Category: Shipmate’s Stories

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.

ENS ARTHUR BARNETT MCCOMB (TAD) 22 February 1945

McComb aboard USS CONCORD (CL 10). ENS McComb served TAD aboard FRANK E. EVANS February – April 1945.

At Williams College, I Arthur Barnett McComb entered the USNR V-12 program in July 1943. Then came USNR Midshpman’s School at Notre Dame, Indiana, 6 June 1944 (D-Day) thru 10 August 1944, commissioning as ensign. I was an instructor in navigation at Notre Dame until September 1945, then Shore Patrol officer at Tientsin, China, from November 1945 to June 1946. (From my thought beginning, I knew my eye-sight wouldn’t let the Navy assign me to sea duty.

My first in-uniform taste of the sea was the temporary assignment to FRANK E. EVANS. My orders took me from South Bend to Norfolk, from where FRANK E. EVANS departed for Brooklyn. We were there for a week, including two days up Long Island Sound, around Montauk Point and back along the south shore.

Thence across the Gulf Stream alone to Bermuda, in real February – March weather. I soon learned ladder ascent-descent control from-to my quarters forward! My first and last dinner-chucking was one evening on that run. We spent a week in Bermuda, going out every day for sonar runs on a captive submarine, anchored in Great Bay every night, but there was no shore leave. (The V-Mail reminds me of the Italians who left us in Bermuda.

We then spent several days convoying 2-3 supply or auxiliary ships to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. We operated from Gtmo, primarily anti-aircraft exercised, for probably three weeks. New Chevalier and other DDs were also there. I served observer duty several times on 44-mm platforms, and once on 20-mm right behind 5 inch turret No. 2–bang! Other times I was observer in CIC or on bridge, and once in the engine room. I stood JOOD watches. Of course the exec. had to keep bouncing me around to keep Washington and Notre Dame happy. We got shore liberty to Gtmo Officer’s Club and eventually back to Brooklyn, where I brought my girl on board one afternoon. Then the train to South Bend. (Oh yes: while FRANK E. EVANS was coming up the East River, the exec. saw me outside improperly uniformed, and had to order me out of sight and into proper dress.)

I recall two officers from FRANK E. EVANS: [1] CDR Harry Smith, our skipper, whom I thought a model skipper. I remember his occasional friendly disagreements with the signal officer, LT Julius Smith Young, at mess, the captain having had a tour of duty, which I believe involved revising the signal manual! [2] LT Bill Platt, former All-American football player at Yale, and easy to talk to. I was his JOD more than once when he was OOD.

(From the Aleutians, my brother Pete in CONCORD moved toward Japan and fired the Navy’s last shots of the was at the mainland.)

In the V-Mail, there is a reference to Ruth Lawrence, who became my fiancee later in 1945 (by long distance from China). We were married 5 September 1946, and are still (2007) married. We have two children of whom we are very proud: David, who sent you my FRANK E. EVANS contact, and daughter Jean Brannigan here in Poughkeepsie.

Combined with the V-Mail, this makes a lot more than I could contribute for you. It doesn’t raise the Navy’s morale by 10% this time, but I’ve enjoyed it. Please give Ruth’s and my good wishes to the FRANK E. EVANS shipmates at your forth coming reunion.

Arthur B. McComb
29 S. Randolph Ave.
Poughkeepsie, NY 12601-5123

SM1c JAMES EDWARD LONG 3 February 1945

Plank holder, first anniversary, and first Christmas.

CQM GEORGE T. LAFFERTY October 1944

I George T. Lafferty “Laff” was born 14 August 1918, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. My hair was brown and my eyes are hazel. I enlisted in the Navy at Philadelphia in 1934.

From October 1944 through 30 January 1946, I was a member of the pre-commissioning detail at Staten Island, New York. I was there for the commissioning of USS FRANK E EVANS DD-754 on 3 February 1945, at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. I am a Plank Holder. I was aboard for the shakedown cruise to Guantanamo, Cuba, passage through the Panama Canal, and on to Westpac.

Bell Cracked – Upon completion of commissioning and supplying FRANK E. EVANS, we headed for shakedown at Gitmo. We got as far as the Narrows in New York Harbor, where we ran into dense fog, really heavy stuff! CDR Harry Smith, the skipper, decided to drop the hook, to play it safe. We started sounding the ship’s bell in accordance with the “Rules of the Road.” Regarding the bell, the anchor watch was instructed with the proper procedure of how many strikes and how often to hit it. Everything went well for a short time, and then….no sound from the bell, just dull thuds; the bell had cracked! As we well know, New York Harbor is quite a busy place, and in foggy weather, some sort of signal better be in effect. Our skipper came up with a solution. He had the ship’s cook bring two large dishpans and large spoons from the galley. One set went to the fo’c’sle, and the other to the fantail. The banging started again, not ringing, but plenty of bangs, which apparently worked. We made it until the fog lifted and we headed on our way to Gitmo.

After-Steering – With shakedown completed and out of the way, it was back to the States for a few minor changes, replenish the ship, and then on our way to the Pacific. Everything went fine until we were going through the locks of the Panama Canal. Our steering locked. The electric motor, located at the hub of the ship’s wheel, overheated and locked. The wheel wouldn’t budge. We went to after steering, located one deck below the main deck in the last compartment aft. It was a funny situation, the wheel and gyro repeater faced aft. You steered looking aft toward the ship’s stern, with the bow at your back; looking one way yet going the other! It took a little getting used to, I know because I was the one sent aft to do the job. After a few hot sweaty hours, we tied up on the Pacific side entrance. Our captain was a man of few words. After getting back to the bridge, he gave me a “thumbs up” sign and placed one of his favorite cigars in my “soggy” khaki shirt pocket. For me that was plenty!

