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BMSN WILLIAM H. BRANUM JR. 28 August 1950

I William H. Branum Jr., “Slick,” was born 19 October 1932 at Lake Alfred, Florida. Currently I have gray hair and blue eyes. I enlisted in the U. S. Navy Reserves at Little Rock, Arkansas on 9 November 1949, and in the regular U. S. Navy on 6 February 1950. I attended boot camp at San Diego, California, Company 116.

After boot camp, on 28 August 1950, I was assigned to San Diego Destroyer Base to re-commission USS FRANK E. EVANS (DD 754) under command of CDR Gerald Christi. After recommissioning, we were sent directly to North Korea to serve with DESRON 13.

Our Flagship was in USS BLUE (DD 744). We were part of Task Force 77. Some of our missions were to assist bombing supply lines, as well as other shore targets. During my two tours to Korea, the ship and crew were awarded silver battle stars along with other decorations for our service. Some of the crew members that I recall, but only their last names, are BM Hunter, LT Stephens, Hogan, Weir, Jackson, and Nichols. In 1952 I was reassigned to two other ships until my discharge.

DESRON 13 was back in our home port at San Diego when we got orders to go back to join up again with Task Force 77 in the Sea of Japan for further action against North Korea. The weather and cruise were going smoothly until we got to Midway Island. I was on the bridge at the time when we departed Midway. About five hours later we got the report of a bad storm that was coming toward us. CDR Christi asked our flagship the USS BLUE if we were going to change our course to try and get around it. Their answer came back, “Negative.” We were to maintain the course which was assigned. Then all hell came upon all four ships. We pitched and rolled. At one point we were told that we took a 38-degree roll and took a little water down one of the stacks. We only had one hot meal during the storm, otherwise cold cuts. It was hard trying to sleep. Everything top side that was not secured was washed overboard.

I was sent back aft to get a tool. EVANS took a heavy roll as I was running from one compartment to another. All that saved me was the life rail. I hung on to keep from being washed overboard.

As I recall, we had very few coffee cups left. The crew members from one of our sister ships got hurt when a wave hit their number one gun mount knocking them out. EVANS was lucky we did not have any hurt, “Thank God.”

We finally got to Sasebo, Japan harbor but had to be towed into the dock as we ran out of fuel. We got a light message from fleet headquarters requesting to see DESRON 13’s commander at their office. The sides of all four ships, along with the hull numbers were washed clean. We were very happy to see Japan.

THE SECOND 4 OF JULY OF ‘51 TH

The Gray Ghost (Evans) was on patrol duty along the coast north of the 38 parallel, otherwise known as North Korea. One foggy morning during the mid-watch, I was on the helm, and the CO, CDR Christi was in his captain’s chair. Everything was going normal. We had been after a supply train, however when they would see us, they would back into a tunnel and wait us out. This had gone on for several days, playing with us. This morning, we were some 20-30 miles from the target, the train. I thought the captain was asleep as he some times would, when all at once he barked out, “Come right to 030 degrees and make turns for 30 knots!” We started north like a bat out of hell. The XO asked Christi, “Where are we going, sir?” Christi replied, “to meet a train.”

We got to the target site before the train did. As stated, it was foggy this a.m. We went in as close as we could get to the shoreline and waited for them. By then it was starting to get daylight and the fog was lifting. The Gray Ghost was ready. Battle stations had been called and all guns were trained starboard when out of the tunnel the train came. When all of the trains were out, orders were given to commence firing. We got the engine first with our 5-inch gun. Then all hell broke loose for the rest of the train with the 5 inch and 40mm guns working on the boxcars. They were hauling ammunition to the south. It was a real firework like you see on the 4 of July, only better!

BMSM Branum 50-52
For 18 months I was employed as an Ordinance Inspector for the Army. I reenlisted in the U. S. Air Force and retired in 1972 with USAF Security Service. I attended several military schools. After my service, I attended Tarrent County Jr. College for 390 hours.

“Slick” currently resides in Aledo, Texas.

In June 2000, I received this letter from Kim Dae-jung, President of the Republic of Korea.

SK3 JAMES R. BOURKE 28 May 1956

I James R. Bourke, was born 17 August 1934, at High Island, Texas My eyes are brown, and my hair is black. On 9 May 1952, I enlisted in the Navy at New Orleans, Louisiana, ane went to boot camp at San Diego, California. My first duty station was NAF Iwakuni, Japan. I was promoted to SK3 and married Fumiko.

On 28 May 1956, I was received for duty on board USS FRANK E. EVANS (DD 754). She was in dry dock at Hunter’s Point, San Francisco, California. I was assigned to S Division as a store keeper.

While serving in FRANK E. EVANS, I was one lucky guy; crossing the equator and going to the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne, Australia.I had one hell of a good time on that cruise.

