PRINTER'S NO. 2282
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
261
Session of
2023
INTRODUCED BY SOLOMON, GILLEN, ROZZI, PIELLI, FLICK, McNEILL,
HOHENSTEIN, MADDEN, DELLOSO, GUENST, KAZEEM, KHAN, SANCHEZ,
JAMES, HILL-EVANS, HADDOCK, BOROWSKI, MENTZER AND JOZWIAK,
NOVEMBER 13, 2023
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, NOVEMBER 13, 2023
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing the Lost 74 and all sailors who ever served aboard
the Destroyer USS Frank E. Evans (DD 754).
WHEREAS, The destroyer USS Frank E. Evans (DD 754) was named
after the Brigadier General and fellow Pennsylvanian who served
in the Marine Brigade of the American Expeditionary Force in
France during World War I; and
WHEREAS, Service members aboard the USS Frank E. Evans (DD
754) provided naval support during the Vietnam War, including
during the Tet Offensive; and
WHEREAS, In 1969, the USS Frank E. Evans (DD 754) and the
Australian aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne (R21) were taking
part in a Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) joint
training exercise called Operation Sea Spirit; and
WHEREAS, In the early morning hours of June 3, the two ships
collided in the South China Sea; and
WHEREAS, The collision split the USS Frank E. Evans (DD 754)
in half and the forward section of the destroyer sank in more
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than 6,000 feet of water within two minutes; and
WHEREAS, The sinking resulted in 74 American sailors
drowning; and
WHEREAS, These sailors have become known as the Lost 74; and
WHEREAS, Five of the Lost 74 service members were from
Pennsylvania, including Seaman Patrick M. Corcoran of
Philadelphia, Seaman Apprentice Raymond J. Earley of Shenandoah,
Seaman Apprentice Stephen D. Fagan of Huntington, Seaman
Apprentice Donald E. Gearhart of Lewistown and Radarman Petty
Officer Second Class Victor T. Rikal of Butler; and
WHEREAS, The incident occurred approximately 100 miles
outside of the official combat zone, making the Lost 74
ineligible for inclusion on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall
in Washington, DC; and
WHEREAS, Seventy-four United States Navy sailors gave their
lives in service to our nation; and
WHEREAS, Boundary lines should not determine the respect we
pay service members killed in the line of duty; and
WHEREAS, It is long overdue that the Lost 74 receive the
recognition they deserve; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize those
who served aboard the USS Frank E. Evans (DD 754), including
those who were lost on June 3, 1969, and the families and
friends of those service members.
20230HR0261PN2282 - 2 -
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