USS Frank E. Evans Act

Key Points

• This bill would add the names of 74 sailors who died on the USS Frank E. Evans in 1969 to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C. These men died when their ship collided with another vessel during the Vietnam War, but their names were originally left off the wall because the accident happened just outside the official combat zone.
• If passed, the Secretary of Defense would have one year to authorize adding these names to the memorial. This action would provide formal recognition for the families of the 'Lost 74' who have spent decades advocating for their loved ones to be honored alongside other service members who died during the war.
• The Department of Defense will work with the Department of the Interior and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund to figure out the best way to fit the new names on the wall. The bill removes certain administrative hurdles to ensure the names can be added without the usual long delays for monument changes.

Impact Analysis

Govbase has not yet run an impact analysis on this legislation.