Hess, Edward Phillip, EMC

Deceased

Service Photo

Service Details

Last Rank
Chief Petty Officer

Last Primary NEC
EM-0000-Electrician's Mate

Last Rating/NEC Group
Electrician's Mate

Primary Unit
1969-1969, EM-0000, Commander in Chief Pacific Fleet (CINCPACFLT)/Commander Pacific Fleet (COMPACFLT)

Service Years
1960 - 1969

Official/Unofficial US Navy Certificates

Cold War

Gulf of Tonkin Yacht Club

Order of the Golden Dragon

Last Photo

Personal Details

Home State

Ohio

This Military Service Page was created/owned by Tommy Burgdorf (Birddog), FC2 to remember Hess, Edward Phillip, EMC.

If you knew or served with this Sailor and have additional information or photos to support this Page, please leave a message for the Page Administrator(s) HERE.

Contact Info

Home Town Youngstown	Last Address Youngstown
Date of Passing Jun 03, 1969

Official Badges

Unofficial Badges

Military Associations and Other Affiliations

Military Order of Foreign Wars of the United States

National Chief Petty Officers Association

National Association of Destroyer Veterans (Tin Can Sailors)


	1961, Military Order of Foreign Wars of the United States
	1968, National Chief Petty Officers Association
	1969, National Association of Destroyer Veterans (Tin Can Sailors) - Assoc. Page

Additional Information

Last Known Activity:

Last Known Activity

USS Frank E. Evans (DD-754), an Allen M. Sumner class destroyer, was named in honor of Frank Evans, a leader of the American Expeditionary Force in France during World War I. She served in late World War II and the Korean War, and Vietnam War before being cut in half in a collision with the Australian aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne in 1969.

USS Frank E. Evans

Comments/Citation
On 3 June 1969, while operating with the Royal Australian Navy between Saigon and Spratly Island, Evans was operating in company with the Australian aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne. At flying stations, Melbourne signalled Evans, which was to port of the carrier, to take up the rescue destroyer position. The logical movement would be to make a turn to port and describe a circle taking up station on the carrier's port quarter. Inexplicably, instead of turning to port, Evans turned to starboard, cutting across Melbourne's bow and was cut in half in the ensuing collision. Her bow section sank instantly, taking 74 of her crew down with it. At the time of the collision Evans's captain was asleep. The officer of the deck (a junior officer who was not qualified to stand watch, having failed at his previous board) failed to notify him when he executed the station change as required by the Commanding Officer's standing orders. Evans was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on 1 July 1969. The stern section was sunk as a target in Subic Bay on 10 October 1969

Other Comments:

To the memory of all sailors who ever served aboard the Destroyer USS Frank E. Evans DD - 754. A special commemeration to the Crew who sailed with her on that fateful morning, June 3, 1969 when USS Frank E. Evans DD-754 collided with the Australian Aircraft Carrier HMAS Melbourne (R21) and was cut in half. The forward section of USS Frank E. Evans DD-754 sank in 1100 fathoms of water within two minutes. Seventy-four lives were lost. USS Frank E. Evans DD-754 was struck from the Navy Register in 1969. May we never forget the ship, The men who proudly sailed with her, And those who paid the ultimate price in service Aboard USS Frank E. Evans DD-754.