Category: Shipmate’s Stories

EM3 RICHARD T. COHAGAN – 12 July 1955 to 1956

I Richard T. Cohagan “Coke” was born 6 December 1928, at Columbus, Ohio. Currently I have gray hair and blue eyes. I enlistedin the U. S. Navy at Columbus, Ohio, on 7 February 1946, and went to boot camp at Camp Perry, Virginia.

I was F1c. My first duty was aboard USS NORRIS (DD 856), Forward Engine Room from 1946-47. I was called back in the Navy 4 October 1950, and went aboard USS BROWN (DD 546) as FN in the After Engine Room until 15 Jan 1951.

After completing EM Class ‘A” School and Movie Operator School in June 1955, on 12 July 1955 I went aboard USS FRANK E. EVANS (DD 754), E Division with EM3 Stan Smythe in charge. I made an electrical change to the vent system in the electronics room next to the Engineering compartment. I made an Exhaust System from the Blower System. When the ET’s propped open the door, the air was drawn through the compartment to help cool that space off some. (Seemed to work..) I left FRANK E. EVANS 17 August 1956. I was told, “my system” was still that way 2 June 1969.

After leaving Frank E. I went aboard USS BRADFORD (DD 546) from August 1956 through February 1957. I made EM2. Next was USS ALAMAKEE (YTB 410) until 1959 when I went to EM “B” School. I was now EM1. It was 16 December 1959, and I went aboard USS PURDY DD 734). Next stop was Instructor Duty at Great Lakes EM “A” and EM “B” schools, from September 1960 to October 1963. I made EMC and went aboard USS PLUCK (MSO 464) from November 1963 to April 1967. In May 1967 my duty was FLEET TRAINING GROUP San Diego, California. By March 1968 I was promoted to EMCS and then transferred to USS SCHOFIELD (DEG 3) from April 68 to January 1970, then to USS ISLE ROYALE (AD 29), which decommissioned January 1971. My last duty station was COMCRUDESGRU, LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA from 25 January 1971, to 8 July 1971, when after 23 years I retired, EMCS.

“Coke” currently resides at P O Box 223 Duluth, GA, 30096-0004 with his wife Earnestine W. Cohagan. You can reach them at rtrdemcs@aol.com or 770- 623-9022. He stays at home doing “T” Shirts and “GOLF” shirts for Navy shipmates with an embroidering machine.

BM3 JOHN COEN 5 June 1952 – 55

I John Coen “Jack” was born 5 August 1931 at St. Louis, Missouri. My hair was blonde and my eyes are blue. I enlisted in the U. S. Navy at St. Louis on 8 January 1952 and went to boot camp at USNTC San Diego, California.

I came aboard USS FRANK E. EVANS (DD 754) on 5 June 1952, and was assigned to 2 Division. I was Special Sea Detail and General Quarters Helmsman, and Mess Deck Master At Arms for six months.

I was on the helm in 1954 in the Formosa Straits in a typhoon. When refuelling, we lost the motor whaleboat and other things on the deck. I was also Coxswain of the boat. After 3 years, 6 months, and 26 days, I left FRANK E. EVANS.

“Jack” and Peggy currently reside at 614 N. Hickory, Centralia. You can reach them at 618-532-3260.

RM2 E. C.”CATO” CHRISTENSEN JR. 20 September 1951

Notes between Cato and the Campbells….

Between 19 June 1999 and 6 August 2001 Cato corresponded with the Campbells, JC and Sylvia. What pertained to Cato is chronicled below, and what pertained to others is chronicled under their respective place in this log. To see what Cato had to say, please refer to the following names:

19 June 1999 – “Enclosed is the $20.00 check for the dues for being part of USS FRANK E EVANS. I was on that ‘Boat’ for a bunch of months. My wife and I plan to attend the reunion in Denver. I was just thinking, which is probably bad, that if I ever had $20.00 while I was on board FRANK E. EVANS, and loaned it to some friend or someone, I am sure that it would not have been spent in the way you intend to use the money. If I remember back when, I would say that it would have been spent on, ‘lots and houses.’ I am going to look up some old pictures and send them to you all.”

