Category: Shipmate’s Stories

It was with heartfelt sadness that I learned today of our beloved shipmate Tom Manley’s passing this morning (Saturday, Feb 9, 2008). Tom’s son Christopher called me at noon to inform me of his fathers passing. Tom had not been ill and had not been in poor health. Mary woke up in the middle of the night and found Tom on the floor. This is all the information we have at this time. Information on the services will be forthcoming sometime early in the upcoming week.

Tom was a cornerstone of the Association. He was quite, reverent and genuine. Tom always had an attitude of perseverance. Both Tom & Mary lead the charge for Veteran’s rights and to get the names of our “Lost 74” on the Vietnam Wall. I know that each of you will want to know what you can do or where to send flowers, so Mary’s wish isn’t for flowers and donations but rather she asks that each of you contact the Department of Defense and your congressman and respectfully ask for their support of H.R 1172. The bill was Tom’s passion and he had great hopes that we would break through the barriers this year and make getting the names of our “Lost 74” on the Vietnam Wall. In his memory, please do this today!

A loved one that has finished their life on earth is not dead, their life has just began. They are still with us in spirit. That you must believe.

CS3 CARL ANTHONY MAIORINO – 21 November 1959 to 25 July 1963

I Carl Anthony Maiorino, “Cookie” was born 10 February 1941 at San Francisco, California. I have brown hair and brown eyes. I enlisted in the U. S. Navy on 25 August 1959 at San Mateo, California. I was 18 years old. I went to boot camp at USNTC San Diego where I was in Company 421, the best Company at that time. Company 421 won all the awards that were handed out such as academic, weekly competition awards, and most importantly, the Brigade Award.

After boot camp I went aboard USS FRANK E. EVANS (DD 754). It was 21 November 1959. Initially, I was assigned to 1 Division, the Deck Force. After about three months I went to “S” Division to become a cook.

In 1962, EVANS entered a contest with 1,012 other ships in the fleet to see who had the best feeding ship in the U.S. Navy. The USS FRANK E. EVANS won the Francis Ney Memorial Award, the first time that a destroyer had ever done so. In 1963, she won the award for the second consecutive year. I received three letters of commendation.

While aboard FRANK E. EVANS for four years, in 1960 she went through a FRAM conversion. We were in the yards for 18 months during which time a flight deck and helicopter hanger were installed. FRANK E. EVANS them made a Westpac cruise. During my time in FRANK E. EVANS I saw four captains, three executive officers and four changes in crew. From 1959-1963 there were only about 12 crew members that remained aboard the ship. On 25 July 1963, I transferred to the Long Beach Naval Station for discharge.

“Cookie” currently resides at 3150 Via Mazatlan, Corona, California. You can reach him at ashleyspappa@ca.rr.com or 951-736-2017.

LTJG JOHN R. LUCAS 23 April 1960-63

I John R. Lucas, “Luke” was born 5 February 1937, at Visalia, California. Currently I am bald. My eyes are hazel. I commenced Officer Candidate School at Newport, Rhode Island in October 1959. As a new ensign, I reported aboard USS FRANK E. EVANS (DD 754) and served as ASW and Gunnery Officer, attaining the rank of LTJG.

I suggest that few people knew that the USS APPLEBY really was USS FRANK E. EVANS (DD 754), which was used to develop the pilot episode of a new TV series “Ensign O’Toole.” This was in 1962 and the TV series was 1963 to 1966.

On one beautiful day in 1962, we did take cast and crew out to sea to pick up a lot of stock footage. In addition to the crew of the series, there were some actresses from the pilot program, six beautiful Asian ladies who were in the required dress of bikinis and then there was a chill at sea so as one of the duty bachelor officers I offered the beauties the use of my stateroom to keep warm. Remember that I am a sworn “officer and a gentleman.”

It was fun that day both in after officer quarters and just being at sea and watching the professional movie makers and actors.

The captain, CDR J. E. Feaster, Mike McGuire, and I were invited to the Paramount Studios to watch a day of filming and to be the technical advisers. It was a fascinating day. When we got to the stage where the series was being shot, Mike and I were escorted by one of the producers who wanted us to look over the set. It was absolutely amazing! Every little thing was exactly the same way. Mike and I went over every square inch trying to find an error and the only one was the window in my state room. It folded out rather than in. It was exactly the same in their replications of the pilot house, bridge and CIC.