Memories: …The Supply Office, right off the mid-ship passageway, was so small only two people could get in it. The Disbursing Officer had his safe in there with all the dollars. Occasionally, he left it unlocked. Once, I emptied the trash cans in the safe and then locked it. Boy, was he hot, but he never knew who did it. …Someone poured a five-gallon bucket of red lead on the Chief Boatswain, who was not too popular.

When the ship got to Sasebo, I took the train to Iwakuni. On the way back with my wife, we got to Fukuoka and found out service to Sasebo had ceased for the night. My leave was up the next morning. A taxi driver agreed to take us to Sasebo in exchange for all my camera equipment. We had a wild ride through the mountains and got to the ship around midnight. FRANK E. EVANS was outboard of the squadron. When I got to the quarter-deck, complete with my wife in tow, quite a stir occurred, especially when the messenger had to wake the Supply Officer to sign an overnight pass for me. Those were some tough days for me.

I felt great pride at my GQ station, Mount 51. I loved that set of guns. I had a great tour aboard FRANK E. EVANS, and will never forget the speed that TIN-CAN had. I’ll never forget when they kicked us out of San Diego!

I remained in Navy 1952-1972; SKC USN (Ret), Chief Store Keeper.

Post Navy: 1974-2002, Civil Service, Naval Training Center, Corry Station, Pensacola, FL

James & Mary Bourke currently reside at 728 W. Moreno St., Pensacola, FL, 32501. You can reach them at 850-436-4095, or cajun11@cox.net 23 November 2008

BM3 HUBERT LEE BLANKENSHIP – 29 August 1950 to 1954

I Hubert Lee Blankenship “Red” was born 13 May 1932 at Covington, Tennessee. I had red hair and gray eyes. I enlisted in the U. S. Navy at Memphis, Tennessee in June 1950, and attended boot camp at
San Diego, California.

As a SA, I was received for duty on board USS FRANK E. EVANS (DD 754) on 29August 1950 when I was assigned to the 1 Division. Over st time, I advanced to BM3.

I went on three cruises to Korea. That makes me a survivor!!

We were in Wonsan Harbor taking fire from those 8″ Russian tanks when we had to come out for the battle wagon, which went in but didn’t stay long. She said she was afraid she would run aground when she came out. We were still tied to the ammunition supply ship. The battle wagon made so big of a wave we had to untie before we were finished taking on ammo.

“Red” currently resides at 6849 Andrews Road, Barlett, TN 38135. You can reach him at home, 901-384-6801, or on his cell at 901-413- 1301.

MM2 THOMAS JAMES BENSON 6 February 1955-19 October 1957

Thomas James Benson was born 24 November 1936, at St. Paul, Minnesota. He had brown hair and blue eyes. Tom, sometimes called “Ben” or “Benny,” went to school in White Bear Lake, Minnesota.

He got mad at his mother one day in May 1954 and enlisted in the Navy at St. Paul. He went to boot camp at Great Lakes, Illinois. He was there one week and became ill with German measles. He spent two weeks in sickbay before he could start his basic training.

From boot camp, he went to Machinist’s Mate school. On 6 February 1955,he reported on board USS FRANK E. EVANS (DD 754) where he served until 19 October 1957.

While aboard FRANK E. EVANS, Tom made two Westpac tours with the Seventh Fleet. He was on board 1n 1956 when FRANK E. EVANS went to Melbourne, Australia for the Olympics. Tom was there for Operation Wig Wam when an atomic depth charge was detonated off the San Diego coast.

When he was on watch, Tom would go see “Cookie” and get grub and cook down in the engine room. His best friend was Charles “Chuck” Heinz from South Carolina, who passed away a few years ago. Tom’s youngest son Neil graduated from Great Lakes boot camp exactly 40 years after Tom did. Tom’s oldest son Tom Jr. retired from the navy after 23 years. His second son, Paul, spent 13 years in the Army.

Tom passed away 19 October 2006, 48 years after being discharged from USS FRANK E EVANS DD-754.

Nancy Benson can be reached at 5742 Cabot Dr., Mounds View, MN 55112.

IC1 FRANCIS L. ANDERSON 24 September 1950 – 1951

I Francis L. Anderson “Andy” was born 24 July 1927 at Delta, Utah. I enlisted in the Navy at San Diego, California in November 1944 and went to boot camp at USNTC San Diego. I reported for duty on board USS FRANK E. EVANS (DD 754) on 24 September 1950, reporting to R Division as an interior communications electrician where I maintained the gyro compass, telephone systems, DRT (Dead Reckoning Trace) etc.

Murrayite Promoted At MST MURRAY. A resident of Murray is starting out the new year in a new role with Mountain States Telephone Co.

He is Francis L. Anderson, 818 Willowood Ave., previously a supervising service foreman who has been appointed as the firm’s Utah plant supervisor. He replaces J. M. Burnett, who became a supervisor in the personnel department.

With the telephone company since 1951, Mr. Anderson has held several positions, including lineman, construction foreman, installer, central office repairman, central office foreman and instructor.

He was a manager of the Roosevelt exchange from August 1963 to July 1965. Since that time he has served as supervising service foreman.

