USS Frank E. Evans Act

Bill 117 HR 7972, also known as the USS Frank E. Evans Act, is a piece of legislation introduced in the US Congress. The bill is named after the USS Frank E. Evans, a naval ship that was involved in a tragic accident in 1969 where it collided with an Australian aircraft carrier, resulting in the deaths of 74 American sailors.

The purpose of the USS Frank E. Evans Act is to extend the official recognition of these 74 sailors as casualties of the Vietnam War. Currently, these sailors are not included on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC, due to the circumstances of their deaths occurring outside of the designated combat zone.

The bill seeks to rectify this oversight by adding the names of the 74 sailors to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, ensuring that they are properly honored and remembered for their service and sacrifice. Additionally, the USS Frank E. Evans Act aims to provide closure and recognition to the families of these sailors who have long fought for their loved ones to be recognized as Vietnam War casualties. Overall, the USS Frank E. Evans Act is a bipartisan effort to correct a historical injustice and ensure that the 74 sailors who lost their lives in the tragic accident are properly honored and remembered as Vietnam War casualties.