19 February 2000 – “I was on board USS FRANK E EVANS DD 754, actual ship duty, 41 months. By the way, I loved every minute of it. My wife’s name is Tommie Jo, but she prefers to be called TJ. I was RM3, and when I left FRANK E. EVANS, I was RM2. Nobody liked FRANK E. EVANS as well as I did. Don’t ask me why. I could have transferred several times, but would not go. FRANK E. EVANS was called the ‘Grey ghost of the Korean coast.’ Regarding the book, ‘In The Wake,’ I am not through yet. How many hours did I spend on the bridge with my buddy QM2 Lee Lindsey, who read the lights and flags, watching all the ships, mainly destroyers, go into formation for plane guard? I said to Lee, ‘I hope all of those ships know where they are supposed to be going, and how they’re going to get there.’ Once our sister ship, USS ALFRED A CUNNINGHAM DD 752 made a wrong turn and nearly ran into us. Our CO’s words are probably still floating around in the Pacific. I still teach a little college, which I enjoy and my wife still works. Right now she’s in Vegas and I stay at home (Weslaco, TX) and work. I am going to fly to Houston tomorrow to see my gran’ baby.”

2 August 2001 – “Now you all have to realize that I was aboard FRANK E. EVANS for 41 months. Enjoyed all of it! I served with a bunch of great sailors and was blessed with having three good COs (ones that liked destroyers and the men that kept them running). My first CO was Christie, the second was Olson (XO), and the last one was Salmon. He served two jaunts with FRANK E. EVANS and was a fine individual. Now also realize that I was a radioman and one who wanted to know everything that was going on. (I was nosey.) In the radio shack, we had to route the messages all during the day and some at night, which was a job for a seaman, but I loved to do it, and that way I kept in touch with everything. I was so good at it that Captain Salmon wanted to take me with him when he left FRANK E. EVANS for another duty station. I even sat down in his stateroom one morning and drank coffee with him!

When CUNNINGHAM did that wrong turn, Olson was our CO. The CO on CUNNINGHAM had to answer to our leader on BLUE, (USS BLUE DD 744, ComDesRon 13)as he was called to report to BLUE the next day by little boat (Captain’s gig). When that CO left CUNNINGHAM his next ship was probably watching ice bergs float around Alaska or counting polar bears. I ran around with B.J. (died ‘94), and one we called ‘Dub,’ whose real name I do not recall. B.J. had a brother on the ship at the same time, who we called ‘Little Rich.’ He took care of the laundry. Since I ran with his brother, I got my whites washed and pressed sometimes, so I could make an impression on the girls in California. (I needed all the help I could get.)

QM2 Lee Lindsey and I were really good friends. He came home on leave with me for two weeks. Actually, Lee was the reason I married my wife, the one I still have. Lee also had a brother who served at the same time, and he too was a QM. Lee’s mother and stepfather lived in Vallejo. The stepfather worked in the shipyard and helped paint FRANK E. EVANS when we were in the yard. They tell me they cannot find the Lindsey boys. I sure wish they could as I would love to talk to Lee if he is still with us. Going to close for today and I will pick up again tomorrow.”

3 August 2001 – “Looking at the photo album from the Ninth Reunion… I recall RM3 William A. Bristow “Bugs” as he was a radioman and we worked watches in the shack a good many times. I see in the FRANK E. EVANS Report that he had surgery and a stroke; I do hope he is getting along alright. I see that (GM3 Donald E.)Butler was at the reunion. He and I were real good friends. We must have gone ashore together and looked at the sights and probably visited some of the cultural centers. SN Donald R. Cox I knew real well as he was a radioman. This gentleman probably would like to kill me, as when he came aboard, he was a seaman. I saw that every no good duty that we had to take care of, for example, make coffee, clean the shack, wash and mop the passageway outside, and help clean the mast. He was new and this beats us doing all of this mess.