A native of Delta, he attended high school at Spanish Fork. He is married to the former Lois Evalyn Hansen of Springville. The couple has three children, Kurt 17, Kristine 13, and Karalee 6.

“Andy” currently resides at 818 Willowood Ave., Murray, UT 84107. You can reach him
at 801-262-3703.

WT1c PAUL EUGENE WARD 3 February 1945

Paul Ward was assigned to USS FRANK E. EVANS DD 754 before she was commissioned and remained aboard until shortly after the end of the war. Paul Ward served in the U.S. Navy as a Boiler Tender from 1938 to 1945 and again during the Korean War.

ENS DONALD JOSEPH SIBBETT 3 February 1945

Radar Officer

I was aboard USS FRANK E EVANS DD 754 on 3 February 1945, the day she was commissioned. I’m what is known as a Plank Owner, being one of the crew on board the first time she was taken to sea. I was also aboard for her first Christmas and anniversary.

When I left FRANK E. EVANS in San Francisco, I flew east by a DC3, stopping every 500-mile increment. In the fall of ‘46 I entered Columbia grad school where I spent five happy years as a physical chemist. There followed 5 years at Mobil (South New Jersey), 2 years at Mellon Institute (Pittsburgh), 2 years at W. R. Grace (Baltimore), 11 years at Aerojet and Space General in Southern California, and 15 years running a lab for a beltway bandit (Geomet) in California and Maryland. In the middle, Elizabeth and I got married. We had two children.

I left the Naval Reserve in 1951 and was shocked at the report of USS FRANK E EVANS DD 754 sinking. As “Drucke” (LTJG Jack Arnold Druckemiller)has pointed out, the collision occurred at the bulkhead corresponding with our sleeping compartment. The loss of 74 members of the crew seems surprising considering the location of the ship outside the war zone and the exercise that were in progress.

Travel is not one of my aspirations. I have a kidney disorder (focal segmental glomerulosclerosis) and incipient bladder cancer. Both are under control but small stresses cause relapses. Current levels of airline comfort certainly qualify negatively.

I pass my time playing duplicate bridge, correspondence chess and bowling. Bets is very active in the local property owners association as treasurer and promoting reunions of her college.

(23 February 2002)

S2C VERN DALE ROBLING 3 February 1945

“My father, V. Dale Robling, went to college at Indiana University after his discharge and earned a BS degree in Accounting. He was the controller for Vincennes Steel for 37+ yrs. My father’s roots, like many his age started on a family farm. His father wanted his 5 kids (Keith-Houston, TX, Brian-Jasper, IN, Scott-Evansville, IN, Joy-Atlanta, GA, Jan-Easton, PA) to do something besides farming because of the hard, never ending work load with little pay. But after his father’s death, he took over the farm and ran it for his mother in his off hours and weekends. He also bought several farms himself and farmed them with the help of his kids. This was his stress relief from his real job.”

Deceased 15 September 2004

Brian Robling

“My name is Mike O’Brien and I remember….

The time spent at Norfolk was spent awaiting the day we would be sent to board the newly constructed Destroyer, USS FRANK E. EVANS (DD 754). I was aboard her 3 February 1945, the day she was commissioned. I remained aboard until I was discharged 2 June 1946.

I remember the smell of her…the paper still on the decks…getting seasick the first night aboard, while she was still tied up at the dock. I remember the shakedown cruise to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and a later return to Bermuda before leaving for the Pacific. I remember learning of the death of President Franklin Roosevelt as we made our way through the Panama Canal, I remember leaving Guam…bound for Okinawa. I remember the terrible typhoon at Okinawa. I remember the radar picket duty between Okinawa and Japan while dealing with the last of the Kamikazes. I remember the experience of being so scared I can still taste it. I remember how beautiful San Francisco was in that first early morning sunlight we sailed into port. I remember watching (through binoculars) the attempted escape from Alcatraz, and the Marine Major who was eventually sent there to quell the escape attempt. One of the non-participants of that attempt was the Bird Man of Alcatraz…originally from my home town of Metropolis, Illinois (Home of Superman).

I am proud to have served in the Navy; to have been aboard USS FRANK E. EVANS (DD 754). I am so grateful that we had a nation filled with young patriots who rushed to join the armed forces. I weep with regularity at the horrors that so many of our comrades in arms suffered, at the horrendous loss of the families of the critically injured and dead. It is still horrifying to imagine the terror many of those young men had to endure. My time aboard EVANS was a picnic compared to so many others.”

RM3 Michael Louis O’Brien – 3 February 1945 – 2 June 1946

CDR WILLIAM C. MEYER 11 May 1949

CDR William C. Meyer served as USS FRANK E. EVANS (DD 754) Commanding Officer from 11 May through 14 December 1949. He was promoted to Captain, USN, and was the commanding officer of USS RINGNESS (APD 100).

Shortly after retirement he joined Pan American Air Lines for some time and lived in Oakland, California.