USS FRANK E. EVANS DD-754

The ship fitted out at New York Navy Yard (4–22 February 1945), which included brief interruptions to load ammunition at Naval Ammunition Depot, Earle, N.J., and deperming at Navy Yard Annex, Bayonne, N.J., both on the 17th. Frank E. Evans also required additional time in the yard as workers modified and reinstalled the Mk. 63 Gun Fire Control System. A series of readiness for sea drills and operations followed through the 22nd. Frank E. Evans began the destroyer’s service in the Atlantic Fleet as she completed a shakedown cruise and original daily anti-submarine warfare, gunnery, damage control, Combat Information Center (CIC), engineering, and communications training as part of Task Group (TG) 23.1 in the waters off Bermuda (23 February–5 March). The ship moored alongside destroyer tender Altair (AD-11) in the British colony’s Great Sound during those times overnight when she returned to port.

The warship then turned south as the screen commander with TG 23.1.1, also consisting of Altair, escort ship Hanna (DE-449), frigate Greensboro (PF-101), and small coastal transports APc-86 and APc-91, for the balmy Caribbean waters off Guantánamo Bay, Cuba (6–31 March 1945). The training did not pass without incident and a visual contact suspected of being a German U-boat (submarine) near 19°49’5″N, 74°24’W, at 1937 on the 25th, compelled the Americans to form Duncan (DD-874), Frank E. Evans, and Harlan R. Dickson (DD-708) into a Hunter-Killer Group to track down the culprit. The ships’ sonar and radar operators attentively sat by their equipment and lookouts scanned the horizon as the ships searched the area in line distance of a mile into the following day, but the enemy boat, if one ever did operate in the area, eluded the searchers. Following Frank E. Evans’ sojourn she swung northward (28–31 March) and then (31 March–14 April) completed voyage repairs and post-shakedown alterations at the New York Navy Yard.

Frank E. Evans emerged from the yard work battle ready and proceeded to the Pacific to fight the Japanese. The destroyer worked up steam on the 15th, and the following day loaded ammunition at Earle, and headed down to Naval Operating Base, Norfolk, Va., where she completed exercises under the auspices of Fleet Operational Training Command, Atlantic Fleet (17–22 April 1945). The following day she stood out to sea in company with light cruiser Amsterdam (CL-101), and they rendezvoused with Dayton (CL-105) and Southerland (DD-743) and the four ships worked up together off Cape May, N.J.

On the 24th they formed Task Unit (TU) 23.16.1 and steered southerly courses to Guantánamo Bay. Frank E. Evans refueled at San Juan, P.R., on the 27th and 28th, and Dayton and Southerland detached in Cuban waters, while Amsterdam and Frank E. Evans, having refueled, took part in a “fire special test” gunnery exercise off Culebra Island, P.R., followed by additional training off Guantánamo Bay. They then (3–4 May 1945) continued across the Caribbean Sea, passed through passed the Panama Canal on the 5th, and turned toward the Hawaiian Islands as TU 12.9.3. The cruiser and her destroyer consort reached those waters safely, where Frank E. Evans moored in the Middle Loch of Pearl Harbor, T.H., on 18 May. They next (18–28 May) carried out a series of shore bombardment shoots.

Amsterdam and Frank E. Evans refueled and replenished at Pearl Harbor and Frank E. Evans and high speed minesweeper Dorsey (DMS-1) then (29 May–6 June 1945) screened Convoy PD416-T, comprising transport Storm King (AP-171 and the convoy commodore), attack transport McCracken (APA-198), Winged Arrow (AP-170), and War Shipping Administration troopship (Danish registry) Perida, from Hawaiian waters to Eniwetok Atoll in the Marshall Islands. Frank E. Evans and Dorsey delivered their charges and continued on to refuel at Guam in the Marianas Islands (7–11 June), and Frank E. Evans next (17–18 June) proceeded independently to Ulithi in the Carolines.

The ship joined TU 94.18.12 and helped escort Convoy UOK-27 to Okinawa in the Ryūkyūs (20–24 June 1945). The vast assemblage of ships for the voyage also numbered Seiderstrom (DE-31 and the flagship), and minesweepers Dunlin (AM-361), Surfbird (AM-383), Toucan (AM-387) as the screen, while the convoy comprised Crockett (APA-198 and the convoy commodore), Beckham (APA-133), Bingham (APA-225), Clermont (APA-143), Garrard (APA-84), Grafton (APA-109), attack cargo ship Woodford (AKA-86), cargo ship Jupiter (AK-43), stores issue ship Castor (AKS-1), Victory ships Durango Victory, Hampdon-Sydney Victory, and Hastings Victory, and transports Cape Cause, Defiance, Sea Marlin, Swallow, and White.

On 6 April 1945, the Japanese had launched the first of a series of ten mass kamikaze attacks, interspersed with smaller raids and named Kikusui (Floating Chrysanthemum) No. 1, against Allied ships off Okinawa during Operation Iceberg—the invasion of the island. As many as 1,465 aircraft took part in the attacks through 28 May and inflicted ghastly losses on the Allies. Reaching action waters on 24 June, Frank E. Evans thus completed voyage repairs and upkeep to prepare for the battle while at Kerama Rettō, about 15 miles west of Okinawa (25–28 June). The following day she steamed to Radar Picket Station 9 southwest of Okinawa, where she relieved Fullam (DD-474) as a fighter director ship.

1st. Lt. Albert A. Paulis, USMC, of Marine Fighting Squadron (VMF) 222, crashed in the water in his Vought F4U-4 Corsair on the 4th of July, but the ship raced over and rescued the pilot. Frank E. Evans was relieved of her picket duty on 6 July 1945, and came about to replenish. She then (8–12 July) shifted to a radar picket station to the west of Okinawa and served again as a fighter director ship. The destroyer escorted oilers to rendezvous with the escort aircraft carriers of Carrier Division (CarDiv) 22, Rear Adm. William D. Sample in command, comprising Sangamon (CVE-26—the flagship), Chenango (CVE-28), and Suwanee (CVE-27), on the 14th. On the 19th a typhoon sliced across the region and Frank E. Evans retired to the westward to escape the tempest, spending her time well by also screening troopships.

The destroyer patrolled for Japanese submarines at Dog-1 Anti-Submarine Station in the vicinity of Okinawa (21–23 July 1945). At 0231 on the mid watch on the 22nd, radar detected an enemy Nakajima B6N1 carrier attack plane approach from a range of five miles. The Jill closed at 180 knots to 4,000 yards and dropped from an altitude of 900 to 500 feet, but the ship drove off the bomber with 39 5-inch anti-aircraft common rounds, ten of them proximity fused. The Jill maneuvered out of the gunfire and as the ship ceased firing the Japanese pilot dived to barely 100 feet as he skimmed the water to escape the deadly fusillade. Sailors felt a heavy underwater explosion as the gunfire ceased, and surmised that the Jill either jettisoned a bomb or a torpedo in the ship’s wake in order to make its exit.

A single day’s respite for replenishment passed all too quickly and she returned to the anti-submarine patrols in the Okinawa area (24–27 July 1945). That day she was relieved of her duties for a special escort mission to Buckner Bay, Okinawa. The warship completed her task but on the 27th a Japanese plane also penetrated the Allied Combat Air Patrol (CAP) and dropped a torpedo that punctured John A. Rawlins in the vicinity of Naha Ko, Okinawa. In addition to the Liberty ship’s 39-man merchant crew, 28 Naval Armed Guards and 191 Naval Construction Battalion men (Seabees) were on board at the time. The attack wounded only three of these men, but seriously damaged the vessel and investigators eventually wrote her off as a loss. Frank E. Evans stood out on the 28th and made for the area to render assistance.

Japanese suicide planes continued to maul the Allied ships operating off Okinawa and a biplane, likely a Yokosuka K5Y Willow of the Kamikaze Special Attack Corps 3rd Ryuko Squadron, sank Callaghan (DD-792) on her radar picket station southwest of the island on 28 July 1945. Prichett (DD-561) closed to pick up survivors when a second suicider crashed and damaged her. Frank E. Evans and Alfred A. Cunningham (DD-752) turned and raced to the area to render assistance, and to relieve the two ships on their vital Picket Station 9-A.

Frank E. Evans’ SG radar detected a pair of Japanese Mitsubishi G4M1 Type 1 land attack planes heading toward the ship’s starboard beam from a range of four miles and at an altitude of 600 feet at 0207 on the 29th. The destroyer’s guns unleashed a cacophony of 54 5-inch anti-aircraft common rounds with proximity fuses at the Bettys, which split off. One of the Bettys continued toward the ship at 195 knots but the flak proved too much, and the plane dropped to scarcely 25 feet and careened along the wave tops past the ship aft as it escaped into the night.

The following night a USAAF Northrop P-61 flew toward the ship on her port side while returning to its airfield following a special mission, but the Black Widow failed to provide identification friend or foe. Frank E. Evans opened fire at the apparent intruder as it closed to 8,000 yards at an altitude of 5,000 feet and ripped into the Black Widow, which turned and passed her port quarter and crashed. After daylight the ship rescued 2nd Lt. Leonard S. Frumar, USAAF, the radar officer, who had survived when he parachuted into the sea.

Japanese planes again threatened the ship from her port beam at 0303 on the night of 30 July 1945. The SG radar detected five or six aircraft orbiting at a distance of nearly 20 miles, but after tracking several of the planes, the plotters estimated that their speed varied from 60–125 knots. The intruders flew at an altitude of 7,000 feet and closed the range and flew at a fairly constant distance of 8,000–5,000 yards, and tended to increase in the direction of the wind. They dropped “window” (clouds of small, thin pieces of aluminum wire or similar material—chaff) effectively, but did not press home their attack while the ship blasted them with 164 5-inch anti-aircraft common proximity fused shells. The mysterious intruders broke off and disappeared into the darkness, and their actions reminded watchstanders of the biplane that sank Callaghan. “It is further believed that these planes are capable of inflicting maximum damage,” Cmdr. Smith reported, “and all ships should become aware of their existence.”

Frank E. Evans also continued to contend with foul weather and a typhoon swept through the area, so she retired to the south and again screened cargo ships on the 1st of the month. Two days later she refueled at Buckner Bay. Frank E. Evans returned to sea and patrolled for Japanese submarines on Anti-Submarine Warfare Station K-2 (4–5 August 1945) and then (7–11 August) relieved Aulick (DD-569) and resumed fighter direction duties on Picket Station 9A. Irwin (DD-794) served as a support ship. John A. Bole (DD-755) relieved Frank E. Evans of those duties on the 12th, and the ship reported to TU 99.5.6 as she slid into Hagushi, a bay at the mouth of Bishi [Hija] River near Yomitan [Yomitan-san] on the west side of the island. The warship completed upkeep but, having seen first-hand the devastating effects of the Japanese aerial onslaught, also held anti-aircraft exercises. Frank E. Evans steamed to Anti-Submarine Warfare Station C-4 in the waters off Ie Shima [lejima] to search for enemy submarines (14–16 August), where she learned of the Japanese agreement to surrender. The crew celebrated the news joyfully while they brought the ship about and returned to Buckner Bay for upkeep and a much needed rest (17–28 August).

As the war ended, Frank E. Evans set out from Buckner Bay and joined TG 71.1, Rear Adm. Francis S. Low, Commander, North China Force. The task group also included large cruisers Alaska (CB-1) and Guam (CB-2), Cruiser Divisions 6 and 16, comprising heavy cruisers Minneapolis (CA-36—flagship), New Orleans (CA-32), San Francisco (CA-38), and Tuscaloosa (CA-37), and their screen, consisting of Destroyer Squadron (DesRon) 64: Alfred A. Cunningham, Haraden (DD-585), Harry E. Hubbard (DD-748), John H. Bole, and Wiley (DD-597). John R. Pierce (DD-753), one of the squadron’s destroyers, did not sail with them because she took part in the occupation of the Japanese home islands.