The funny thing was, the wonderful, personal rapport with the young beauties that we had established when we were at sea was lost and gone forever. It seems that when you’re on a Hollywood set you pay attention only to the high staff of the studio and not a couple of dashing younger naval officers. Oh well, we did get to see a bit of Hollywood.

Now here’s a funny add to this story. When the pilot was edited, the studio was kind to send a 16mm print to the ship where the captain was able to show it to all of the crew. His name, Mike’s and mine were listed as technical advisors at the end of the credits. When we got the word that the first episode was to be aired, the captain decided that FRANK E. EVANS’ wardroom would have a “premiere party.” He had Andy, our finest chief steward, create a baked Alaska and he invited the squadron commanders and other special people.

So after a great dinner, we all sat at the ready to watch the first of Ensign O’Toole Series on television. And it was a good program and it was great to see FRANK E. EVANS tooling around in the high seas, but when it came time to watch the credits roll, the captain was shushing everyone so that the “technical advisers” names could be seen. So we were all sitting on the edge of our chairs as the names were about to appear, only to have the network break to a commercial. I think the studio was being nice to have added our names on the print that they sent us.

It was a good series, if you like Navy tales, and if you liked seeing USS FRANK E. EVANS (DD 754) at the opening of each and every episode. If only I could find a copy of that now.

“Luke” currently resides at 9 Juniper Trail, Hope, Rhode Island. You can reach him at jlucasils@aol.com or 401-827-0009.

EM3 JAMES HOOK 22 November 1964

I James William Hook “Jim” was born 25 November 1944, at Susanville, California. I had brown eyes and hair, which is now grey. I joined the navy in Chico, California, and entered at San Francisco. On 2 April 1964, I went to boot camp at NTC San Diego. After basic training I went to EM “A” School for 14 weeks and then on 22 November 1964, was assigned to USS FRANK E. EVANS (DD 754).

I made EM3 aboard FRANK E. EVANS, went on one Westpac cruise in 1965, and experienced a good case of sea sickness during a typhoon, never to get it again. Life was pretty uneventful during that time as we had only patrolled the Gulf of Tonkin and there wasn’t any sea combat. While on the cruise we received a message asking for volunteers for Vietnam duty. A radioman and I both responded.

In January 1966 I was sent orders to work with the Sea Bees in Saigon in the generator shop. After three months, I went off to the Mekong Delta to build PBR bases and provide support for the boats at Sa Dec. I was there for 15 months and got promoted to EM2. In September 1967 I went to Long Beach on board USS ENGLAND (DLG 22), until February 1968 when I was discharged.

YES, I WOULD DO IT AGAIN! (And maybe stay a little longer.) I worked as an electrician with the local power company. I studied electrical distribution, and later commercial refrigeration where I worked until 2000 when I retired to a wholesale sales and support position in a wholesale HVAC store.

Jim currently resides at 4530 Plum St., Boise, ID 83703. You can reach him at jhook@cableone.net

SKI CASEY GARCIA- 27 August 1961 to 63

I Casey Garcia was born at Brooklyn, Ohio. I served eight years in the Navy, the last two aboard USS FRANK E. EVANS (DD 754). In 1962, I made SK1.

Commander Cruiser-Destroyer Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet awarded the Supply Efficiency Plaque to FRANK E. EVANS in ‘62 and ‘63. The award is given when a ship attains OUTSTANDING as a grade during the annual Supply Inspection. The criteria to win this award are very stringent. It required teamwork and excellence on every ones part. To the best of my knowledge, this was the only time in the life of FRANK E. EVANS that such an award was given. As a Store-keeper, I was in charge of both the Commissary and Ship’s Store records. Command told me that I was largely responsible for this achievement and was deservedly recognized.

After service, I went to college in Long Beach, California where I lived until 1970 when I took a position as Sales Manager with a company in Cleveland, Ohio. I had the opportunity to travel to all 50 U.S. States and 91 countries. So I can say, I never got the urge to travel out of my system. The company manufactured engine and fuel injection parts for Detroit Diesel, Cummins, Caterpillar and EMD Diesel Engines. In 1981 we received the prestigious Presidential “E” award for excellence in Export. Only a handful achieve this goal. I retired in 2001 as Vice President, Sales.

Casey resides at 2312 Glenview Dr., Sierra Vista, AZ, 85650, with his wife Barbara. They have three children and two grandchildren who all live in California. You can reach Casey and Barbara at cgar520@juno.com or 520-378-9496.