In looking through the membership roster I came across QM2 James A. Brayton. We played cards together for hours on end, when we had nothing else to do. I also came across RM3 Irvin L. Bobo. He and I were real close. I slept in a double bunk under the mess hall about three inches apart from Irvin for at least a year. That fool took more showers than any human alive, and I am not sure that he did not see a world record. Bobo taught me to be a radioman when I first came aboard FRANK E. EVANS. He came to work and left work always singing. I could be copying code and I would hear that singing (what I don’t know) and I knew Bobo was going to be with us, singing and all. I called him about a year ago and we had a great chat. He told me that he was going to write a book and include a chapter just about me!”

Sea Stories… “One or two of these stories is true, as I was there, and one of them, which no one will believe, I was a part of and the CO told me to keep my mouth shut about it. Now remember, I spent hours on the bridge and wandering around the ship, so I could pick up on things….

The time and place was off the Korean coast. FRANK E. EVANS was patrolling not far offshore. Radar picked up something and we raced to see what it was. It was a mine, which we disposed with our 3 inch 50s. We kept on trucking down the shoreline, looking for something. I would look through the big glass in hopes of finding something pretty in a short skirt but did not. Anyway, we ran across another mine, which we took care of, as they can do nasty things to a destroyer. Shortly thereafter, we ran upon one of these straw boats with some North Koreans in it. We knew they were putting down those mines, but looking over that thing they called a boat, (from the bridge) we did not see any more mines. On this trip, we had a South Korean officer on board to ask those idiots in that boat where they came from, and they would say nothing. Our CO told the officer to ask them again, and again, no answer. Our captain had a great temper. As we were at some sort of general quarters, with two gun mounts firing at the shoreline, the captain told the OOD to lower 1 mount to point at the straw boat, and then lock and load. The Korean officer was to ask the same question again. This time he got an answer. I was on the bridge and I watched all the goings on. The North Korean men were jumping around like chickens looking at those gun barrels. Their eyes must have been bugged out like a frog’s. I laughed till I was sick. Believe it or not, we let the fools go! Well, enough for today, I will pick up tomorrow.”

5 August 2001 – “Well, it’s Sunday and I am still at this letter… FRANK E. EVANS was somewhere, could be anywhere, I’m not sure. We were attached to BLUE, our Flag Ship. We were going to play games with a submarine. We were to find the sub, chase it and when our sonar pinged on it, direct hit, we were to report back to BLUE. That’s where the ‘big wheel’ was. Well, we started out beside BLUE making wide circles, which got bigger and bigger, beyond the sight of BLUE, until we finally got the sub on sonar. This accomplished, we started cat and mouse games chasing the sub all over the ocean, we trying to keep up and he trying to loose us. This game went on a long time and finally we pinged over him, which resulted in a direct hit.

The game being over, we were now to report back to BLUE. I failed to tell you that we were not in sight of any land and it was nice and sunny out. Well guess what? We did not know where we were and did not know BLUE’s location, and we had no radar contact. Well, I was in the radio shack, probably drinking coffee, and I might have even supposed to be working, like copying code or something. We had this intercom system all over the ship and from the bridge, the CO, Salmon, called and asked me to report to the bridge. Off I went. Upon arriving, captain Salmon took me on the bridge, away from the other people, and asked me to do something for him. He asked if I knew a radioman on the BLUE, and could I get him to do a favor for me, to open his mouth to nobody. Capt. Salmon wanted to know BLUE’s exact location, latitude and longitude so we could find BLUE and save face. I got on the radio key and talked to a radioman I knew. I asked him to go next door (as CIC was next to the radio room and CIC is where all of this information comes from) and get this information and tell NO ONE. Well, he did it for me and radioed the information back to me. I copied it on a scrap sheet of paper and then hustled my body to the bridge and handed the CO the information. Shortly thereafter, we were full speed ahead and linked up with BLUE. Points, I made! Now I remember that we were in Japanese waters. This good deed for captain Salmon got QM2 Lee Lindsey and I an over-night pass in Tokyo, which was not heard of. We stayed at an American hotel and had a ball, (acted like rich folks).”

6 August 2001 – “Well it’s Monday and I am going to try and end this letter. I want to pass on to you a short story that I watched from the bridge.