The group carried out Op-plan 13.45 as the ships patrolled the Yellow Sea and the Gulf of Chihli [Bohai Sea] to enforce the terms of the enemy’s surrender (29–31 August 1945). Tensions ran high as many Allied leaders expressed their concern about Japanese forces refusing to accept the surrender, or not learning of it because of communications issues. Some of the ships of the group steamed at sea and then boldly swept into Tsingtao [Qingdao], China, to display U.S. naval strength on the 1st of September. The following day, Frank E. Evans and Harry E. Hubbard, with Commander, DesRon 64, detached and proceeded toward Dairen [Dalian], Manchuria, to secure the release of U.S. naval sailors reported to be held by the Japanese there (2–6 September). At 1210 on the 2nd, Frank E. Evans fired eight 5-inch anti-aircraft common and 268 40-millimeter rounds on a floating mine, but despite the firepower failed to detonate the mine. Frank E. Evans and Harry E. Hubbard anchored in Victoria Bay at Darien and helped the emaciated and weakened former prisoners through the 5th.

In the meanwhile on the 2nd, TF 72, built around CarDiv 5’s Antietam (CV-36), Intrepid (CV-11), and small aircraft carrier Cabot (CVL-28), launched nearly 100 planes that flew over Shanghai, China, as a show of force. The Japanese interned Allied prisoners of war, including some of the marines they had captured at Wake Island in 1941, along with many Allied civilians, in camps in the Shanghai area. The ships swung around to the northward and made a show of force off Dairen, in the process supporting Frank E. Evans and Harry E. Hubbard (4–5 September). On the 7th Frank E. Evans was relieved at Darien and returned to sea and rendezvoused with the rest of the task group, and they steamed easterly courses for Jinsen [Incheon], Korea.

Frank E. Evans shot 61 40-millimeter rounds at a floating mine at 1010 on the 7th, though did not confirm detonating it. Minesweepers swept the channel leading into Jinsen but did not discover any of the deadly devices, and the signal tower signaled “Welcome American Fleet.” The next day the ships sighted and destroyed 16 of 18 floating mines while fueling in the vicinity of 36°40’N, 123°50’E, however, and so continued to operate cautiously. Frank E. Evans nonetheless entered the harbor on a mission to secure an anchorage area for TF 71.1.

Rear Adm. Low hoisted his flag in Frank E. Evans on the 9th, and the ship transported him, staff officers, and Navy news correspondents to the landings at Jinsen. The tower hoisted “Welcome United States Fleet” as planes from Antietam, Intrepid, and Cabot covered the vessels as they approached Jinsen, and, beginning at 1430 as Vice Adm. Daniel E. Barbey, Commander, Seventh Fleet, who broke his flag in amphibious force flagship Rocky Mount (AGC-3), landed soldiers of the XXIV Corps. The men secured their objectives without meeting resistance, disarmed any Japanese troops they encountered, and discovered six enemy midget submarines hitherto hidden from Allied intelligence analysts. Frank E. Evans anchored at Jinsen while she supported the efforts to consolidate the landings and liberate the Korean people (10 September–3 October). Following her extended time assisting the Koreans at Jinsen, Frank E. Evans continued her humanitarian mission in company with support landing craft LCS-38 at Ongjin-gun, anchoring in the vicinity of Kerrin To (5–6 October). The ships then returned to Jinsen, but Frank E. Evans, medium landing ship LSM-363, LCS-8, and a Japanese minesweeper went back to Ongjin-gun as TU 71.1.12, the destroyer acting as the flagship (17–23 October).

Frank E. Evans crossed the Yellow Sea on the 1st of the month and anchored in Narcissus Bay at Weihaiwei [Weihei] (2–3 November 1945). The ship again carried out her humanitarian role, as well as supporting the return of Chinese territory from the Japanese. The destroyer turned back for Jinsen, and after briefly (4–5 November) laying to in Korean waters, resumed her increasingly familiar pattern and swung back across the Yellow Sea and anchored at Wai-Kang, the outer harbor at Tsingtao (6–13 November). Alaska arrived at the Chinese port and Frank E. Evans escorted her larger charge eastward to Jinsen (14–19 November).

From there, the destroyer turned back to Chinese waters but continued southward, steamed up the Whangpoo [Huángpŭ] River and moored alongside barracks ship Orvetta (IX-157) between buoys 17 and 18 at Shanghai (20–21 November 1945). The destroyer performed the vital but less glamorous duty of the North China Mail Run as she returned to Tsingtao on Thanksgiving, the 22nd, and the following two days charted a course for Taku [Dagu] Bar at the mouth of the Peiho [Hai] River protecting Tientsin [Tianjin]. A brief (25–26 November) trip across the Yellow Sea to Jinsen completed the ship’s service on the North China Mail Run. Toward the end of the month she worked with LSM-42 and then trained at sea as part of TU 71.6.2 with Springfield (CL-66) and Burns (DD-588), and rounded off November moored on the Whangpoo at Shanghai. The trio shifted berths and anchored in the vicinity of Woosung [Wusong] River Jetty just to the northward of Shanghai (6–7 December). Frank E. Evans sailed down the Yangtze River and out to sea on the 8th, and then (9–15 December) anchored in the vicinity of berth E-6 in the Outer Harbor at Tsingtao. She returned to Taku (17–21 December), two days before Christmas moored to Pier 2 at Chingwantao [Qinghuangdao], and rejoined Springfield as the duo turned southward and spent the holidays at Tsingtao, the destroyer anchored in berth E-107 (23–29 December). At noon on the 27th she shifted berths and refueled alongside oiler Tappahannock (AO-43). Frank E. Evans all but wrapped up 1945 moored on the Whangpoo at Shanghai, and spent New Year’s Eve at sea escorting Kula Gulf (CVE-108).

Frank E. Evans anchored off Taku (2–7 January 1946) and then (7–9 January) screened Kula Gulf and Bolivar (APA-34) to Tsingtao. The destroyer trained in and out of Tsingtao more than once during the remainder of the month, and escorted Bayfield (APA-33) up the coast on the 21st. The ship continued to operate in the Far East until 6 March 1946, when she sailed from Tsingtao for home. The ship called at Guam (10–11 March), Eniwetok on the 14th, and Pearl Harbor (20–22 March), before reaching San Francisco on the last day of the month. Fleet ocean tug Moctobi (ATF-105) took the destroyer in tow on 2 June 1946 as the latter entered Mare Island Naval Shipyard at Vallejo, Calif., for an overhaul and inactivation on the 7th of June, and on 5 July 1947, shifted to Naval Station (NS) San Diego, Calif. Frank E. Evans was decommissioned there and placed in reserve on 7 July 1947.

On 11 May 1949, she was recommissioned at NS San Diego, Cmdr. William C. Meyer in command. Following a fitting out period at San Francisco Naval Shipyard at Hunters Point, and brief operations out of San Diego, the ship loaded ordnance at Seal Beach Naval Ammunition and Net Depot, Calif., on 8 June, and through the 13th returned to San Diego. Frank E. Evans turned northward again for the Bay Area, and on the 15th made a full speed run off the Golden Gate Bridge. The warship was decommissioned at NS San Diego on 14 December 1949, and assigned to the Reserve Fleet.

Despite warnings from multiple intelligence sources the North Koreans invaded South Korea on 25 June 1950. The invaders achieved tactical surprise and their aggression began the Korean War. The U.S. asked for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council and the council adopted a resolution condemning the North Korean aggression, ordered the withdrawal of North Korean troops above the 38th parallel, and called on all members to assist the UN in the execution of the resolution. The Soviets boycotted the council in protest of ongoing American support of the Chinese Nationalists and their absence prevented their veto of the motion.

Naval planners ordered Frank E. Evans activated to deploy to the Korean War on 7 August. Recommissioned on 15 September 1950, at NS San Diego, Frank E. Evans accomplished a brief shakedown cruise and a readiness-for-sea operation, and reported for duty on 3 October 1950. The ship continued what she reported as “intensive” training as she prepared for war, and on 2 January 1951, sailed for the Seventh Fleet as TU 52.5.1, which also comprised Alfred A. Cunningham, Blue (DD-744, flagship), and Walke (DD-723). The ship moored to berth 2 on pier 1 at Midway Island while she refueled (15–16 January), and completed voyage repairs and upkeep moored in a nest with the rest of the task unit at Yokosuka on Tōkyō Bay (23–29 January). Frigate Glendale (PF-36) briefly joined them, and toward the final days of the month the vessels of the task unit worked with Bairoko (CVE-115) in a series of exercises in Japanese waters. Upon the ship’s return to Yokosuka she moored alongside to starboard to Canadian destroyer Athabaskan (R-79) on 3 February.

Alfred A. Cunningham, Blue (flagship), Frank E. Evans, and Walke set out on the 3rd and on the 5th rendezvoused with the other ten ships of powerful TF 77, built around Princeton (CV-37), Valley Forge (CV-45), and antiaircraft light cruiser Juneau (CLAA-119), in the Van Dieman Strait between Kyūshū and Tanegeshima. Philippine Sea (CV-47) relieved Princeton on the 12th, and on the 15th–19th battleship Missouri (BB-63) and her escorts, John A. Bole (DD-755) and Lofberg (DD-759), joined the formation.

United Nations forces began a naval siege of the North Korean port of Wŏnsan on 16 February 1951. The allies temporarily developed the port into a sanctuary for aircraft damaged by enemy fire that ditched in the harbor. Helicopters pulled the downed aircrew to safety and thereby saved men from death or imprisonment by the enemy. Frank E. Evans stood into Wŏnsan and anchored in berth 6 on the morning of 26 February. That afternoon (1233–1426) an aircraft spotter observed the ship’s gunfire as she shot 17 5-inch anti-aircraft common rounds in interdiction fire at the enemy. The communist gunners struck back and hurled their shells at the warship from three sides for nearly 90 minutes, water from their projectile splashes covering Frank E. Evans’ decks, before her 5-inch guns silenced her tormentors. The destroyer fired eight anti-aircraft common shells per hour overnight to harass the communist troops—a total of 104 rounds by morning. The following night she increased the crescendo of harassing fire to 24 anti-aircraft common rounds per hour.

Frank E. Evans engaged enemy shore batteries 11 times during her part in the siege of Wŏnsan. In the formative months of the blockade, the ship detached at times from Task Force (TF) 77 and ranged along the Korean coast, in company with other ships but on occasion independently. At times during the Korean War and later in the destroyer’s career, the crew proudly called her “The Gray Ghost,” “The Fighter,” or “The Lucky Evans.” Frank E. Evans ranged the coast for a month, and coordinated and controlled day and night bombing missions by allied aircraft. A few days later a running battle with enemy shore artillery resulted in damage to a patrol vessel maneuvering close aboard Frank E. Evans.

In between the fighting, Frank E. Evans accomplished repairs and upkeep at Yokosuka (20–25 April 1951) and Sasebo (14–21 May and 1 June). The warship rendezvoused with battleship New Jersey (BB-62) and Toledo (CA-133) at Sasebo on Kyūshū in southern Japan on the 2nd and the trio patrolled in the vicinity of Pusan [Busan], South Korea, on that day and the next, and the following day on the 4th Frank E. Evans led her larger charges into Wŏnsan. The destroyer’s familiarity with the harbor persuaded planners to earmark her to control the larger ships’ gunfire on the bombline in Area S.

Frank E. Evans swung around on the 6th and operated with TF 77, and then closed the coastline, where she rescued downed three aviators. Allied planners also sought to close down the Sŏngjin [Kimchaek]/Chŏngjin area to the enemy, and so Frank E. Evans, a second U.S. destroyer, and Dutch destroyer Evertsen (D.802) steamed into Sŏngjin (13–17 July 1951) and opened another continuous siege that limited communist use of an important harbor and supply center. An enemy battery fired at the ship on 18 June and 30 fragments hit her, which caused minor wounds to four crewmen before the destroyer silenced the enemy gunfire. The ship quickly came about and made for Japanese waters, where she accomplished repairs at Sasebo (20–25 June). The destroyer returned to Wŏnsan and worked on the gunline.

