{"id":1186,"date":"2026-05-27T13:35:34","date_gmt":"2026-05-27T13:35:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/scottsdalemovinghub.com\/?p=1186"},"modified":"2026-05-27T13:35:34","modified_gmt":"2026-05-27T13:35:34","slug":"five-decades-later-families-still-fighting-to-add-74-sailors-to-vietnam-veterans-memorial-wall","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/scottsdalemovinghub.com\/?p=1186","title":{"rendered":"Five decades later, families still fighting to add 74 sailors to Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall"},"content":{"rendered":"
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More than five decades after 74 U.S. Navy sailors were killed in one of the deadliest non-combat naval tragedies of the Vietnam War era, families, survivors and lawmakers are continuing a push\u00a0to have their names added to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.<\/p>\n

Read more Valley mother turns grief into advocacy after children killed by estranged husband<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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The sailors died June 3, 1969, when the USS Frank E. Evans collided with the Australian aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne during a nighttime training exercise in the South China Sea at the height of the Vietnam War.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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The much smaller destroyer was split in two during the collision, killing 74 sailors from 28 states.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Memorials honoring the victims have since been placed across the country by the USS Frank E. Evans Association, which continues advocating for recognition of the sailors in Washington.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Despite years of lobbying by survivors, veterans groups and bipartisan lawmakers, the sailors\u2019 names have not been added to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C., because the collision technically occurred outside the military\u2019s designated combat zone boundaries.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Survivor Bill Thibeault, who was 19 at the time of the collision, said the crew had been actively supporting combat operations off the coast of Vietnam before the training exercise.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\u201cWe were in the combat zone,\u201d Thibeault said. \u201cThe only reason those names are not on the wall in Washington is that technically we were about a 100 miles outside of the combat zone at the time [of the collision]. Even though we were heading back to the gun line as soon as the exercises were over. We were in the war.”<\/p>\n

Read more Arizona budget deal appears closer as Republican lawmakers and Democrat Gov. Katie Hobbs soften tone in negotiations<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Supporters argue the sailors were participating in wartime operations and should receive the same recognition as other service members killed during the conflict.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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The tragedy has drawn comparisons to the loss of the five Sullivan brothers during World War II, after three Sage brothers from Nebraska were among those killed aboard the Evans.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\u201cIt\u2019s been very frustrating \u2014 we\u2019ve come close so many times,\u201d Thibeault said of the effort to add the names to the memorial.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Lawmakers including Chuck Schumer have renewed bipartisan efforts in Congress to pressure the Pentagon to revise combat zone eligibility rules and allow the 74 sailors to be honored on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Advocates say the fight is about ensuring the sailors\u2019 sacrifice is formally recognized alongside others who died during the Vietnam War.<\/p>\n

Read more Juror removed in Ian Mithcham penalty phase, deliberations to start over<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

More than five decades after 74 U.S. Navy sailors were killed in one of the deadliest non-combat naval tragedies of the Vietnam War era, families, survivors and lawmakers are continuing a push\u00a0to have their names added to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. 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