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LT RICHARD “DICK” SPEAR 5 June 1952 – 2 September 1953

BMSN WILLIAM V. SIENER 2 July 1952

I am William V. Siener Jr. Some called me, “Wild Bill.” I was born at home 4 February 1934, at Leavenworth, Kansas. My hair was blonde and my eyes are blue. I enlisted in the Navy in January 1952 and went to boot camp at USNTC San Diego, California. On 2 July 1952, I reported aboard USS FRANK E. EVANS (DD 754) while she was in Yokosuka, Japan, and was assigned to 1 Division as a Seaman st Apprentice. I was on the Navy Landing Party, “M” Boat coxswain, and on the Naval Gunfire Spotter Team. My GQ station was MT 51, Projectile Man.

The date was 8 September 1952, early afternoon. FRANK E. EVANS was operating North of the 38 parallel, off the coast of Tanchon, North Korea. I was on the fo’c’sle and noticed some “geysers” off our port side. The bridge saw them too and GQ was sounded immediately. My GQ station was mount 51. From where I was standing it took me about one minute to get there. After receiving 69 rounds from an enemy shore battery, FRANK E. EVANS suffered only slight damage from the near misses. There were no casualties, and fortunately, only one band-aid wound from an air burst near the 40mm mount.

In March 1954 I was transferred to USS BRUSH (DD 745). She departed in May 1954 for duties off the Korean coast, Indo China and the Formosa Straits to prevent Chinese takeover of Formosa. In 1956 I transferred to USNR as a BM3 where I served until 1966. USMCR 1966-1974 USAR 1974-1994 My military service actually began in 1949 with the Kansas Air National Guard. In August 1950 I was shipped to Korea but two months later was returned stateside for being underage. I received an honorable discharge. I served in the USMCR and USAR. My duties included avionics, logistics, military police, and security work. I retired from Federal Service on my 60 birthday. Post “retirement” I served with the California State Military Reserve where, as a Lieutenant Colonel, I was again retired due to age.

I took every advantage of military education and the GI Bill including an AA Degree from LBCC, a BSEE from CSULB and a MS in Business Management from CSUB. I also received a Certificate of Completion from McGeorge Law School, and completed the Kern County Sheriff’s Academy while serving four years as a Bakersfield (California) Reserve Police Officer.

After service I was employed in the electric utility industry where I worked for Southern California Edison, California Department of Water Resources, and CAL-OSHA where I was promoted to District Manager in Los Angeles, and ended up in Van Nuys as District Manager covering five southern counties.

My wife Hildegard and I have seven grown children. I belong to the California WIT RV Club, and to the American Volunteer Reserves(AVR). We do honors at funeral services for veterans.

Currently,“Wild Bill” resides at 11506 Martinsville Ave., Bakersfield, CA 93312. You can reach him at apitbill@sbcglobal.net or 661-588-2083.

BTFN ALEX L. SANCHEZ 1 September 1950-54

I enjoyed the article by James Brady (“Korea”.) However, I take exception to his statement that “our battleships and cruisers shelled enemy ridge lines; and our sailors puked up their guts on the Sea of Japan.

I was onboard destroyer USS FRANK E. EVANS (DD-754). In between puking, we managed to bombard Wonsan Harbor, Hungnam, Tanchon, Songjin, Yongdon, Chongjin, Kojo and some of the front lines themselves. We also managed to rescue three downed pilots. And we were the screen and escorts for the carriers, battleships and cruisers of Task Force 77 that Brady thinks were manned by Marines.

IC1 Francis L. Anderson

CDR NELSON DENMAN SALMON – 12 March 1952 – 17 February 1954

CDR Nelson D. Salmon acquired the nickname “Sockeye” because of his surname, but was known to his fellow senior officers as “Sock.” CDR Salmon was considered to be a great commanding officer for junior officers to learn under. He came to the ship after having been Assistant Naval Attache in Taipei. He read Chinese with ease, spoke Mandarin and two other accents fluently. He wasn’t Annapolis, rather, NROTC Berkley, ‘39. He commanded an AKL in WWII. That ship was the same class as the one Doug Roberts served aboard in the movie Mister Roberts. The skipper was still a bachelor when I reported aboard, but he married a very charming widow in Long Beach after that deployment. I still have enormous respect for his ability to handle very tight situations.

I always regretted that Captain Salmon never made it to admiral, as I thought he was one of the best CO’s with junior officers that I ever met. Considering how totally short of experienced officers we were after the five WW II veterans left the ship in Hong Kong without replacements accompanied by the CIC officer who went home on emergency leave. I don’t think there was an OOD left aboard with much over two years service. I then knew how it must have been during WW II when new ships were being commissioned at a very rapid rate with very little experience in their crew. Luckily, we had some experienced CPO’s and 1/c PO’s who could provide real leadership and experience for ship’s company.