The ship captured two enemy sampans and their six North Korean crewmen during the cruise, and aided in the rescue of six allied pilots. Frank E. Evans fittingly concluded her maiden deployment to the Korean War by firing what she hailed as a “21-gun salute” against selected targets in and around Wŏnsan to celebrate Independence Day on 4 July 1951. Frank E. Evans completed repairs and upkeep at Sasebo (29 July–8 August) in preparation for her voyage back to the United States. The fighting continued, however, and she returned to the gunline and steamed in Areas S and Marge (9–21 August). The following day the ship turned from the war for Yokosuka, and on the 24th charted a course for home. After a cruise of nearly 52,000 miles a tired but happy crew waved to spectators at San Diego on 4 September 1951. The destroyer spent the rest of the year in that area repairing from the rigors of the war, and in training and preparing her crew to return to the fighting.

Frank E. Evans sailed on 22 March 1952 for her second Korean tour, refueled and provisioned at Pearl Harbor (28 March–5 April) and reached Yokosuka to recover from the voyage (13–17 April). The ship then served with the fast carriers of TF 77 as they ranged along the Korean east coast. Frank E. Evans detached from the carriers fittingly on May Day (1 May) and joined Manchester (CL-83) as the duo bombarded enemy gun emplacements between Sŏngjin and Wŏnsan during the following days. Frank E. Evans peeled away from the cruiser on the 11th and rejoined the carriers until she completed upkeep and voyage repairs at Sasebo (17–24 May).

The ship followed that service by sailing on the Northern Formosa [Taiwan] Patrol (25–27 May and 31 May–4 June 1952) and Southern Formosa Patrol (27–28 May), and took a brief break for her maiden visit to Kaohsiung, Formosa [Taiwan], toward the end of the month (28–31 May). Frank E. Evans concluded her patrol along the strategic strait with brief respites at Hong Kong (8–13 June) and Kaoshiung (13–14 June and 16–17 June). Frank E. Evans returned to Sasebo to prepare for more fighting (19–20 June).

Alfred A. Cunningham, Blue, Frank E. Evans, and Walke often worked together as Task Element (TE) 95.28, led by Cmdr. Robert E. Odening, Buck’s commanding officer. Cmdr. Nelson D. Salmon, Frank E. Evans’ commanding officer, relieved Cmdr. Odening in command of TE 95.28 on 21 June 1952. Salmon detached Frank E. Evans and rendezvoused with South Korean patrol gunboat Heukjohwan (PG-22) and auxiliary motor minesweeper Gaeseong (YMS-504), and the trio also began fighting the enemy as Bombline Element, East Coast of Korea. The three ships began “night taillight patrol” north to Nan-do [Al-som], an islet ten miles off the North Korean coast. Just as they began their cruise, the anti-communist guerilla fighters of TF Kirkland suspected enemy movement in their area as the North Koreans attempted to clamp down on their clandestine activities, and requested that the destroyer fire four star shells to illuminate the night. Frank E. Evans turned and shot the four rounds, though did not spot any enemy soldiers. While the ship unleashed her guns Heukjohwan patrolled inshore south of the bombline, and Gaeseong watched the island, starting a recurring pattern.

Frank E. Evans hove to in the vicinity of the island the following morning and Salmon conferred with the islet’s commander, who remained on board to observe the day’s firing. The action heated up quickly as South Korean army spotters deployed on the beach called on the ship for help against ten enemy bunkers situated in that area. The destroyer landed her shore fire control party to work with their allies as she fired 120 anti-aircraft common and four star shells in indirect salvoes “with good results.” The battle resumed overnight and into the morning (22–23 June 1952) and Frank E. Evans shot 127 anti-aircraft common rounds (and eight white phosphorous) that inflicted observable damage on bunkers and heavy caliber gun positions in the vicinity of the front line. The ship spotted enemy soldiers on the beach that afternoon and dispersed them with some well-placed gunfire.

Frank E. Evans conducted call fire on communist 122-millimeter gun positions in the vicinity of the bombline on the 24th, but South Korean spotters reported that she failed to knock out the battery. The warship nonetheless observed some enemy troops out in the open and broke up their formation with her salvoes, and then used an aerial spotter to hurl steel into communist supply areas in the small villages of Changdo and Changeyon near Nosong, destroying 13 houses the soldiers seized for their own, and damaging eight more. Moving north to the vicinity of Chanjon, the ship destroyed eight more houses and damaged five that the enemy used to store their supplies. Frank E. Evans shot harassing and interdiction fire overnight, though with unobservable results, and shot a total of 137 anti-aircraft common, eight variable time-nonfragmenting, and 42 white phosphorous rounds. Heukjohwan and Gaeseong continued to patrol the disputed waters throughout these battles, and their vigilance enabled the destroyer to concentrate on her naval gunfire support.

Upon completing the night patrol, the ship began call fire on supply dumps in the vicinity of Kosong using South Korean spotters, though without observable results. The enemy grew aware of the spotters, however, and their mortars menaced the observation post. The ship heeded her allies’ call for help and suppressed the mortars with 5-inch salvoes. Frank E. Evans sighted a party of enemy soldiers out in the open and dispersed them with a dozen main battery projectiles. The communists decided once and for all to rid themselves of the seaward threat and, since they failed to so with their mortars, turned their 122-millimeter pieces against the South Korean observation post. They emplaced the artillery in bunkers to protect them from counter-battery fire and the spotter reported that although the ship’s bombardment silenced the guns (most likely from the concussion of the detonating shells), she failed to knock out the well dug-in positions.

South Korean spotters called her fire onto enemy bunkers and gun positions that increased their activity in the front line on 26 June 1952, though could not assess the damage because of the range and nature of the targets. An enemy mortar team returned to the fray and began to fire at the observers, and the ship swung around and blasted the mortar into silence. Later in the day the ship sighted some communist soldiers attempting to slip past her in the open near Suwan Dan and inflicted an undetermined number of casualties as she shot into them. Observing artillery fire worked both ways and Frank E. Evans turned her 40-millimeter guns against enemy troops using a small fishing settlement north of Changadee Dan as an observation and control post. Despite the range, her lighter guns tore into the position. The destroyer fired 62 high capacity, 51 anti-aircraft common, two white phosphorous, and 336 40-millimeter rounds that busy day.

Heavy morning fog and ground mist during most of the afternoon combined to limit the ship’s naval gunfire support on the 27th, and she only shot 15 high capacity and three white phosphorous shells into a 76.2-millimeter gun position without result. Heukjohwan came about for Chinhae, South Korea, early in the morning, though Gaeseong continued to patrol the area. Returning from night patrol on the 28th, Frank E. Evans relieved TE 77.18 while the latter conducted a strike against the Kojo area. Frank E. Evans shot into a supply dump north and west of Kosong and destroyed or damage five buildings believed to contain military stores, and then responded to South Korean spotters and silenced a 122-millimeter gun position. The ship’s shells touched off a secondary explosion near the gun position, and she shot 68 5-inch high capacity, 132 anti-aircraft common, and eight white phosphorous rounds in the battle.

Frank E. Evans patrolled and then (1–6 July 1952) spent Independence Day at Yokosuka. Following the yard work, she cruised Korean waters and on the 16th of July rendezvoused with the heavy cruiser Bremerton (CA-130) and resumed the task element’s coastal bombardment and blockade ranging from Wŏnsan to Hŭngnam. The ships of TE 95.28 operated within the East Coast Blockading and Patrol Group, TG 95.2, though sometimes shifted because of the necessity of undergoing voyage repairs and upkeep, refueling and provisioning, or simply giving their exhausted crews rest. Frank E. Evans lay to briefly for one such break at Tosa-wan, Shikoku, Japan (5–8 August), followed by Kobe, Honshū (8–10 August), Yokosuka (17–18 August), Sasebo on the 20th, and then (31 August–1 September) Chinhae. Frank E. Evans also embarked Rear Adm. John E. Gingrich, Commander, UN Blockade and Escort Forces, TF 95, at one point for a trip to South Korea. On the night of 4–5 September she returned to the war and shot at enemy troops at Hŭngnam and Sŏngjin. Following that thrust Frank E. Evans returned to Area S and engaged the communist troops ashore (13 September–3 October).

Cmdr. William E. Westhoff, the commanding officer of Tingey (DD-539), led the task element for a time but on the 14th of September 1952, Cmdr. Salmon relieved Westhoff. Frank E. Evans and South Korean Gilju (YMS-514) resumed patrolling the waters off Nan-do and supporting TF Kirkland between the bombline and Kojo, and attempted to control fishing in their area—North Korean fishermen fed communist troops. Helena (CA-75) and O’Brien (DD-725) pounded the enemy along the bombline, and at times Frank E. Evans and Gilju worked with them, though the latter detached more than once for other patrols. South Korean spotters of the I Corps called down 38 of the destroyer’s 5-inch shells on enemy bunkers and fighting positions on the night of 15 September, and she knocked out two of the bunkers. Sometime later some enemy vehicles attempted to drive past the area but the ship spotted and hurled nine more rounds into the column, igniting the fuel in one of the trucks into a small fire.

The following morning the ship landed her shore fire control party to work with the South Korean I Corps observers. Frank E. Evans followed their coordinated spotting and shot 22 5-inch rounds in indirect gunfire against communist troops, supply areas, and bunkers, killing and wounding some of the enemy soldiers. The anti-communist freedom fighters of TF Kirkland unceasingly fought to liberate their homeland, and the ship responded to their request and lobbed six rounds on enemy gun positions as harassing and interdiction fire that night. On the morning of the 17th she landed a second shore fire control party to relieve the first, and the American team joined their South Korean allies as they collectively spotted 60 of the ship’s 5-inch rounds onto a bridge and enemy entrenchments and fighting positions, scoring direct hits on the crossing, as well as tearing up the road and the enemy positions. Overnight she fired three harassing shells at communist billets, and more spectacularly 16 rounds at some enemy vehicles as they tried to negotiate the cratered road and shredded bridge, triggering a moderate secondary explosion followed by a bright fire. An air spotter reinforced the I Corps observers on the 18th as they directed Frank E. Evans’ gunners onto enemy troops that attempted to repair the bridge. Some 22 5-inch rounds temporarily disrupted their efforts, and the shore party returned to the ship.

Yonggung (YMS-518) relieved Gilju on 19 September 1952, and the latter turned southward for Chinhae. The fighting required additional gunfire support and Frank E. Evans followed the directions of the I Corps spotters as she shot 66 5-inch shells against enemy bunkers linked by trenches and dug into reverse slopes. Despite the sighting difficulties imposed by the intervening terrain, the ship damaged three of the bunkers, and cut some of the trenches. The communist troops began to respect the deadly naval bombardments and moved cautiously in well dispersed groups, and that night the destroyer only fired a single indirect round that likely missed her prey.

The South Koreans called for indirect fire against bunkers the following day, and the ship fired seven main battery shells but could not adjust the fire due to communication issues, and canceled the bombardment. Frank E. Evans relieved TE 77.16 of harassing and interdiction fire assignment for the night and shot 118 rounds on ten supply area and supply route targets provided by the I Corps observers. The ship carefully threaded her way through the shoals while encountering poor visibility as she closed the shore on the morning of the 21st and delivered provisions to the men of TF Kirkland. The warship opened the shoreline the following day but operated off the bombline while TE 77.1 replenished, and fired 21 5-inch rounds of indirect fire against enemy bunkers on reverse slopes, though apparently shot over the positions without effect. She then joined Toledo as they formed TE 77.18 but battled heavy weather that reduced the visibility and impeded their operations. Frank E. Evans turned over to Tingey on the 27th, and Westhoff relieved Salmon in command of the task element.