It seems that every time we were in Hong Kong, people in those little straw boats were coming around wanting something. Brass was very high on the list. The powder, to shoot those 5″ shells, was in brass casings. Well, one day three or four men came around in their boat wanting some brass. I’m sure the payback was in booze. A couple of our crew were on the main deck talking with them. It seems after they got their heads together, that there was some and they would give it to the men. First, the boat would have to be brought up forward, about where our anchor was. The men complied with this wish alright, which they should not have done. When we trained new people to work in the gun mounts (GQ) we had a mock shell that weighed about 50 lbs for them to practice with. I think it was brass. One of the kind crew members that was talking to the people in the boat, went to one of the gun mounts and retrieved the shell. Now from the deck of FRANK E. EVANS to the people in the boat was a ways down. 50 lbs, all at once, they did not bargain for. Well as you might expect, some sailor dropped it into the straw boat. Instead of stopping, the shell, it just went right on through and left a rather large hole as it left their boat. The last I saw of those people, they were stuffing shirts or whatever into the hole and heading on back to shore as fast as possible. I think everybody had a great laugh except those in the boat.

Mary Soo… Then there was Mary Soo (famous person)in Hong Kong. With her crew of girls, would wash the sides of the ship with soap and water, and then paint it, all for our food scraps. They did a great job and saved a bunch of work for some of our crew. At lunch time, we would get trays and fix the girls a good lunch, if you call what we ate good, and take it to the girls. The enjoyed!!!

Eggs… We pulled alongside a British carrier once to take on fuel. It was early morning. I yelled to one of their sailors and asked if he had eggs for breakfast. His reply was that he didn’t even know what an egg was, and he asked what animal they came from.”

Cato had a terrible case of emphysema. He had to sleep with oxygen. Cato passed away in 2002. He lived at 1305 West Third #6, Weslaco, TX 78596.

LT EDWARD C. CAZIER October 1952 – September 1953

“Edward C. Cazier, USNR, was the GQ OOD. He was a practicing attorney when recalled to active duty, Captain Salmon’s probably most trusted officer, and one of the brightest people I ever met. A persistent rumor on the ship was that Anna Mae Wong, the ChineseAmerican movie actress, was his “friend.” He broke me into bridge watch standing, and he took part of his GI Bill from WWII at the University of Paris.”

-LTJG Doug Legg

“In September ‘52, shortly after the Tanchon firefight, I was again standing the JOOD watch. Due to the heavy volume of encrypted radio traffic, JOODs frequently spent half their time on the bridge, and half in the crypto shack. About 1600, I went to the shack to ‘break’ four messages. The first three ‘broke’ with no trouble. The fourth came out gibberish. I reset the controls and ran the message three more times with the same result. At dinner, two hours later, I sat across from the coding officer (Homer Gauldin) and explained the problem. He tried to break the message right after dinner with the same result, and then contacted CUNNINGHAM to discover they’d had no luck in breaking the same message.

The next day, FRANK E. EVANS was steaming by herself, when the word was passed for LT Cazier to lay down to the sonar shack. About 5 minutes of great activity and confusion followed. It turned out that FRANK E. EVANS unknowingly had approached a string of Soviet-supplied mines which the North Koreans laid at right angles to the coastline. One of the sonarmen recognized what he saw on the sonar scope and had the bridge call the ASW officer (Cazier) down to sonar, The gear was shifted to the high power short range mine detection setting, and Ed gave the bridge a course to steer which took FRANK E. EVANS between two of the mines, all of which were swept up in the next couple of days.

Two days after FRANK E. EVANS’ encounter with the uncharted mines, we received a coded re-encryption of the message neither Homer Gauldin nor I had been able to break. The second message noted the existence of an uncharted line of mines running at right angles to the North Korean coast, gave the latitude and longitude, and stated that mine sweepers were on their way. Ed Cazier’s coaching FRANK E. EVANS through that mine field hardly surprised anyone, as that was the caliver of performance we’d all come to expect of him.”

-LTJG Doug Legg

FN JOHN CALVIN “JC” CAMPBELL

I John Calvin “JC” Campbell was born 29 July 1932, in the old Parkland Hospital in Dallas, Texas. My mom and dad lived in what was called West Dallas at 1107 West Commerce. We lived there until after WW II started and then moved to Irving, Texas at 1305 Perry Road.