LTJG Douglas Legg

FT3 CHARLES S. RAFLOWITZ 9 September 1955

I Charles S. Raflowitz “RAF” was born 5 October 1933, at Gt. Barrington, Massachusetts. My hair was brown, now grey, and my eyes blue. I enlisted in the U. S. Navy 9 November 1953, at Springfield, Massachusetts, and went to boot camp in Bainbridge, Maryland. On 9 September 1955, I reported aboard USS FRANK E. EVANS (DD 754), 3 Division as a Fire Control Technician.

Opportunity to visit places I never dreamed I would see. Coming off duty on a troop ship, I appreciated being on a “Tin Can” the “Real Navy.” Made many good friends and learned lessons I have used during my lifetime. Serving in FRANK E. EVANS was a great adventure. I shall always remember this experience.

“RAF” currently resides at 9757 Timber Trail, P.O. Box 466, Scurry, TX, 75158-0466. You can reach him at raftex@mycvc.net or 972-486-3204.

BM2 DONALD L. PISARCZYK – 9 September 1950 TO 1954

I Donald L. Pisarczyk, “Donski” was born 8 February 1932 at Trinidad, Colorado. I had brown hair and eyes. I enlisted in the Navy at Denver, Colorado on 12 June 1950, and went to boot camp, Company 135, at San Diego, California.

Upon graduation from Boot Camp on 6 September 1950, 10 men from Company 135, including myself, were assigned to USS FRANK E. EVANS (DD 754) at the San Diego Naval Destroyer Base. We went to FRANK E. EVANS directly, without any leave to go home. Our assignment began on 9 September 1950 to de-mothball and commission FRANK E. EVANS back to the active fleet. There was an immediate need for destroyers because of the war in Korea.

On 11 September 1951, when we returned to San Diego from Korea, we did receive two weeks extra pay for our first leave home. Also, the men who joined the Navy before the outbreak of the Korean War on 25 June 1950, were allowed two months early discharge from their four year sign up date.

While aboard FRANK E. EVANS I wound up a BM2.This is what I did: Powder Man on the right gun barrel, Gun Mount 52; Coxswain on the Captains Gig; Gun Captain on Gun Mount 52 Condition 3 Watch; Master at Arms (ship’s mess.) I was on the motor whaleboat crew that rescued three aircraft carrier pilots. The boat crew was recommended for a commendation, or Life Saving Medal, for their efficacy and quick time it took to rescue the pilots in heavy sea and ice cold waters in the Sea of Japan, but the recommendation must have fallen on deaf ears or got lost someplace. I guess the best reward was the good hardy hand shake, and “thank you” we got from the pilots before returning them to the carrier by high line.

It was 3 April 1954. FRANK E. EVANS was in dry dock at the Mare Island Naval Ship Yard in Vallejo, California, which was my third and last trip there. I left FRANK E. EVANS after spending 3 years, 6 months, and 28 days. Boy, that was a long time.( Ha, ha.) I was discharged at the Treasure Island Naval Center, San Francisco on 6 April 1954.

I graduated from Pueblo Junior College in 1956 and went to work for the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad where I retired on a disability in 1987.

“Donski” currently resides at 27454 Preston Road, Pueblo, Colorado 81006-9750. You can reach him at 719-543-3408.

QM3 BLAKE L. O’NEIL – 14 July 54 to 55

I Blake O’Neil was born 23 March 1929 at Roosevelt, Utah. I had reddish blond hair, now gray, and hazel eyes. I enlisted in the Navy at Dallas, Texas on 26 March 1954. Because I had prior military service, four years U. S. Army, I did not attend the navy boot camp. I served aboard USS FRANK E. EVANS (DD 754)in the OC Division as a Quartermaster third class. I came on board 14 July 1954 and made the Westpac cruise, which included Formosa patrol, shelling of the Tae Chin Islands, observance of typhoon Pamela, Midway Island and the gooney birds. I broke my leg on the bridge in February 1955 and was transferred to Corona Naval Hospital, California. That was the last I saw of USS FRANK E. EVANS.