Frank E. Evans joined a powerful task force for Operation Decoy—an amphibious demonstration at Kojo (13–15 October 1952). Allied planners including Vice Adm. Robert P. Briscoe, Commander, Naval Forces, Far East, intended to lure the enemy troops into exposing themselves to attack and destruction by US forces. The stratagem did not include landing troops per se, but giving the illusion of doing so that the communists would rush reserves to the area to contain the apparent landings, only to face air strikes and naval gunfire. Decoy thus consisted of two phases, the first being a feint to draw in the enemy, and the second a raid to pound them. Joint Amphibious TF 7, Rear Adm. Francis X. McInerney, orchestrated the complex maneuvers, and at times alerts went out to elements of the XVI Corps, the 40th and 45th Infantry Divisions, 1st Cavalry Division, and 118th Regimental Combat Team for their possible deployment to Decoy. Maj. Gen. Anthony Trudeau, USA, led the troops.

The task force formed for the diversionary phase centered on the Bombardment Group, TF 71.1, comprising Bombardment Element No. 1, TE 71.11, Helena and a pair of destroyers; Bombardment Element No. 2, TE 71.12, Toledo and two destroyers; and Bombardment Element No. 3, TE 71.13, Iowa (BB-61) and Frank E. Evans; along with the Tactical Air Direction Group, TE 71.2; Beach Reconnaissance and Underwater Demolition Team Group, TE 71.3; Mine Warfare Group, TE 71.4; and the Screen Group, TE 71.5.

Mail issues delayed Frank E. Evans from receiving TF 76 Operation Plan 101(A)-52 in a timely manner, and so she protected Iowa from enemy submarines as they made for the area. The other bombardment ships pounded the enemy positions each day beginning on the 13th, but only on the following night did Iowa and Frank E. Evans finally reach the area. The destroyer borrowed a copy of the plan from the battleship and joined the other ships in shelling the enemy as she hurled 63 high capacity and some white phosphorous rounds shoreward at an observation post, a 76.2-milimeter gun emplacement, an anti-aircraft gun, and two machine gun positions. The communist guns returned fire and several rounds splashed in the water ranging from 60 to 800 feet from the ship. While the ships blasted the enemy soldiers around Kojo, the Americans encountered heavy surf as they rehearsed the landings at Kangnung [Gangneung-si] on South Korea’s east coast, which compelled them to cancel the training.

Frank E. Evans’ bridge and CIC watch teams experienced vexing interruptions from the high noise level resulting from additional voices on the ships’ circuits, but persevered in their duties. The target lists contained in TF 71 (their intrinsic plan) Operation Order 1A-52 proved too lengthy to use effectively, and the ship’s company could not determine the relative importance of the targets assigned the same priority. They thus selected the targets based upon their (apparent) threat to the warship, but Salmon reported that “this individual selection, rather than designation at a higher planning level will not be the most effective means for systematic destruction of enemy installations and forces.”

“Concur with the originator [the task force] that assignment of targets by higher command is desirable,” Capt. James H. Ward of the Seventh Fleet’s staff analyzed, “In this case, the short planning period did not permit the thorough analysis and detailed planning that is required for most effective fire support.”

Attack Force, TF 76, formed to carry out Operation Wrangler, Decoy’s diversionary landings. The force comprised the Flagship Element, TE 76.00; Tactical Air Control Element, TE 76.01; Control Element, TE 76.02; Gunfire Support Group, TE 76.1. The latter numbered Fire Support Unit 1, TU 76.1.1, Iowa (the flagship), Toledo, Bausell (DD-845), and Frank E. Evans; Fire Support Unit 2, TU 76.1.2, Helena (flagship), O’Brien, and Perkins (DD-877); and Fire Support Unit 3, TU 76.1.3, medium landing ships (rocket) LSM(R)-412 (flagship), LSM(R)-527, and LSM(R)-536. In addition, the Air Support Group, TU 76.2; Minesweeping Group, TU 76.3; Transport Group, TU 76.4; Fast Movement Group, TU 76.5; Screening Group, TU 76.6; and the Anti-Submarine Warfare Group, TU 76.7 rounded out the ships gathered for the endeavor.

Frank E. Evans reported her role in Wrangler as to unleash her guns “in conjunction with the amphibious assault in order to effect maximum destruction and neutralization of enemy installations and to support the advance of troops after the landing.” The destroyer broke off from the preliminary bombardment at 1211 on the 14th and steamed to Fire Support Area 1, where she moved into position to the south and inshore of the line of departure. The ship encountered poor visibility and employed aerial spotting with limited effect as she opened fire at 0330 on the 15th, but concentrated on such enemy strong points as she could identify. The chatter on the voice circuits from the many vessels in the battle again interfered with Frank E. Evans’ performance, and a hydraulic line in Mount No. 1 carried away during the barrage, placing the mount in manual operation in train. The gunners spent about 20 minutes working furiously to restore it. The ship lifted her fire later that day so that aircraft could strafe the enemy troops.

Despite the overwhelming firepower arrayed against the communist troops they resolutely engaged the ships, and guns in the northern part of Area No. 13 shot at Frank E. Evans at least 10–15 times, their splashes rising uncomfortably close until the ship turned her own guns on the artillery and silenced them. Enemy shore batteries fired several rounds that narrowly missed Perkins, but killed one man and wounded 17 more.

The soldiers, principally troopers of the 8th Regimental Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, meanwhile clambered into their assault boats at a range of about 23,000 yards from the shore and moved landward. The weather seemed calm at first, but changed rapidly as a front swept in with strong waves that whipped the swells into frothing whitecaps just as the men closed the beaches to 5,000 yards, their turn around point. The coxswains gamely headed their boats back toward the ships but the heavy seas tragically swamped four boats. Some of the troops returned to P’ohang-dong, South Korea, and others to Hokkaido, Japan. Iowa and Frank E. Evans swung around that night and proceeded on independent operations, the destroyer vigilantly shepherding her charge against submarines.

Concrete evidence concerning large scale enemy movements to counter the landings failed to materialize in the following days. Allied planners could not determine whether the lack of activity indicated communist mobility and command, control, communications, and intelligence difficulties, or resolve to await the outcome of the landings and strike at their advantage.

In this deployment Frank E. Evans also shelled enemy positions in and around Conjin, Sŏngjin, Tanchon, Wŏnsan, and Yongdon. The ship emerged from these battles with her guns’ grey paint blistered by their repeated fire until their bare metal glistened in the sun. Frank E. Evans came about from Korean waters on 16 October and visited Fukuoka on Kyūshū, Yokosuka (18–21 October), Midway as TU 96.5.6 (26–27 October), Pearl Harbor (30–31 October) and on 6 November 1952 (which became effective on the 1st of August), reached her new homeport of NS Long Beach, Calif. Frank E. Evans paralleled the coast northward to accomplish post deployment work at Mare Island Naval Shipyard (2 March–2 August 1953).

Her next (13 June–20 December 1953) tour in the western Pacific coincided with the Korean Armistice Agreement, and she thus devoted the deployment primarily to patrol duty. Frank E. Evans made her progressively more familiar stops at Pearl Harbor (20–27 June), on the 1st of July at Midway, and Yokosuka (7–13 July). The destroyer steamed along the Korean coast only once for a brief flurry of activity that overlapped the armistice on 27 July (16 July–9 August). The ship continued her patrols in the event the enemy violated the accord but then (11–23 August) put in to Yokosuka, Kobe (1–2 September), and on the 3rd, Buckner Bay while Frank E. Evans steered southwesterly courses.

She patrolled the Formosa Strait (5–11 September 1953), visited Kaohsiung on the 11th, and then (11–15 September) enjoyed a stint of liberty call in Hong Kong. The warship monitored communist movements around the Pescadores [Penghu] Islands (15–16 September) and thereafter spent a grueling fortnight guarding the strait itself, before she experienced brief visits to Kaohsiung on the 20th and then (21–27 September) Keelung, on the Formosan northeastern coast. Frank E. Evans came about for more northerly waters and visited Sasebo (29 September–7 October, 13–15 October, and 17–21 October). The ship then worked off the Korean west coast until just before Halloween, when she visited Kobe (31 October–8 November) and on the 10th Sasebo as she headed back to the East China Sea. Frank E. Evans carried out operations in that area until she turned for home on 26 November. The ship prepared for her journey while at Yokosuka (28 November–1 December), touched at Pearl Harbor (11–13 December), and returned to Long Beach on 20 December 1953 to spend Christmas at home. The ship conducted a post deployment overhaul at San Francisco (28 January–1 May 1954).

From 1954 through 1960, Frank E. Evans completed five tours of duty in the western Pacific, as well as joining extensive training operations along the west coast and in the Hawaiian Islands, occasionally with Canadian naval ships. The seasoned destroyer trained in southern Californian waters for the summer of 1954, alternating between Long Beach and San Diego. Frank E. Evans deployed to the western Pacific (10 August 1954–8 February 1955). The ship stopped at Pearl Harbor (16–23 August), Midway (26–27 August), and Yokosuka (1–13 September). Frank E. Evans slipped past Corregidor Island into Manila Bay for her maiden visit to the Philippine capital (22–24 September). She then (25–29 September) passed Grande Island for her first port of call at Subic Bay, following which she took part in a series of exercises in Philippine waters, broken by intermittent pauses at Manila (15–18 October) and on the following day at Subic Bay. The ship turned westward and visited Kaohsiung (20–26 and 30–31 October) and Hong Kong (26–30 October), and then resumed patrolling the Formosa Strait.

On the 27th of October 1954, Typhoon Pamela formed as a tropical depression, but increased until it reached category 5 super typhoon status as it roared across the South China Sea. Alfred A. Cunningham, Blue, and Frank E. Evans patrolled off the Tachen [Dachen] Islands on the morning of 4 November, when they detached to steam southerly courses through the Pescadores Channel to skirt the edge of Pamela and ride out the tempest. The ships checked their fuel to ensure they would be able to sail as stable platforms, and received orders to make for Passumpsic (AO-107), which lay at Kaohsiung, or to steer for Subic Bay if they could not reach her. Frank E. Evans reported her fuel at 58% at noon on the 4th. She therefore rendezvoused with the oiler late in the afternoon and just before sunset topped off the fuel tanks as the two ships rode out the heavy swells north of Kaohsiung in the lee of Formosa.

Pamela ploughed westward and the trio of destroyers evaded to the north through the Pescadores Channel. The ocean rolled from ahead and the ships slowed to eight knots to clear the typhoon in a semi-circular formation. By the morning of the 5th, they reached the northern end of the strait, battling heavy seas and gale-force winds from a tight pressure gradient. Pamela crossed astern at 1422 and the destroyers turned south, but at 1815 the destroyer received a distress call concerning Muskingum (T-AK-198). British Royal Navy headquarters in Hong Kong announced that the 7,450-ton Military Sea Transportation Service-manned cargo ship temporarily lost control as she steamed about 130 miles southwest of Formosa, and some 60 miles from Pamela’s center. Frank E. Evans immediately swung around and raced back into the fury of the storm, heavy seas and winds pounding and damaging the ship as she crashed through the swells. Muskingum regained control and survived the super typhoon, and Frank E. Evans received recall orders as she reached a position south of Kaohsiung later that night, and she refueled from Passumpsic and patrolled the waters off Quemoy [Kinmen]. The ship required repairs and touched briefly at Kaohsiung on the 8th and then (12–25 November) Yokosuka, Buckner Bay on the 3rd of December, and Sasebo (5–15 December).

The force of the waves bent the supports of the forward outboard shoe of Frank E. Evans’ motor whaleboat, and forced the shoe into the boat, breaking through strakes. The seas dished in two bulkheads about two inches each, cracked four vent ducts, and the supports for five life rafts. Pamela tore loose the torpedo dolly and carried it into vent duct 1-130, tearing a hole about 12-inch in diameter. The high winds carried away a number of miscellaneous items such as stanchions, reels, and the flag staff, but sailors retrieved most of them on deck. The ship’s company repaired many of the issues, and fabricated a temporary patch for the motor whaleboat.