During high school, I joined the Naval Reserves because that was the thing that 17 & 18 year old guys did. As they say today, “it was the in thing to do.” Being in the reserves gave us something to do and also a little spending money. We met at the Bauchman Lake Unit located close to Harry Hines Blvd. in the north part of Dallas.

After graduating from Irving High School I started working for a lumber company doing clerical work and also was the telephone operator. I later went to work for South Western States Telephone Company in Irving. At one of our reserve training meetings, we were advised that, “there is some sort of a conflict overseas in a place called KOREA!” No one seemed to know too much about this place, and not too many knew where it was located. With all of that knowledge about the situation, my real good buddy and I made the agreement that if one of us got our call, the other would sign up at the same time so that at least we could go to “boot camp” together. About two weeks later, my buddy Sonny Barlow received his orders. So like a good friend would, I marched in and signed my papers that put me on active duty.

On 12 December 1951, we left Dallas Union Terminal Railway Station bound for Chicago, Illinois, and then to Great Lakes Naval Training Center. Arriving in Great Lakes and stepping off the train in about 3 foot of snow, I became aware of what the weather there would be like during boot camp. I need to mention that my good buddy, who I signed up with to go onto active duty with, received a Medical Discharge after 6 weeks in Great Lakes. I never let him forget what he did for me…During our stay in boot camp, the daily ritual was the same as everyone else. We woke up too early and stayed up too late. Washed and dried our clothes in the drying room and sometimes we froze them on the clothes line outside. This being my first time away from home at Christmas time was not a very happy experience for me. Then, after spending almost three days in the hospital with double pneumonia, and having to doctor the thermometer so that my temperature returned to normal, I was released in time to return to my group of “rookies”. Our unit was made up of reserves from Texas and Louisiana and I did not want to be bumped back to another group.

After graduating from “Boot Camp”, we had two weeks leave to come home before reporting on 29 February 1952, to U.S.S. FRANK E. EVANS (DD 754) stationed in San Diego, California.

Reporting aboard ship was a different world for me. I met good friends and shipmates from the start and as I remember, enjoyed it all. I was assigned to the after fire room and assigned to do the records while on watch. The watches were 4 hours on and 8 hours off. However, if you had the 0400 to 0800 watch, you had the privilege of working some place in the fire room during the day as well as standing your regular watch.

Always something to do…During our 0000 to 0400 night watches I remember we would raid the potato and onion lockers for some food. Then we would visit the cooler where the butter was kept. The end result was we had the best potato soup you could find. Of course we had to have bread to go with the soup! Not a problem. We always kept the bakers supplied with a bottle of something to sip on. We stayed fed and I suppose they stayed happy. A good arrangement for everyone.

When the ship took on stores at sea, we used our footlockers as a food closet. Food just seemed to appear in everyone’s locker, which was another food supply source for our late night watches.

The work was hard and long when we went to “General Quarters.” It was also the most scary part for a 19 year old. After once or twice at GQ, it became old hat and became part of our routine when in Korean waters. I remember being a mess cook for, it seems like, three months. My station was in the scullery washing the trays, cups and eating utensils. I would put them in one end of the washer and take them out the other, stack and sort for them to be reused. One time we were forced to leave Hong Kong after only one day in port, because of a Typhoon. You know how hot and steamy it can get in the scullery? Going into a storm and working in this place was not a pleasant place to be. I recall that I would get the dirty utensils into the washer, run to the sink, THROW UP, run back to get dishes coming out of the washer, run back THROW UP and then repeat the process over and again and again. Crackers and apples were all that I could keep down. It was a wonderful experience…

All said and done, this experience was what I needed to help me grow up and to appreciate what my country meant and means to me now. I had never travelled much before my tour in the Navy and I took my country for granted.

As my tour of duty ended, I left the ship in Kobe, Japan and started my trek back home. I went to Yokosuka and waited for the troop transport U.S.S. GERALD S. MANN, which I boarded in Yokohama. We then went to Okinawa to pick up more troops for return to San Francisco, California. After arriving at Treasure Island (TI) for my discharge and for my return to civilian life, I recall that I gave a pint of blood for an extra hours of shore leave in San Francisco/Oakland. I received my discharge on 1 October 1953, and started my way back to Texas and my family.