CS3 STANLEY KENNETH EDWARDS – 7 April 1961 – August 64

I Stanley Kenneth Edwards was born 20 February 1941 at Auburn, Maine. My eyes are blue and I had blonde hair. I enlisted in the U. S. Navy at Auburn, Maine on 25 August 1960, and went to boot camp, Company 409, at Great Lakes, Illinois.

My first duty station was aboard the heavy cruiser USS ROCHESTER (CA 124). She had teak decks, 8″ gun turrets, and 6″ mounts. Boy, did I do some holystoning! ROCHESTER was decommissioned.

On 7 April 1961, I was sent to USS FRANK E. EVANS (DD 754) where I was put in 2 Division and trained in gun fire control under a nd guy named Adams. The FT rate was slow, so I went to “S” Division, for cooking. I became a commissaryman. It was excellent duty and I gained knowledge and rate during the long days at sea.

The commissary men won the Ney Memorial Award in 1963 for “Most Outstanding General Mess Afloat.” Best Feeding Ship was quite a tradition to maintain. We had great teamwork.

I have always been grateful for the help I had coming up through the ranks. I made lots of friends through the years. Upon being discharged in Long Beach, California on 18 August 1964, I was offered employment as assistant manger of a restaurant chain.

After the Navy, I graduated from Long Beach City College with an AA in Industrial Relations. I have been living in Sequim, Washington since 1978. You can reach Stan at 301 N. 7 Avenue, #54th Sequim, WA 98382.

The Pacific Fleet destroyer U.S.S. FRANK E. EVANS (DD 754) has won
the Ney Memorial Award for 1963 after being judged as having the best general mess of any ship in the U.S. Navy. A unit of CruiserDestroyer Force, Pacific Fleet, the Long Beach based ship won out over U.S.S. ORISKANY (CVA 34) and U.S.S. VULCAN (AR 5). ORISKANY is an aircraft carrier which serves in the Pacific, while VULCAN is a repair ship operating in the Atlantic.

The Ney Memorial Award is presented annually to the ship and the shore station considered most outstanding in mess management, preparation and service of food. It is sponsored by the Armed Forces Branch of the Food Services Executive Association.

The Ney Memorial Award Committee visited and evaluated U.S.S. FRANK E. EVANS on 10 June whiled the ship was in San Diego. Winning awards in a highly competitive Navy is not a new feat for destroyermen of FRANK E. EVANS. The ship won the type commander’s mess management award for conventional destroyer-class ships in 1962 and was judged outstanding in her annual supply inspection in both 1962 and 1963.

EVANS is one of more than 150 combat ready ships under the command of Rear Admiral Frank Virden that served in the eastern and central Pacific as part of the U.S. First Fleet, and in the western Pacific as units of the U.S. Seventh Fleet. Commander N. W. Sanders of Long Beach is commanding officer of U.S.S. FRANK E. EVANS (DD 754).

This Is The Winning Menu

Onion Soup, Barbecued and Fried Chicken, Cream Gravy, Mashed Potatoes, Southern Style Green Beans, O’Brien Whole Kernel Corn, Chilled Cranberry Sauce, Apple Pie with sliced American Cheese, Hot Dinner Rolls, Butter Patties, Assorted Salad Bar, Assorted Dressing, Hot Coffee, Fresh Milk, Chilled Chocolate Milk.

This is Who Made It Happen

CDR Nelson W. Sanders, Commanding Officer; LTJG Douglas C. Jacobs, Supply Officer; ENS Raymond L. Hahn, Assistant Supply Officer; CSC Delfin R. Marquez, Chief Commissaryman; BM1 Elmer F. Kelley Mess Decks, MAA. COOKS – CS2 E. W. Marchbanks, CS3 C. A. Maiorino, CS3 S. K. Edwards, SA A. E. Feulner. MESSMEN – SA J. A. Booher, FA D. J. Creed, RMSN J. A. Smith, SN W. S. Kuykendall, SN M. E. Kinney, SA F. D. Eddy, FA F. Rallo, FTGSN R. J. Wichman, FN P. E. Gebhard, SN T. C. Hewson, MMFN J. W. Hart.