Frank E. Evans steered for the South China Sea and spent the holidays at Hong Kong (22–29 December) and the New Year (31 December 1954–3 January 1955) at Manila. The warship touched at Subic Bay (3 and 7 January) in the midst of training in that area, and swung around to the north and made for Japanese waters. Frank E. Evans carried out her usual homeward voyage preparations while at Yokosuka (14–20 January), and called at Midway (26–27 January) and Pearl Harbor (29 January–2 February) as she headed for Long Beach. She then completed an overhaul and a series of training exercises along the west coast.

The ship crossed the Pacific again as she steered for her forward stations (11 October 1955–31 March 1956) and stopped at Pearl Harbor (17–24 October), Midway (27–28 October), and Yokosuka (2–5 November). Frank E. Evans patrolled the western Pacific as she monitored Soviet, North Korean, and Chinese communist ships, submarines, and aircraft, halting her operations in brief interludes to refuel and replenish at Okinawa on 14 November, Kobe (22 November–3 December), Yokosuka (6–7 December and 20 December 1955–2 January 1956 and the 3rd again after a quick sortie), and Naha, Okinawa, on 13 December 1955. The New Year brought a fresh regimen of patrols, training exercises, and port visits including Buckner Bay (10–11 January 1956), Subic Bay (16–30 January), her maiden visit to bustling Singapore (3–7 February), Keelung on 12 February, and Kaohsiung (13–14 and 25–27 February), and she wrapped up this round of port calls by navigating through the crowded waters of Hong Kong for a visit (29 February–4 March). The destroyer turned back toward the Japanese home islands and put in to Yokosuka for her final visit of the deployment (9–17 March), and then headed for home, stopping quickly at Pearl Harbor (25–26 March) along the way. Frank E. Evans required additional work after all of her time at sea and accomplished an overhaul at San Francisco (27 May–28 August), following which she trained alternatively out of Long Beach and San Diego.

The ship stopped at Pearl Harbor (11–16 November) as she deployed into the vast expanse of the Pacific (6 November 1956–13 May 1957). She then touched at Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshalls (21–22 November), but steamed southerly courses and visited Melbourne, Australia, during the Games of the XVI Olympiad (30 November–10 December). Following that pleasant visit Frank E. Evans had other work to do to monitor East Bloc forces and so reached the Seventh Fleet on the 21st of November. She operated with TG 70.6 (18 December 1956–13 January 1957), TF 72 (6 February–15 March), Cruiser Destroyer Force Pacific Fleet beginning on 17 March. The warship made a whirlwind tour of the Far East and visited Guam (21–24 December), Yokosuka (27 December 1956–7 January 1957), Sasebo (12–18 January and 24 January–6 February), Subic Bay (20–21 February, 6–7 March, and 5–8 April), Kaohsiung (8–12, 17–21, and 26–29 March), and Hong Kong (11–16 April). The ship stopped again at Yokosuka (21–28 April), Midway (4–5 May), and Pearl Harbor on 7 May during her return voyage. The destroyer then completed a yard overhaul at San Francisco and training period.

The man-of-war deployed again to the western Pacific but charted courses into more southerly waters along the way (15 January–21 July 1958). Her voyage included a visit to Pago Pago at American Samoa (27–28 January), Wellington, New Zealand (1–2 February), Hobart, Tasmania, Australia (6–11 February), Brisbane in that country (14–15 February), and on toward her more familiar stations to the westward. Frank E. Evans called at Guam (23 February–7 March), Buckner Bay (on the 11th of March, 3–5, 23 [a brief sortie] and 23–24 May), Subic Bay (16–17 March and 10–17 May), and Yokosuka (23 March–4 April, 10–20, 26–27, 27–30 April, and 18–22 June), and Kobe (23 June–3 July) in that region of the world. In addition, she took part in many operations, which included a week-long weapons demonstration for representatives from the eight South East Asian Treaty Organization (SEATO) signatories (the U.S., Australia, Great Britain, Republic of the Philippines, France, New Zealand, Pakistan and Thailand) and six other nations. The participating ships fired their latest missiles, and conducted a series of anti-air and anti-submarine warfare exercises. When Frank E. Evans cleared that region she touched at Midway on 12 July and Pearl Harbor on the 15th on her way home. The ship trained in Californian waters following her deployment, and underwent an extensive overhaul.

Frank E. Evans worked with TG 31.1 (10–11 January 1959) and (9 March–28 August 1959) then Cruiser Destroyer Force Pacific Fleet as she set out on a western Pacific deployment (29 March–28 August), this time as a screen and rescue destroyer for attack aircraft carrier Shangri-La (CVA-38) and CVG-11. Frank E. Evans stopped at Pearl Harbor (3–6 April) and Yokosuka (15–21 April). The ship steamed across Hiroshima Bay and up the Nishiki River Delta to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni in May, and at times also visited Buckner Bay, Manila Bay, Hong Kong, Sasebo, Yokosuka (again), and Kaohsiung. The ships also operated with TG 70.6 as they carried out a variety of exercises. Frank E. Evans took part in a midshipman’s summer cruise (June–early August), and joined U.S., British, Australian, and New Zealand ships for Saddle-Up, a large scale SEATO-sponsored amphibious assault exercise on North Borneo. Frank E. Evans called at Guam, Midway, and Pearl Harbor on her return voyage and returned to waiting friends and family at Long Beach after steaming almost 40,000 miles.

The progressively weathered ship transferred from Destroyer Division (DesDiv) 131 to DesDiv 132 on 15 February 1960. The Navy orchestrated the move in order to more closely integrate her into anti-submarine warfare. Frank E. Evans therefore sailed again for a seven-month (17 May–18 December 1960) western Pacific cruise. This time she set out with DesDiv 132, the ships of which operated as a Hunter-Killer Group based around antisubmarine warfare support aircraft carrier Hornet (CVS-12). The flagship embarked CarDiv 19, Air Antisubmarine Squadron (VS) 37 and Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron (HS) 2. At times during the deployment Carrier Tactical Electronics Warfare Squadron (VAW) 13 Detachment N, Marine Helicopter Transport Squadron (HMR) 162, Marine Helicopter Squadron (HMX) 1, and Utility Squadron (VU) 1 Detachment KD-21 also operated from Hornet.

The group spent many weeks training in anti-submarine operations prior to setting out from Long Beach, and an additional six weeks of similar training honing their skills in Hawaiian waters. The exercises under the Seventh Fleet’s operational command included Bulldog III (26 September–15 October) and Treble Clef (5–15 November). Hornet hosted the premier show of the Blue Angels television series in January 1961, and members of the cast and notable radio, television, and newspaper representatives boarded the ship for the event. Frank E. Evans received nationwide publicity when she rescued five Okinawans, stranded at sea for ten days without food or water. The ship also made port at Kobe, Kōchi, Suzaki, and Yokosuka, Japan, Okinawa, Subic Bay, and Hong Kong.

Frank E. Evans entered one of the milestones of the ship’s career when she took part (6 February–9 October 1961) in Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization (FRAM) II, a program intended to extend the life of some of the Navy’s ships. Planners envisioned carrying out the initiative in three phases, which in the case of World War II-vintage destroyers consisted primarily of installing equipment and systems to enable the ships to contend more effectively with the numerous and increasingly capable East Bloc submarines. Perhaps most dramatically, Frank E. Evans underwent a FRAM II conversion to embark and operate a Gyrodyne QH-50 Drone Anti-Submarine Helicopter (DASH). The work included adding a small hangar and flight deck aft, and systems to facilitate controlling DASH. Shipyard workers also mounted new 12.75-inch triple torpedo tubes, as well as a pair of 21-inch torpedo tubes that could launch Mk 37 anti-submarine homing torpedoes.

The warship trained to refresh her crew for the rigors ahead, in the course of which she detected Blueback (SS-581) while the submarine attempted a surveillance patrol off Long Beach harbor. The ship also rescued a vessel in distress during her busy regimen on 12 October. Civilian mariner Eugene Brewer put to sea in a small power boat but sheared a propeller shaft about 16 miles from Santa Catalina Island, Calif. Frank E. Evans rescued Brewer and turned him over to the Coast Guard. Following five weeks of refresher training, the destroyer completed the battle problem and returned to Long Beach for Christmas leave and upkeep.

Frank E. Evans joined Hornet, with Anti-Submarine Carrier Air Group (CVSG) 57, comprising the 20 new Grumman S-2D Trackers of VS-35 and VS-37, 15 new Sikorsky SH-3A Sea Kings of HS-2, and the five Douglas EA-1E Skyraiders of VAW 11 Detachment N, and DesDiv 132 again as she stood out of Long Beach for her 11th deployment to the western Pacific (7 June–21 December 1962). Frank E. Evans accomplished an extensive operational readiness evaluation in Hawaiian waters (15 June–1 July) before she resumed the voyage westward and reinforced the Seventh Fleet, though in company with Hornet and DesDiv 251. The group planned a combined anti-submarine warfare exercise with the Japanese for late August, but after one day cancelled the training in order to avoid Typhoon Ruth, which surged into a Category 5 super typhoon as it cut its deadly path across the western Pacific to the east of Tōkyō before it turned northeastward. A powerful group built around Kitty Hawk (CVA-63) and Hornet put on a weapons demonstration for SEATO military officers on 5 December. CarDiv 7 led the exposition from Kitty Hawk. As the ships turned for the hoped for safety of home a couple of weeks before Christmas, Tropical Storm Lucy bedeviled them and prevented Hornet from refueling from an oiler. The carrier put in to Pearl Harbor on 16 December to pump on board the precious liquid.

The ship shifted from DesDiv 132 to DesDiv 231 in April 1963. Two months later, on the 10th of June, Frank E. Evans demonstrated the importance of food for morale when she received the coveted Ney Memorial Award as the best general mess afloat. She stood out to sea as part of DesDiv 231 in company with Hornet for extensive anti-submarine exercises off Hawaii (29 July–20 August 1963). Following the return to Long Beach she received a variable depth sonar system as an addition to her FRAM II conversion, in order to better detect and track submarines. Frank E. Evans accomplished the sonar installation in time to set out with Hornet and CVSG-57 for another western Pacific deployment (9 October 1963–15 April 1964). The Hunter-Killer Group again participated in an operational readiness evaluation in Hawaiian waters (9 October–12 November) prior to continuing westward and reporting to the Seventh Fleet. The ships took part in large amphibious training exercise Backpack on Taiwan (29 February–10 March 1964), in which Hornet ferried marine assault helos to the operating area and then provided anti-submarine protection for the landings.

Following the destroyer’s return to Long Beach, she underwent a regular overhaul, which included improvements in the electronic equipment and rejuvenating tired machinery (July–September). Frank E. Evans then sailed into a rigorous refresher training regimen off San Diego. Early in the New Year in January 1965, she joined Bennington (CVS-20) and DesDiv 231 as the First Fleet Ready Anti-Submarine Warfare Group. Frank E. Evans screened Bennington and escorted the marines en route to and during their amphibious assault on Camp Pendleton, Calif., while she took part in joint USN/USMC exercise Silver Lance (23 February–8 March).

The destroyer turned her prow westward in company with Bennington and Anti-Submarine Warfare Group 5, which included CVSG-59, for a western Pacific deployment (22 March–7 October 1965). The ships sailed into an operational readiness evaluation off Hawaii (31 March–9 April), and then resumed their voyage to the Far East. Soviet Tupolev Tu-95 Bears and Myasishchev M-4 Bisons flew over the ships at times as they neared Japanese waters. Frank E. Evans reached Yokosuka on the final day of the month, where Anti-Submarine Warfare Group 5 became Anti-Submarine Warfare Group, Seventh Fleet. The ship mounted two .50 caliber machine guns on the 02 level for defense against close-in enemy surface craft. A number of crewmen took a bus tour of Tōkyō, where they stopped for dinner and a floor show, but additional events including softball contests were rained out. Bennington in the meantime relieved Yorktown (CVS-10).