About the Captain – My understanding was that he had command of a destroyer somewhere around the Aleutian Islands. He was supposed to get some other assignment, but requested destroyer duty, and got one. From what I heard, he was fairly high on Commander List. Being in charge of the bridge gang CMs and SMs, I soon learned that CDR Harry Smith was right up there with them, regarding all types of visual signalling. This, you can be well assured, kept the bridge gang on their toes. I heard somewhere that our CO had made Admiral with duty somewhere in Europe.

About Me – After leaving FRANK E. EVANS I put time on three destroyers and one escort pulling radar picket duty. Also had a tour as an instructor at an “Instructor Training School.” In 1961, after 27 years of naval service, I retired. Shortly thereafter, I became Superintendent of Beaches at Ocean City, New Jersey Captain of Lifeguards. After 22 years, in 1983, I retired again. It was a good job, keeping me around the water. In fact, we have a home right on a bay in Ocean City but come cold weather, we bail out and head for sunny Florida, “Hobe Sound.”

Laff currently resides at 35 W. 17 St., Ocean City, NJ 08226. You can reach him at 609-399-7122.

ENS ELDON EDWIN KIEHLER 1946

I left the ship in San Francisco, shortly after our arrival in 1946.

I have thought about USS FRANK E EVANS DD 754 and the deck watches
I stood with LTJG Jerome (Jerry) Fien. He introduced me to her, which I appreciated. I still remember some of the things that occurred when EVANS was sailing out of the port of Tsingtao, China. I guess they had the 7 fleets spread all over by then.

I still remember just how cold it could be when we were standing watch on the flying bridge, WOW, with a heavy parka over a sweater we were freezing, especially on those night watches.

I remember the two runs to Korea when the Captain had to make the run up the river and watch the tides, etc. Shot up a floating mine on one of those trips. Then the run to Shanghai, for a few days. I recall the poor people who lived on the “Bum Boats” and how they even washed their small children from the river water and snatched everything that floated by.

I still remember the targets that appeared on our radar scopes on the bridge when we were underway, and they normally turned out to be small fishing boats in the darkness. Also, the stars were brilliant when out at sea and we could recognize the constellations.

There was a rickshaw race one night that started just as we were leaving the Officer’s Club, and it was to return to the ship. That was an exciting one and when we returned to the Wardroom for much needed coffee, I recalled that it was my 21 birthday, and then I st could legally have a drink.

I learned how to play cribbage from Carl Annexstad, Dave Schreiber and Fred Atkins. Neat pass time and they were tough players with a lot of laughs.

The return to the states has a lot of memories for me as it was anything but routine. As I recall, and please help me if I have left anything out, we were to return with our squadron consisting of our six destroyers.(USS HARRY E HUBBARD DD 748, USS ALFRED A. CUNNINGHAM DD 752, USS JOHN R PIERCE DD 753, USS FRANK E. EVANS DD 754, USS JOHN A. BOLE DD 755, and USS LOFBERG DD 759) I remember the deployment of the ships in two columns, 400 yards apart, and 400 yards between ships in each column. That meant we were taking Stadiometer readings every other minute and then advising the engine room to adjust the turns of the screws. Thought I would go blind during those watches!

Also, I remember just how rough it would get at times. We were taking green water over the bridge and you could see part of the keels of the Cans in the adjacent column when their bows pitched out of the water. As I recall, spacing between ships opened up to 600 yards when the weather was that bad.

Then there was an accident during a simulated refueling operation aboard CUNNINGHAM when a cleat or fitting broke and a steel line snapped, which injured an officer. CUNNINGHAM left the formation at flank speed for port to seek emergency assistance for the patient.

We did get a few days in Honolulu, which was neat for relaxing. I purchased a visor hat as I had given or sold mine to Fred Atkins when he left the ship to return home earlier as he had blown off when he was in the motor whaleboat. Of course, we tried out all the drinks in the Officer’s Club, and enjoyed all the fresh vegetables and steaks that we could find.

Then there was the experience with the LCM (“M” boat) which was dead in the water with engine problems. Since apparently, we had the most fuel aboard, the squadron commander detached our ship from the group and we were assigned to try and tow the LCM until a sea going tug could arrive. It seems that we parted the tow line a few times and were making only a few knots. We spent a couple of days trying to assist the ship. Finally the tug arrived and we were again, off to San Francisco.

It was exciting to arrive under the Golden Gate Bridge with our long colorful red, white, and blue homecoming pennant streaming, a most colorful sight against the background of the neat orange/gold bridge. I had nice memories of times here prior to shipping out.

Shortly thereafter, I received orders as my earlier regular navy commission application had been approved. I was assigned to advanced gunnery school, but I declined. I went out to sea again aboard USS RUTLAND (APA 192) for a magic carpet run to Japan. We returned to Norfolk, Virginia via the Panama Canal. I was OOD while approaching and going through the first portion of the canal. It was very interesting, however, raining so hard there was little to see.

Post Navy, I spent many years travelling the entire West Coast as Regional Manager for the Package Machinery Company which produced food packaging systems for many industries.

Lived most of the time in condominiums since arrival in California. Had at least three in Newport Beach. Currently, 2001, live in a ten story high rise on Newport Bay with a pool, Jacuzzi, doorman, security guard and a staff of eleven people. Both Mary Lou and I have served on the Boards of the Association, and for many functions.