OUR NAVY – OCTOBER 1963

In keeping with Navy Tradition, U.S.S. FRANK E. EVANS (DD 754) uses standard stock, six-section, tin trays. These present a problem since most meals over flow the 12″ X 18″ containers. Most FRANK E. EVANS’ sailors realize this, of course, and carefully stack their trays with crisp tossed salad topped with Thousand Island dressing, a slice or two of juicy roast beef, hot baked potatoes drenched in natural gravy and peas and carrots glistening with gently melting butter. Along with this goes a sprightly seasoned bowl of cream of tomato soup and hot rolls. This the poor fellow finishes off with milk, coffee, and rich chocolate ice cream served with a thick cut of light, white cake.

Food, important as it is, is not the only factor which determines the Ney contest winner, however. Cleanliness, serving techniques and management play key roles I the long fight for the award.

Two Supply Corps officers spent most of the final five hour inspection reviewing the ship’s commissary records. Serving techniques include the appearance of the food and the mess decks personnel, the condition of the food when it is served (is it hot?) and the promptness of each meal (does the chow go down on time?). FRANK E. EVANS came through on all points. Along with all these had to come cleanliness. In addition to serving and setting up tables, the mess-men must look out for cleanliness of the mess-decks. Three members of FRANK E. EVANS’ commissary team proudly display their work at the salad bar. From the left are SKSN Thomas R. Keller, “Jack-on-the Dust,” and cooks CS3 Carl A Maiorino, Jr, and CS3 Stanley E. Edwards. SN Earl M. Kinney, takes a sampling of the best food afloat. Kinney was the 3 Division mess man during the rd Ney Award Inspection. Elmer F. Kelley, BM1, mess-decks master at arms, oversees many hours of sweeping, swabbing, waxing, wiping and dusting on the mess-decks. Menus can offer well balance diets, commissary records might be perfect, serving techniques can shine like diamonds but ultimately the mess spaces and the ship must sparkle.

Although the Ney Award honors good food in 1016 afloat and 159
ashore messes throughout the Navy, FRANK E. EVANS’ award belongs
as much to the entire ship as it does to the commissary section.
The five man task force that boarded the ship for the final
inspection literally scattered from keel to mast. While the Supply
Officers combed the commissary records, a Supply Corp Captain and
two civilians from the Food Service Executive Association covered
spaces as far from the galley and scullery as the bridge, berthing
compartments, store rooms and main engine control.

Eleven mess-men, representing every division on the ship, and four cooks had readied the mess spaces. The remainder of the 265 man crew and her 15 officers took care of the rest of the ship. Their work included painting the entire exterior of the ship, welding and repairing those innumerable nubs and joints that always fail at the wrong time, and polishing each piece of brass and chrome on the 377-foot vessel.

The ship had some outside help. After winning the Group C Class competition in the Pacific Fleet for the 1962 Ney Award, FRANK E. EVANS was considered a prime contender for the beg award in 1963. When RADM Frank Virden, Commander Cruiser Destroyer Force Pacific, nominated FRANK E. EVANS for the semi-finals in May this year, he backed his ship all the way. He took an active interest in preparing her for the final inspection.

In the last few weeks before the Ney Award, the ship redecorated its mess-decks, repaired its World War II ovens and renovated part of its scullery room. All this was accomplished under the watchful eye and generous hand of RADM Virden. In addition, the ship’s force installed a new, transparent sneeze shield to protect the steam table. Observing this innovation one quick minded wag on the crew wanted to know if it was installed to prevent irate crew members from throwing food back at the servers.

Two days before the final inspection the Long Beach based destroyer sailed into San Diego Harbor and tied fast to a buoy. During this last 48 hours the crew concentrated its final energies on brightening the most remote corners of the ship. In the midst of this frantic drive to smooth out the finishing touches the Executive Officer called Port Services on an intra harbor radio circuit for a water barge “in order to complete preparations for the Ney Award Committee visit.” The answer came in a drab voice, “You’ll get your water, keep working.”

When the Ney Award Committee finally boarded FRANK E. EVANS on 10 June 1963, she was primed from stem to stern. With the chicken menu selected and the ship freshly painted a tire crew stood by in their best uniforms. They escorted committee members around the ship and answered their numerous questions. How do you like it aboard? What do you think of the food? Do you have enough to eat? What are the living conditions like?

When the Secretary of the Navy announced the Ney Award winner as U.S.S. FRANK E. EVANS (DD 754), the victory indeed belonged to the whole crew. It was something every man, whether by begging, borrowing, cooking, painting or polishing, had worked to attain. The announcement over the ship’s public address system brought a few scattered cheers and a host of tired, satisfied smiles.