Frank E. Evans joined about 24 other Australian, British, Thai, and U.S. naval warships and auxiliaries, more than 10,000 men, and Australian, British, Filipino, French, New Zealand, and U.S. aircraft during SEATO exercise Seahorse (12–22 May). Planners set up the exercise to provide training in convoy protection from aircraft, ships, and submarines during a passage from Manila to Saigon, South Vietnam. The crowded conditions in Manila Bay, a large harbor that can accommodate multiple vessels, meant that Frank E. Evans anchored nearly three miles from the nearest landing. Heavy rains made boating conditions miserable and the disappointed men who could not go ashore lamented “Liberty, but no boats.”

The ship screened the convoy from Manila as four “enemy” submarines, along with fast attack craft and aircraft, alternatively shadowed and attacked the ships. The staff built a surprise move into the exercise and the convoy diverted while en route to Bangkok, Thailand. Frank E. Evans anchored at the mouth of the Bangkok River, some 30 miles from the city as the crow flies, or 70 miles by road (22–24 May). Sailors snapped pictures of water buffaloes, ducks, beautiful flower gardens, and communities’ all but afloat as the people lived on houses built on stilts thrust into the silt of the canals. “No wonder the houses are built on stilts,” Capt. James B. Allen, the ship’s commanding officer, observed in his Family Gram to the people at home, as the monsoon rains drenched the area and caused widespread flooding.

Frank E. Evans turned southward for Philippine waters on 4 May 1965, and tested Ryan, Inc., remote controlled speedboat Firefish en route. The destroyer stopped briefly (8–10 May) at Subic Bay to offload Firefish and then steamed to Manila. The warship swung around and returned to Subic Bay, where she accomplished voyage repairs and upkeep (28 May–2 June). The monsoon rains continued to pound the region and impeded the maintenance, but the ship completed the principal work orders, and then stood out for a brief bombardment exercise. Frank E. Evans visited Hong Kong (5–10 June), and then (10–14 June) set out from Chinese waters for a period of further upkeep at Sasebo. Two Soviet Kotlin class destroyers, a Whiskey class submarine, and oiler Polyarnik shadowed the ships at times.

The ship went back to sea for Crossed T, a joint U.S. and Japanese anti-air and anti-submarine exercise in which she shepherded Bennington and TG 70.4 during a transit from Sasebo to the Sea of Japan (21–26 June). Bennington reported that the Soviets “responded vigorously” and sent a Krupny class destroyer and a Khabarov class intelligence gathering vessel to keep tabs on the progress of the task group. In addition, Tupolev Tu-16 Badgers flew “numerous” reconnaissance and surveillance flights against the ships during both daylight and nighttime hours.

Frank E. Evans visited Hakodate, a port on Hokkaido in northern Japan (26–30 June), where the ship’s company donated $200, a year’s tuition, to Kimijima Hiroshi, a local high school student. The ship trained with the group in anti-submarine operations while steaming southerly courses toward Okinawa (30 June–8 July), but the next day anchored in Buckner Bay to escape Super Typhoon Freda as the storm tore across the western Pacific. The tempest ravaged northern Luzon in the Philippines and continued on to devastate Hainan, China. Frank E. Evans evaded Freda and then (10–14 July) came about for Yokosuka.

Frank E. Evans stood out of Yokosuka on the 20th and turned for the Vietnam War, where she served on the gunline (29 July–6 August and 24–26 September 1965). Bennington operated as TG 70.4/77.9 surface and sub-surface surveillance coordinator to detect, report, track, and photograph all shipping which entered the Team Yankee designated areas. Aircraft flying from her flight deck accumulated 5,770 flight surveillance hours in this endeavor. The group rejoined and steered a course for Yokosuka, but a Soviet “out of area” group consisting of a Kynda class cruiser, two Krupnys, and oiler Alatir moved through the region and Bennington and her consorts diverted to monitor the Russians. The American ships evaded Super Typhoon Trix (Walding) and then (19–23 September 1965) slipped into Yokosuka before turning for home.

Mrs. Evans supported Frank E. Evans throughout the sponsor’s life, and she traveled from her home in Lake Charles, La., to Long Beach to speak to the crew when Cmdr. C. Thor Hanson relieved Cmdr. Allen as the ship’s commanding officer on 16 May 1966. The usual series of yard work installations and repairs before the destroyer deployed included the welcome addition of air conditioners to most of the living spaces on board.

Frank E. Evans steamed for the western Pacific again (9 June–20 December 1966), as a ship of the Hunter-Killer Group led by Kearsarge (CVS-33), with CVSG-53 embarked, Rear Adm. Eli T. Reich in command. The carrier joined the destroyer in mid-day, and they sailed with Everett F. Larson (DD-830) and James E. Kyes (DD-787). They also operated with the aircraft from the carrier’s air group, which initially numbered 20 S-2E Trackers of VS-21 and VS-29, five Grumman E-1B Tracers of Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 11 Detachment R, 21 SH-3A Sea Kings of HS-6, and a single Grumman C-1A Trader (BuNo 146023). Frank E. Evans worked up with these aircraft and vessels during multiple anti-air and anti-submarine drills along the way, including gun shoots at target drones, and again during an operational readiness evaluation in Hawaiian waters (15–17 June, and 20–25 June).

Frank E. Evans took a brief break to moor at Pearl Harbor, but shortly thereafter joined James E. Kyes for a two-day shore bombardment exercise. Frank E. Evans developed a skilled softball team and defeated a number of other teams during the deployment: Ernest G. Small (DD-838) (2), Everett F. Larson (2), Hollister (DD-788) (1), and James E. Kyes (2). Everett F. Larson only defeated them once, and the ship’s softball team gained a reputation for success. “I should tell you,” Cmdr. Hanson noted in his Family Gram, “that a book entitled “Tips on Bowling” has made its appearance in the Officer’s wardroom.” A small condenser in the steam cycle “gave up the ghost,” and the engineering work delayed the ship’s departure.

The ship continued westward on 7 July 1966, and for two hours on the 10th paused at Midway Island to refuel. The ship’s cruise book photographer snapped a shot of one of the island’s ubiquitous Gooney Birds standing before the sign to the garrison’s Supply Department and observed wryly: “This picture is not meant to reflect upon the background of the bird.” The captain elaborated upon the crew’s entertaining experience to their families: “At this time of year the young ones are being taught to fly. This makes an amusing scene, for as I am sure some of you have heard, even the older ones have quite a time taking off and landing on the beach. Watching the younger ones try to learn from fathers who aren’t too sure themselves can be pretty hilarious. But once they are in flight, in their own medium of the air, they are extremely graceful and competent.”

The destroyer pushed on and crowded three days (17–20 July 1966) of loading supplies into her stay at Yokosuka. A tour group from the ship attended a Japanese theater play in Tōkyō and then a sumptuous dinner at a traditional welcoming feast. Thick fog enveloped the area as Frank E. Evans stood back out to sea, and she navigated by radar through the busy harbor, a trying experience for watchstanders. The ship sailed for anti-submarine exercise Crossed T III with U.S., Japanese, and South Korean vessels and aircraft as part of TG 70.4. Kearsarge led the group, which also comprised guided missile destroyer Cochrane (DDG-21), Everett F. Larson, Frank E. Evans, James E. Kyes, Radford (DD-446), Walker (DD-517), submarine Bonefish (SS-582), and Guadalupe (AO-32). The group sailed through the Tsugaru Strait into the Sea of Japan, and rendezvoused with Japanese ships Amatsukaze (DDG-163), Ayanami (DD-103), Isonami (DD-104), Shikinami (DD-106), and Uranami (DD-105). Japanese Cmdr. Hyakutaro Sato embarked in Frank E. Evans as an exchange officer. During the long sojourn at sea the ship held a “Beardforall” as the officers and enlisted men alike joined in the “shave-in.” The ship’s company also enlivened the journey by trap shooting from the DASH flight deck, but their voyage soon triggered other excitement.

The allies operated brazenly in proximity to waters the Soviets considered their own. As the ships came about and worked their way on southerly courses through the Gulf of Tartary, a strait that separates the island of Sakhalin from the Asian mainland, on 27 July 1966 they encountered dense fog. The visibility dropped and they manned their fog details and repeatedly sounded fog signals. The Soviets showed interest in the proceedings and during the forenoon watch Soviet destroyer Veskiy (DD.022) suddenly emerged from the murk and shadowed the allied vessels. The latter moved into a circular formation, and Frank E. Evans and some of the other ships of the screen took turns steering various courses and speeds to work between the snooper, whom they dubbed “Mama Bear,” and the carrier.

The fog dissipated and with it the Kotlin class Soviet ship, but that afternoon the destroyer earned the appellation of Mama Bear when she returned with a pair of Komar class missile boats, which the Americans nicknamed “Baby Bears.” The trio closed and observed the allies before the Russians turned from the area on a northwesterly course at ten knots. Bonefish rejoined the formation on the afternoon of the 28th and the submarine also kept an eye on the intrusive Soviets. A pair of Soviet aircraft flew over Frank E. Evans’ bow from starboard to port at 1708, and shortly thereafter, their eavesdropping friend Veskiy returned and shadowed them throughout the night. Frank E. Evans and Walker took turns conducting “shouldering tactics” against their Cold War adversary. In the midst of these confrontations, a helo flew over from Kearsarge and hoisted Ens. Ray M. Messinger, the destroyer’s electronics material officer, aloft and to the carrier for a briefing on the Soviets, and then returned him to the ship. The Japanese in the meantime broke off and returned to their ports.

The Americans continued to churn southward and on the 29th rendezvoused with South Korean destroyer Chungmu (DD.91), ex-Erbin (DD-631), escort ships Chungnam (DE.73) ex-Holt (DE-706), Kang Won (DE.72), ex-Sutton (DE-771), and Kyong Ki (DE.71), ex-Muir (DE-770), and frigates Duman (PF.61), ex-Muskogee (PF-49), Imchin (PF.66), ex-Sausalito (PF-4), and Naktong (PF.65), ex-Hoquiam (PF-5). The two navies carried out a number of exercises, and two of the ship’s crewmen embarked on board a South Korean ship for three days. The men returned complimenting their hard working allies but complained about the food, which consisted largely of a repetitive menu of cabbage and rice. As they began the exchange on the afternoon of the 29th, Frank E. Evans’ sonar operators detected a Russian submarine and lost her again in the “baffles,” only to reacquire the contact. The slippery boat played a cat-and-mouse game with the ship, turning and diving to break contact, and then inadvertently revealing herself again until she maneuvered out of detection. The Americans and South Koreans concluded their training and detached, the latter turning for home, and the former for Japanese waters, with Frank E. Evans ending that part of the voyage at Sasebo on 2 August. The destroyer carried out upkeep alongside a repair ship, and some men visited nearby Nagasaki, while another group attended a two-day retreat at the mountain hot-springs resort of Unzen.

She departed Sasebo through fog on 8 August 1966, as part of TG 70.4 to join fast carriers in the Gulf of Tonkin in the South China Sea. At times during the southward voyage the formation comprised Kearsarge and ships of DesDiv 231: Cochrane, Frank E. Evans, James E. Kyes, Radford, and Walke (DD-723). Castor also joined them for some of the journey. Upon reaching the gulf on the 11th Frank E. Evans served as a plane guard for Kearsarge, and in addition, Constellation (CVA-64), with Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 15 embarked (14–16 August), followed on the 17th by Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVA-42) and CVW-1. Cochrane and Frank E. Evans broke away for an anti-submarine and “environmental” exercise with Pomodon (SS-486) on the 21st and 22nd, and then Frank E. Evans detached as a plane guard for Oriskany (CVA-34), with CVW-16.

