Kendra S. Horn: “I rise to introduce the Fairness to All Vietnam Veterans Act, H.R. 3443. This legislation directs the Secretary of…”

“I rise to introduce the Fairness to All Vietnam Veterans Act, H.R. 3443. This legislation directs the Secretary of Defense to report to Congress an appropriate way to recognize and honor Vietnam veterans who died in service of our Nation, but whose names are not listed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall. Constituents began contacting my District Office regarding 74 members who died on the destroyer USS Frank E. Evans who are not listed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall. The names of these 74 brave Americans, and many others who have lost their lives serving the United States during the Vietnam conflict, deserve proper recognition. Some have been excluded due to technicalities. We should honor all the men and women of the Vietnam conflict who gave their lives serving our country. The destroyer Evans was first launched near the end of the Second World War and was recommissioned for Korea and again for Vietnam. The Evans sailed from the Port of Long Beach for the last time in the spring of 1969. After seeing serious combat off the coast of Vietnam, the Evans was sent to a brief training exercise called Operation Sea Spirit in the South China Sea. This operation involved over 40 ships of the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization. On the morning of June 3, 1969, the crew of the Evans awoke to the sounds of the Australian carrier, Melbourne, splitting in half the American destroyer Evans. The forward half, where all 74 deaths took place, sank in 3 minutes.”