazzazone]

This wasn't the only ship sunk by the HMAS Melbourne, it also sank the HMAS Voyager in Jarvis Bay Australia.The crew of the Evans need to be remembered for their Vietnam service.

[@kowen8121]

Keith, I am Kerry Owen and was also present during the collision. I was on duty aboard the USS Kearsarge CVS-33 that night and appreciate the visual explanation of the crash that is often misunderstood. I was working below decks when the initial alarm sounded. I recall going to the forward starboard catwalk and seeing the Melbourne and a dark "hulk" ahead of it which were off our starboard side. The Evans was indistinguishable due to total darkness. We began launching rescue helo's which then provided illumination via spotlights of the crash scene. The ocean was glass smooth that night. As smooth as I have ever witnessed at sea. The flying fish were coming out of the ships wake flying for 100-150 yds before reentering the water. The reflections of the helo nav lights and spot lights reflecting off the water gave in an eerie appearance. The scene was surreal.... like something out of a movie set. We were expecting a mass casualty event and had set up ping pong tables on the hanger deck to process the survivors. Later that morning the survivors who had initially been taken aboard the Melbourne were transferred to our ship by small boats. Because the majority of the Evan's crew were asleep in their racks during the collision...many of the survivors had very little clothing. Most had been just wearing skivvies... To the credit of the Melbourne crew...many of their ship company donated dry white, blue and gray working coveralls to provide some warmth. Others had partial US Navy dungarees or t shirts. Some were shirtless as they came aboard. I have often given much respect toward the Aussie sailors who stepped up to help our men. There are a couple video's without sound on KZbin of the Evan's survivors as they came aboard that morning posted by "CriticalPast"...and you can still see the shock and trauma they were experiencing as they came aboard. It is not often reported that a petty officer that was on watch aboard the Evans was thrown onto the flight deck of the Melbourne during the impact resulting in sever injuries. I would very much like to hear the remembrances of other sailors both US Navy and Australian Navy who were present that early morning...

[@Ro6entX]

Dang not only is it sad it happened and men lost their lives, but also that their names aren’t on the wall yet. I agree they should be.

[@willytwo53072]

Well done. I saw the Evans in dry dock. I was on the USS Herbert J Thomas duing that time (not involved in exercise with Melbourne).

[@ShammyCam]

My dad was on the Melbourne. Suffered all his life with PTSD and was only diagnosed officially a couple of years ago. He still does not get the benefits of other retired naval men, as this occurred during a manoveur that was not in battle or a war zone. Australian Navy told all the men to keep a stiff upper lip and get on with it. No counselling or duty of care afterwards, which I believe to be the biggest tragedy of all. It wasn’t just the men who died that night who lost their lives.

[@josephkrupp7430]

I seen the USS Evans in Subic Bay when the USS Platte AO24 came into port in the fall of '69 to start another WESTPAC tour.

[@JC-iv5fv]

So sad, a case of errors causing a mishap that could have been avoided. I was not aware of this tragic event that cost so many precious lives. Their names should definitely be honored on the Vietnam Memorial.

[@thatotherguy186]

My father in law was aboard the Evans and survived. He claims because he wasn’t where he was supposed to be. I wish I was able to hear more about it from him. Unfortunately he passed before I had much time to really get to know him.