Within hours of Frank E. Evans’ arrival on station off Oriskany she rescued a pilot. The Americans repeatedly bombed but failed to drop the Thanh Hóa Bridge [Hàm Rồng—Dragon’s Jaw], a crossing over the Song Ma, a river in North Vietnam. Reconnaissance aircraft detected the enemy repairing the bridge, and so a flight of four Douglas A-4Es launched from Oriskany to bomb the bridge on a midnight mission on Tuesday, 23 August 1966. A clear but dark night greeted the pilots with an unlimited ceiling, and visibility of five nautical miles with some haze. A pair of Vought F-8Es of Fighter Squadron 111 took off to escort the Skyhawks.

Oldnick 101, Lt. (j.g.) Harding J. Meadows III, flew one of the Crusaders (BuNo 150907) but moments later his jet suffered a malfunction and a series of engine explosions rocked the aircraft. Meadows bailed out at 2,000 feet and splashed into 30 fathoms of the dark Pacific, near 18°47’N, 107°20’E. Frank E. Evans steamed 15° to either side of a flight course of 2,500–4,000 yards when FTG3 Edgar A. Holsopple and SN Bruce W. Caldwell, a pair of alert director operators, spotted what they believed to be a jet hitting the water ahead and to starboard of the ship, followed by red flares drifting down toward the water, at 0017. Holsopple and Caldwell then sighted a glow in the water that they surmised might be a life ring light, but which turned out to be the pilot’s helmet, coated with a luminous paint. SR Timothy L. Brandman of the ship’s Deck Rescue Detail dived into the sea and helped his shipmates pull Meadows on board, all inside of ten minutes at 0027. Oriskany’s Helicopter No. 47 brought Meadows a cake and ice cream the following morning, and then returned the shaken but uninjured pilot to the carrier. The other Crusader and the Skyhawks in the meantime roared toward the bridge and spotted three sets of bright lights that they believed to be a convoy of trucks. The pilots dived to bomb the apparently lucrative targets, only to discover what they identified as a “Flak trap [anti-aircraft artillery]” when 37 and 57 millimeter guns opened fire. The Americans struck the enemy gun positions though could not accurately assess the damage in the darkness, and circled around and returned to the carrier.

“Your expeditious recovery of downed pilot is highly commended,” Capt. John H. Iarrabino, Oriskany’s commanding officer, sent to Cmdr. Hanson. “Such a performance is greatly beneficial to our flyer’s morale. Welcome to our group with a hearty thanks and well done.”

The ship did not attain such success two nights later on the 25th, when she detached from Oriskany and rendezvoused with Buck (DD-761) to search for another downed pilot. Lt. (j.g.) William H. Bullard of Attack Squadron 164 launched from Oriskany in an A-4E (BuNo 152084) for a combat mission. Bullard climbed into the night but the Skyhawk turned sharply, lost altitude, and fell into the sea. Frank E. Evans received a message concerning the crash and came about and raced toward Buck at 0507, at 0540 taking station 1,000 yards on her starboard beam. The two ships searched the area extensively, and maneuvered to observe some debris at 0900, but they failed to find any reliable trace of Bullard or his jet.

The Allies initiated Operation Market Time to halt enemy smuggling and infiltrating by sea and rivers into South Vietnam. A growing fleet of vessels took part in Market Time and American inshore patrol craft, which the crew nicknamed “swifties” [Swift Boats], and South Vietnamese gunboats, made the ship’s side more than once for briefings and ice cream. One of the swift boats, PCF-79, Lt. (j.g.) Raymond T. Michelini, officer-in-charge, slid alongside Frank E. Evans during the first dog watch on Saturday the 27th. Michelini boarded the ship and conferred with Cmdr. Hanson concerning the swift boat’s recent operations, and acquainted him with the latest intelligence on enemy movements in the area. Coast Guard cutter Point Caution (WPB-82301), came alongside to port on the afternoon of 28 August to further brief Hanson and his crew. The Coast Guardsmen served with Division 12 of Squadron 1 out of Da Nang, South Vietnam, and often boarded South Vietnamese junks to search for smuggled weapons or narcotics.

Frank E. Evans carried out a variety of tasks during her maiden deployment to the Vietnam War, and she took her turn off the northern coast of South Vietnam, ready to provide naval gunfire support to the allied troops fighting ashore in Quảng Ngãi Province in the I Corps Tactical Zone. At times on the gunline Army Cessna O-1 or marine OE-1 Bird Dogs spotted the ship’s gunfire. The ship’s gunners referred to their 5-inch rounds as “Buttons for Victor Charlie’s [the Việt Cộng’s—People’s Liberation Armed Forces of South Vietnam (PLAF)] pajamas.”

When the men of the 1st Marine Division urgently requested help during the forenoon watch on 29 August 1966, the ship sped to the area and fired 47 5-inch high capacity rounds, 32 anti-aircraft common shells, and nine white phosphorus rounds to starboard into the enemy structures in Fire Mission 1057 (1009–1144). Afterburner 26O, a marine spotter, called the fire from the air and estimated that at least 95% of the shells landed in the target area. The ship’s cooks and mess cooks then fed the hungry men their noon meal but SA Theodore G. Boehm, one of the mess cooks, partially amputated his right thumb when he slipped while cutting bread on the slicing machine for lunch. The doctor treated Boehm and he gamely returned to duty. The following evening on 29 August, the warship entered Da Nang harbor and embarked British Cmdr. Alan A. Henscher, RN, as an observer for several days.

The destroyer continued her time on the gunline and on the morning of 30 August 1966, she hurled 35 5-inch high capacity rounds, 13 anti-aircraft common shells, and 11 white phosphorus rounds to port into an enemy storage area (0712–0808). The gunners did not fire as well as the previous day, however, and Afterburner 26B estimated that only 40% of the rounds landed on target, though added that at least one shell “destroyed” one of the targets. Frank E. Evans rounded out the month by patrolling off Huế, and suddenly received word of troops desperately fighting ashore about 16 miles northwest of Da Nang on the morning watch on the 31st. The ship topped-off her fuel from Cimarron (AO-22) and then (1052–1115) shot eight 5-inch high capacity rounds, 14 anti-aircraft common shells, and 22 smokeless powder type (to reduce the hygroscopic tendencies of the propellant) rounds to port as the enemy assembled to attack the marines. Afterburner 26B and Likely 1, a spotter on the beach, both lauded the gunners’ aim and reported that 100% of their fire struck the area, the latter reporting “excellent coverage and perfect rounds.” The insurgents struck back again that night and Frank E. Evans steered for an operating area barely three and a half miles off the coast as she fired illumination rounds to starboard to support the beleaguered marines (2212–2226).

The ship began September by serving as a plane guard in turn for Franklin D. Roosevelt, Constellation, and Kearsarge. She suddenly swung around on the 1st and raced at 25 knots toward the site of a downed aircraft, only to discover that she received an inaccurate report and the aircraft had recovered safely. The ship also blasted the enemy with her 5-inch salvoes. Frank E. Evans came about in company with Kearsarge, James E. Kyes, Radford, and Renshaw (DD-499), and steamed toward Subic Bay (4–5 September 1966), the captain granting the exhausted men a chance to unwind en route and enjoy the tropical weather with a barbeque and sun bathing. In addition, Capt. Lewis E. Davis, Commander, DesRon 23, and Lt. Cmdr. Kevin H. Mulkern, his aide, heloed over to the ship for lunch and an afternoon of trap shooting on the 4th. RD3 Rae Standley consistently scored top marks and won the first prize of a pair of binoculars in the contest. Second place went to GM3 Phillip Brown, who won a fishing reel, and FN Jack Jones took 3rd place and a fishing rod. The warship slipped into Subic Bay on 5 September and moored in a nest with James E. Kyes, Renshaw, and Bryce Canyon (AD-36).

Frank E. Evans took advantage of her time alongside the tender to accomplish upkeep, and to prepare for a patrol in the Taiwan Strait, but torrential seasonal rains delayed the work. A tour group of two officers and a dozen enlisted men from the ship’s company ventured to the Hundred Islands National Park, a protected area in Lingayan Gulf in northern Luzon. The rains washed out the roads and stranded the men, however, and they could not return to the ship in time for the departure and only rejoined her 14 days later in Kaohsiung. The destroyer diligently patrolled Taiwan Strait and when she visited Kaohsiung (12–15 September), Lt. (j.g.) Lawrence W. Flood, MC, led 25 men armed with tools, paint, and medicines and traveled into the Pingtung Mountains east of the port to aid a tiny aborigine village. Speaking through Dr. Flynn, a Christian missionary who worked with the villagers, “Doc” Flood and the crewmen instructed the people in personal hygiene, and working through practical application taught them rudimentary carpentry, masonry, and painting skills. The ship planned on a longer visit but Typhoon Elsie (Pitang) drenched the island with downpours that caused horrific flooding and collapsed more than 100 homes. The ship emergency sortied and steamed with guided missile frigate Halsey (DLG-23), Chevalier (DD-805), and Everett F. Larson, but Elsie changed course and she returned to Kaohsiung and refueled on the 17th, before setting out again.

Frank E. Evans made port at Keelung (20–24 September 1966). The ship held a two-night party at Nancy’s Harbor Hotel in the town, and also granted 48-hour liberty so that men could visit the nearby capital of Taipei. Hanson had served as a liaison officer at Taipei a couple of years before and brought several groups of American and Chinese friends on board for tours. “I was very proud of the appearance of the ship and the crew; it was a real pleasure to show them off,” he told the families at home. The ship resumed her patrol of the Taiwan Strait (24–29 September), visited Keelung again, and then returned to sea.

Chin Chi Lung (CT2.1023), a 50-foot long and 20-ton Chinese fishing boat, set out from Kaohsiung under Hung Ching-tien, the vessel’s master, and his crew of eight, early in October 1966. Chin Chi Lung’s engine failed and she drifted for two to three days. The fishermen ate their remaining food and grew increasingly frantic until 1225 on the 4th, when Frank E. Evans steamed in the area and a lookout sighted the derelict craft wallowing in the long swells. The Chinese waved flags and rags to attract the destroyer’s attention, and she reversed course and closed the junk to port. Hanson called upon Lt. Cmdr. Liang Feng-hsiu and Lt. Cmdr. Lee Tshe-hsia, Chinese Nationalist naval officers embarked as observers, to translate, and the two men broke the language barrier. An exhausted Ching-tien explained to them that his boat lacked a radio and was taking on water.

Frank E. Evans took Chin Chi Lung in tow astern, the nylon tow line trailing down the destroyer’s port side, and made for Ma-Kung [Magong], a harbor in the Pescadores Islands about 16 miles away. The Americans surmised that the Chinese boat might sink en route, but Frank E. Evans also experienced some issues when a loop wire from the fishing vessel inhibited her port shaft. Lt. Johan W. DeBoer, Lt. William C. Francis, and Lt. (j.g.) Struthers investigated, but while they attempted to free the entangled wire a heavy swell washed the junk up against the destroyer’s hull, staving in approximately five feet of the Chinese boat’s port bulwarks, and bending the American ship’s bathythermograph boom and port screw guard. As the sailors cleared Chin Chi Lung aft and freed the wire, the junk again washed up against Frank E. Evans’ starboard quarter, crushing the fishing boat’s bow and nearly five feet of her starboard bulwarks, and slightly damaging the warship’s port and starboard quarter lifelines.

The rough seas and 25-knot winds made the tow a difficult one. As the ship’s company feared, the water-logged fishing boat began to founder and accordingly, the Americans passed the mariners life jackets and made ready a rubber raft. Their preparations paid off when the boat took on a heavy list to starboard and sank at 1639 on 4 October 1966, barely three miles from land near 23°30’5″N, 119°26’1″E. The Americans pulled all nine men on board the destroyer, wet but unharmed. After a heavy meal, hot showers, and a fresh set of clothes donated by the crew, the survivors transferred to a Taiwanese naval tug while Frank E. Evans anchored just off Tongpan Island. Divers went over the side and dislodged about ten feet of wire from the port screw, and she completed repairs at Kaohsiung (8–17 October). While there on the 12th, the Chinese Fisherman’s Association visited the ship and presented her with a richly embroidered silken banner and a plaque as tokens of their gratitude for rescuing their fellows.