ICFN LAWRENCE P. CUZZUPE 15 April 1964

I, Lawrence “Larry” Cuzzupe, was born 1 November 1944, at Eugene, Oregon. My eyes and hair are brown. My father was Italian and my mother was Irish. I’m the oldest of three. My sister lives in Riverside, New Jersey, and my brother in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Late in 1962, just before my 18 birthday, and before graduating th from Lincoln Northeast High School in Lincoln, Nebraska, I joined the Navy as a “kiddie cruiser.” Boot camp was at Great Lakes, Illinois where I also went to Interior Communications “A” school. My first duty was aboard two training ships: USS LAMAR (PCE 899)in Milwaukee, and USS PARLE (DE 708)in Chicago.

On 15 April 1964, I was received for duty on board USS FRANK E.
EVANS (DD 754). I was assigned to “R” Division. The first advice
I got was to, “Never bring back the movie Shane from the movie
exchange. If you do, something bad will happen to you.” Evidently,
prior to my arrival, the movie had been overdone to the point of
“mutiny.” I never did!!

I remember being in dry-dock at Long Beach. There were two other ships in this one dry-dock with us; a LPH carrier in front with FRANK E. EVANS and another destroyer, side by side, behind it. I regret never getting any pictures of this unusual situation. When we left for Westpac in ‘65, we carried a blaze orange, 16 or 17 ft. remote controlled speedboat on our helo deck. Evidently it was to practice firing on North Vietnamese torpedo boats which were considered a threat at that time. (This was shortly after the Gulf of Tonkin incident.) The boat was launched. Each group was to take turns firing at it. We were second or third. Our gun crew blew it to a smithereens, which ended the firing exercise.

It was a great experience aboard FRANK E. EVANS. I had never been outside the continental U.S. I’ll never forget my first sighting of Diamond Head, all the exotic places we visited, and being out to sea.

It was late 1965. I was twenty-one years old and returned to Lincoln, Nebraska. For the first few years, I had three different jobs, then joined a Vet Medicine Company, which later was purchased by Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, were I spent a 30 year career.

In February 1971, I was transferred to the Twin Cities in Minnesota. I was married, had three children, then divorced in 1991. I met my current wife in ‘93 or ‘94. We eventually married in 1999. I retired officially that same year.

My three children are all married. My oldest daughter is the mother of my two grandchildren, Ellen & Ethan. My second daughter is expecting their first child, a girl, October 2008. My son is a firefighter in the Twin Cities and they are expecting their first child, a boy, November 2008. In addition, I have three step-children and five step-grandchildren.

Larry and his wife currently reside at 28163 County Road 50, Bovey, MN 55709. You can reach him at (218) 245-2598 or bacuzz@webtv.net

SN WILLIAM CULBERTSON/SULLIVAN 7 July 1964-68

I William Culbertson/Sullivan was born 16 January 1946, at San Francisco, California. My hair is gray and I have green eyes. I enlisted in the navy at Daly City, California on 24 June 1964, and went to boot camp at San Diego, California.

I William Culbertson/Sullivan was born 16 January 1946, at San Francisco, California. My hair is gray and I have green eyes. I enlisted in the navy at Daly City, California on 24 June 1964, and went to boot camp at San Diego, California.

I reported aboard USS FRANK E. EVANS (DD 754) 7 July 1964, to the 1 Division. It started out as temporary duty while I waited for st my Radar “A” School to start. Then, LCDR Doehr came down the main deck and tore up my “A” School orders right in my face.

I was aboard FRANK E. EVANS for 3 tours. Made many good friends and a few enemies too. Trained with the Marines to be on the ship’s landing party. Did a lot of growing up.

William currently resides at 364 Morewood Lane, Grants Pass, OR, You can reach him at sullivan52@hotmail.com or 541-471-2252.

FC3 JOHN C. ZARRO 19 October 1950

FTG2 CLAYTON C. WRIGHT 19 May 1961-63

I Clayton C. Wright “CC” was born on 12 August 1942. I enlisted in the Navy at Kansas City, Kansas on 26 May 1960, and went to boot camp in San Diego. I served aboard USS FRANK E. EVANS (DD 754) from 1961 to 1963.

“CC” currently resides at 1569 Navajo Road, Clay Center, KS 67432. You can reach him at cvwright@kansas.net or 785-632-5768.