After going back to work at the telephone company, and going to art classes at night in Dallas for about two years, it dawned on me that I needed to get some college education in order to try and advance myself for the future. I enrolled at North Texas State University in Denton, Texas in December 1955. I was employed at Southwest Aeromotive Company on the second shift (3:00 PM to 12:00AM) at Amon Carter Field (located close to what is today the DFW Airport) to test and ship jet engines that had been repaired/reworked for the Air Force and Navy aircraft. While taking 12 to 14 hours at school and working full time, it became quite hectic. I finally gave up some of my college courses, because I had met a very pretty young lady, Sylvia, at NTSU and knew that she was the, “girl for me.”

After she graduated from NTSU in 1958, we were married on 19 July in Granbury Texas. We moved into a very small house in Haltom City, Texas on Gene Lane and lived there for about nine months. We then moved to the North side of Fort Worth and lived on North West 20th street until 1 April 1960, when we moved to Granbury, Texas with our new son John Lewis who was born 17 February 1960. Our next son Jerry Alan was born 8 March 1962. On 22 May 1964, our third son Joel Kevin came home from Harris Hospital in Fort Worth just like the other two sons.

Went to work at Convair Aeronautics in Fort Worth in the art department doing mechanical drawing on the B58 Hustler airplane. After about 7 1/2 years at Convair/General Dynamics, went to work for Ling Temco Vought (LTV) in Grand Prairie, Texas doing the same type work. After 11 1/2 years, returned to General Dynamics as contract labor (job shopper). In 1986 I was hired full time at GD. In May 2001, I was laid off from GD, now Lockheed Martin. After a short period, I took my retirement with almost 23 years of service.

Elected to the Granbury City Council in 1971 and served almost 22 years, when I resigned because we moved outside the city limits. Member of Granbury Volunteer Fire Department since joining in July 1978. Not active in fire fighting aspects of the department, but help our where possible. Member of Masonic Lodge in Granbury since 1962 but not as active enough.

Belong to First United Methodist Church – Granbury. Served as Administrative Board Chairman, Co-Chairman of the Capital Campaign for a new church building.

Served on the board of the Hood County Committee on Aging (Senior Center) and serve on the Board of the Transit System, Glen Rose, Texas and on the Advisory Board of the Area Agency located in Arlington, Texas at North Central Texas Council of Governments.

Belong to AACA (Antique Automobile Club of America) and the local club Lake Granbury Antique Car Club. I have a 1963 1/2 Galaxie 500 Fast Back Ford bought new by my mom and dad, and recently purchased a 1982 Chrysler LaBaron convertible which is in mint condition.

Currently President of the USS Frank E. Evans Association, Inc. and have been since 1993. Our associations founder, H. G. “Nick” Nichols of Frankston, Texas called in 1991 and I helped him get this organization started by holding our 1st reunion at a DFW Hotel in 1992. We currently have about 250 dues paying members through out our nation. We have annual reunions. The 2008 reunion will be in the Charleston, South Carolina area of Patriots Point at the Holiday Inn.

BT3 JAMES HENRY BURNETT 29 August 1950

I James Henry Burnett served on board USS FRANK E. EVANS (DD 754) from August 1950 to March 1954. I was a BT3 in B Division.

On 10 November 1953, I was on watch in the after fire room with FN Hicks from Tennessee, and FN Alex Sanchez. We were getting ready to blow boiler tubes. FN Hicks started down the after fire room ladder. He slipped and fell head first. He was taken to sickbay
where he died.

I was married in December 1954. My wife and I had five children, which resulted in four great grandchildren. As of 2001, my wife has been deceased. We were married 47 years.

In 1972 I retired from the U.S. Air Force. As of 13 August 2002, I own Henry’s Appliance Repair where we install and repair commercial and residential heating and air conditioning equipment in and around Jonesboro, Arkansas. I am a member of the VFW and American Legion.

Henry currently resides at 820 Strawn, Jonesboro, AR 72401. You can reach him at 870-935-1191.

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.