Frank E. Evans returned to Vietnamese waters for another line period (19 October–24 November 1966). The Soviets also monitored the ship’s operations and Frank E. Evans received orders to intercept Ampermetr, one of their intelligence gathering vessels packed with sophisticated sensors (20–22 October). The ship’s company referred to Ampermetr as “The Shadow” while they watched the trawler to ensure that she did not interfere with allied operations. Lipan (ATF-85) relieved Frank E. Evans of her “SIGINT [signals intelligence] surveillance” and the destroyer swung around and rendezvoused with Kearsarge.

Dr. Robert Gaal and William Cornyn of TRW Systems Group highlined from Everett F. Larson to Frank E. Evans on the morning of the 24th. The civilian researchers made hydrographic surveys of Tonkin Gulf with the hope of improving upon the submarine detecting capabilities of Navy ships. Lt. Ernest A. Matson, CHC, USNR, the squadron chaplain, and Lt. Walter H. Glenn, accompanied them. The ship would steam to the position that Gaal and Cornyn requested for their work, and they would carry out their sampling, and the destroyer would then make for another position and repeat the process. The researchers lowered strings of bottles to collect water samples at various depths, used a clam-looking cast grabber that snatched samples of surface mud from the ocean floor, and a spear-like device that retrieved cores of mud from the ocean bottom to a depth of about two feet. The chaplain transferred back to Everett F. Larson on the 27th, and Glenn to Cochrane on Halloween. Gaal and Cornyn left with their samples on the 6th of November.

Frank E. Evans and a merchantman meanwhile narrowly avoided colliding on the night of 27 October 1966. The destroyer detected the motor vessel bearing 165° (all bearings are True), range four miles, at 2315. The Americans repeatedly attempted to identify the merchantman via flashing light but to no avail, and the unidentified ship steamed with a slight bearing drift left and closed on a collision course until the destroyer came hard right at 2336, and a minute later the merchantman swung left and passed down Frank E. Evans’ port side.

On 9 November 1966, the ship teamed with guided missile cruiser Chicago (CG-12) as a Positive Identification Radar Advisory Zone station. The Baltimore class heavy cruiser (ex-CA-136) had undergone a conversion that replaced most of the guns with missiles, and Seventh Fleet planners worried that enemy torpedo boats might attack her. Frank E. Evans thus served as “shotgun” to protect the cruiser. Rear Adm. Alexander S. Goodfellow Jr., Commander, TG 70.8, and Rear Adm. Walter H. Baumberger, Commander, Cruiser/Destroyer Force, Pacific, highlined over from the flagship on the 11th and 12th, respectively, and inspected Frank E. Evans and spoke to the crew.

This duty continued until 14 November 1966, when the destroyer began day and night naval gunfire support to the 3rd Marines in Quảng Ngãi Province. The marines detected PLAF concentrating to attack and a naval gunfire liaison officer (NGLO—nicknamed “Noglow”) requested illumination rounds on the night of the 15th. Frank E. Evans complied as her shells lit the sky over the enemy troops, and she fired 88 5-inch anti-aircraft common and 18 white phosphorous rounds (2116–2215). South Korean soldiers and marines also served in the area and when the enemy assaulted their positions on the night of 16 November, they requested fire support from Frank E. Evans. The ship shot 211 5-inch anti-aircraft common and 160 white phosphorous rounds into the insurgent assembly and storage areas, and then into their troops as they assault the South Koreans (2106–2232). The bombardment tore up some of the PLAF’s bunkers and collapsed trenches, and killed or wounded a number of the enemy, as well as several of their pack animals. The destroyer experienced approximately 5% premature bursts in the rounds she fired that night.

The determined allied resistance and the ship’s heavy gunfire failed to deter the enemy, however, and they returned the following night and assaulted the South Koreans. The battle raged all night (2116–0508 on 17–18 November 1966) as the Noglow directed Frank E. Evans’ repeated salvoes of 80 5-inch anti-aircraft common, 55 high capacity, 41 variable time-nonfragmenting, and 11 white phosphorous rounds into the insurgent assembly areas. The undaunted PLAF tried yet again the next night (2100–2313 on 19 November) and the ship fired her usual mix of rounds to help break up the attack.

The following day she began operating as a plane guard for Ticonderoga (CVA-14) and CVW-19 and then (25 November–1 December 1966) visited Hong Kong. During one of the last shore bombardments, however, the concussion from the ship’s guns blew the combination knob off the disbursing officer’s safe, which contained all of the crew’s pay. “This is one contingency they didn’t cover adequately in Supply Corps school,” sailors overheard Ens. Dennis Makarainen, SC, exasperatingly muttering. Makarainen frantically contacted multiple ships requesting the services of a locksmith, but to no avail. The ship finally asked for an emergency shipment of pay from Kearsarge, but as she slid into Hong Kong, Lt. (j.g.) Joseph A. Wigmore, the communications officer, opened the safe and Makarainen distributed the money to the crew just in time for their going ashore. Hanson sent a quick message to Kearsarge cancelling the order for a “moneyman,” but could not resist adding: “Potential safe cracker discovered in crew: safe now back in full operation. Am happy but considering checking more carefully into this guy’s background.”

The captain granted maximum liberty and many of the men considered it the highlight of the cruise as they toured the shops and restaurants of the British Crown Colony. With Christmas just around the corner, they took advantage of the relatively low prices and full wallets to pack the hangar and multiple spaces throughout the ship with gifts for their loved ones. Frank E. Evans stayed with the group as they turned for Japanese waters and fought through heavy seas that delayed her passage. The ship reached Yokosuka a day behind schedule and completed some last minute repairs (6–8 December). The crew again shopped and the captain joked in his Family Gram that the ship “now rides another inch or two lower in the water.” Frank E. Evans headed for home on the 9th. Bennington and CVSG-59 relieved Kearsarge and the ships charted easterly courses for Long Beach, arriving on 20 December 1966.

The destroyer conducted readiness exercises off California until she sailed for Pearl Harbor with Kearsarge, CVSG-53, and the ships of the screen for the western Pacific (17 August 1967–6 April 1968). Following an accelerated operational readiness evaluation in Hawaiian waters (23–27 and 28–30 August) and a brief (1–5 September) visit to Pearl Harbor, the ships resumed their westward voyage. Frank E. Evans and the other vessels of the group trained en route, but she only spent six hours in Yokosuka on 24 September instead of the planned four days. The ship joined the other vessels as they headed south into the Philippine Sea for 11 days of anti-submarine warfare exercises. They ranged as far south as Guam before turning back for Yokosuka. The weather treated them kindly with calm seas and blue skies prevailing until the two days before they entered Yokosuka, when they encountered heavy seas.

Frank E. Evans completed extensive work with the assistance of Yokosuka Ship Repair Facility (6–17 October 1967). Crewmen and civilian workers repaired multiple problems the ship had encountered while at sea, painted the vessel from stem to stern, and she refueled and loaded ammunition, all to prepare for the next voyage into harm’s way in Vietnamese waters. Sailors also visited the giant Buddha at Kamakura, south of Tōkyō, and another tour group ventured to the classical Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines at Kyoto. The squadron chaplain organized a Christian retreat to Tachikawa in western Tōkyō. The ship’s bowling team discovered to their dismay that the base bowling alley was under repair, but the enlisted men undauntedly challenged the officers to a basketball game. The results proved inclusive even after an overtime period as the score remained a tie, though both sides claimed a moral victory. Many of the ship’s company also eagerly awaited the news every weekend concerning the football games at home, and they shopped whenever possible for Christmas presents. The ship held a party in the Yokosuka Enlisted Men’s Club on the evenings of the 14th and 15th, which included buffet dinners, a band, and a number of variety acts by local entertainers.

Frank E. Evans then (18–22 October 1967) headed for the Gulf of Tonkin for the Vietnam War through 13 November. The ship faithfully guarded Kearsarge while the carrier launched five flights of aircraft daily, comprising two six-hour, two five and three-fourths hour, and one five and a half-hour flights. Kearsarge generally utilized one Tracer and two Trackers, supplemented by an occasional Sea King, for what she reported as “high interest photography” while on Yankee Station. The aircraft flew a diverse tasking of missions that provided enhanced radar coverage of key targets afloat and ashore, and tracked Soviet and East Bloc, British, Cypriot, Greek, Italian, and Maltese ships supplying the North Vietnamese. Fishing boats varied in number from one or two to several hundred, and ranged from small sampans to steel hulled trawlers, the latter usually spotted in pairs. The Americans detected mostly Chinese communist fishing boats and a few Chinese Nationalist vessels in the northern Gulf of Tonkin.

The carrier and her escorts also supported Operation Sea Dragon, an effort to cut the enemy’s smuggling and supplies into South Vietnam, and to unleash naval gunfire against the enemy operating in that country. Maintainers configured four S-2Es on board Kearsarge and switched the Trackers’ roles from hunting East Bloc submarines to attacking enemy smugglers. The Trackers fired a total of 30 AGM-12B Bullpup air-to-ground missiles, of which 20 functioned normally, and claimed to sink seven vessels and damaged a dozen more. Frank E. Evans switched from plane guard to the anti-submarine warfare coordinator on Yankee Station, and she established and supervised such exercises for the other destroyers operating in the Gulf of Tonkin. Super Typhoon Emma (Welming) swept across the Philippines and moved on a northwesterly course toward Hainan and southern China, however, and the ship swung around to the south for three days to escape Emma. The destroyer changed course and returned to the area to resume the training with her companion destroyers.

Frank E. Evans escorted Kearsarge as the two vessels swung around and made for Subic Bay for an all too fleeting visit (15–23 November 1967). The ships arrived in the midst of the Philippine Midterm Election, and several days of sporadic violence followed the closing of the polls and the completion of the feverish campaigns. Consequently, the naval station closed its gates for almost a week, which required the vessels and their crews to rely on the station for rest and recreation. The disappointed crewmen attempted to compensate by participating in a number of options. Sailors from the group went water skiing and yachting, played miniature golf and ping pong, and although the violence ashore compelled Frank E. Evans to cancel her first scheduled tour group, the ship sent the subsequent groups to Manila, Baguio in the mountains to the northward, and a resort at beautiful Pagsanjan Falls. The ship also held another party, this time on Grande Island, on the second and third days in port. A barbeque and athletic events highlighted the activities, and the warship hosted the second match in her western Pacific deployment bowling tournament. After a three-game series, the first class petty officers emerged 32 pins ahead of the chiefs, while the officers stumbled badly into the cellar position.

The carrier and her group took part in Silverskate ’67, a major Seventh Fleet anti-submarine exercise that involved Kearsarge, 11 destroyers, two of them Chinese Nationalist, four submarines, and shore-based aircraft in the South China Sea. Frank E. Evans detected and “sank” one of the submarines within the first two hours of the exercise, but Lt. (j.g.) Philips S. Murray, the CIC Officer, experienced considerable communications issues with his Chinese Nationalist counterparts until the latter dispatched a liaison officer to work through the language difficulties. Following the exercise, the ships returned to Yankee Station.

Frank E. Evans next (29 November–20 December 1967) patrolled on the gunline off the II Corps Tactical Zone, usually between Da Nang and Nha Trang. The ship experienced heavy fighting while she provided gunfire support to the Army’s 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile), Maj. Gen. John J. Tolson III, USA, while the troopers sought to destroy enemy forces in their area of Bình Ɖịnh Province in Operation Pershing. A Noglow directed the ship’s fire as she sent 34 high capacity and six illuminating rounds of her scathing steel into the PLAF when one of their companies concentrated to attack during the mid watch (0140–0226) that first night of the battle, initially from a range of 11,000 yards and then dropping to 9,500. The destroyer shot more than 100 rounds that night, and the observer reported ‘Tgt [target] neutralized” in the first salvoes and “well neutralized” as the ship closed the range.