LCDR R. C. OLSON Executive Officer 5 June 1952

“The next month (October 1952) we spent a couple of days in Pearl Harbor en route to FRANK E. EVANS’ new home port of Long Beach. I stood the evening watch (20-2400.) About 2330 the XO, LCDR Olson, came out to talk with me. A HASP (Hawaiian Armed Services Police) jeep pulled up to the edge of the dock about 12 feet higher than FRANK E. EVANS’ main deck. An Army sergeant, wearing the familiar blue and white MP brassard, pulled a white clad FRANK E. EVANS crewman from the back of the jeep, pushed him by the back of his white jumper down the gangway, and then flung him down onto the main deck in a heap. Mr. Olson stepped on to the bottom of the gangway and beckoned the MP to come closer to him. At that moment, the XO delivered the most beautiful right hook to the jaw that I have ever seen! The MP went over backwards up the gangway. The XO pointed a clenched fist with an extended forefinger at him and said, “Don’t’ you ever touch one of my men again!” The XO was so furious that I almost expected him to have a stroke. The MP dazedly got to his feet, sharply saluted, did a 180 turn, returned to his jeep and drove away. I always worried that there might be some repercussions from this blow, as the HASP had a ferocious reputation. Remember Ernest Borgnine’s character as a HASP brig sergeant in From Here To Eternity ! This incident was so out of character that it stunned all of us momentarily.”

– LTJG Doug Lee

QM3 THOMAS E. “CHARLIE” NOBLES

I Thomas E. Nobles was born 23 November 1932, at Punta Gorda, Florida. The library there was dedicated to my uncle Pascal Bernard Nobles, “Buster”. I have brown hair and my eyes are blue. My ancestry is British. My siblings were Daniel, Teddy, and Mickey.

My rearing took place at South 6 Street, in Chipley, Florida. My hobbies included hunting, fishing, and telling stories. I was a Boy Scout and loved to camp out. My favorite holiday was Christmas. I once dressed up and played Santa Claus. I played football at Chipley High School, where I graduated in 1950.

From Chipley, Florida I went off to enlist in the Navy being sworn in 4 January 1951, and then going to basic training at NTC Great Lakes. I was received for duty on board USS FRANK E. EVANS (DD 754) 14 May 1951. My battle station was the 20mm machine gun on the starboard side. I became a quartermaster, eventually going to Signaling School in Maryland. I served until 12 September 1954; 3 years 4 months.

My best friend was Francis Hayes who owned a barbershop in Chipley. James Nettles was my long time friend. Rob Roy Ashmore was my best man when I wed Catherine on Thanksgiving Day in 1954. My children are Thomas Jr., Mark, & Beth, and my grandchildren are Mandee & Katie. We currently live at 1211 SE 27 St. Ocala, Florida 34471. Post Navy, I became a student at Florida State University, where I graduated in 1959 with a major in politics. In 1956, at 24, I ran for State Representative, but lost the election.

My first job was with the Florida State Road Department (DOT) for $75.00/month. While a student at FSU I had a paper route for the Tallahassee Democrat, which covered 200 square miles. After graduation from FSU, I went to work for Lobrano Machinery Co. I was employed as a salesman for Ring Power Corporation, a division of Caterpillar Inc., and was also Deputy Director of Administration for the Florida Department of Transportation.

In 1964, June, I found three lost boys, and was considered a hero by some. In 1974, I obtained my real estate license. I wrote a book, While Climbing Tom’s Mountain – “Events”.

MM3 HAROLD GRANT NICHOLS 9 September 1950

Harold G. Nichols “Nick” was born 25 July 1932, at La Rue, Texas. My hair was brown and I have hazel colored eyes. I moved to Chandler, Texas. When I was 17 years old, I enlisted in the U.S. Navy. It was at Dallas, Texas, on 13 June 1950.

After boot camp, on 9 September 1950, I went aboard USS FRANK E. EVANS (DD 754). She was recommissioned 15 September 1950. I was there.

In 1952, I was put in for a Letter of Commendation (with Ribbon) for meritorious service during USS FRANK E. EVANS (DD 754) operations with the Seventh Fleet from 18 April 1952 to 4 September 1952. “During this period, EVANS was engaged in widely diverse operations in the Korean combat and Formosan areas, often in danger from enemy guns, and always requiring a reliable and efficient engineering plant. Although not a petty officer, NICHOLS’ procedures enabled him to perform in an excellent manner as top watch stander requiring knowledge and ability far above that normally required of his rate. His outstanding performance of duty has greatly assisted the ship in the proper performance of its assigned missions.” Signed, N. D. Salmon

Unfortunately, I never received the letter.

I served aboard USS FRANK E. EVANS (DD 754) for 2 years, 8 months, and 24 days between 1950 and 1953. I was discharged at San Diego, California with BT3 Leo C. Whalley, MM3 Henry T. Mormile Jr., and MM3 Carl W. Lenz Jr.

In 1994, “Nick” Nichols went on to become the founder of the USS FRANK E. EVANS ASSOCIATION.

Nick and his wife Billie currently reside at PO Box 306, Frankston, TX, 75763. You can reach them at 903-876-2413.