Evans Survivor Visits South Dakota
Joe Bob Mann, long time residence of Friona, Texas, visited South Dakota during the U.S.S. Frank E. Evans DD 754 Association Reunion in Rapid City, South Dakota, October 9-14, 2018. During one excursion along with his wife, Dale Mann, and other members of the Association, the group toured Ellsworth Air Force Base located just outside Rapid City.
During the tour, a group of airmen informed the Evans group of their duties and answered questions about the three B-1B Lancer bombers which were displayed on the air field. While visiting the airmen, a chance meeting with one airman resulted in finding a close neighbor. Joe Bob met Airman Heather Rocha who just happens to have grown up in Bovina, Texas, and graduated from Bovina High School. She has been stationed at Ellsworth for one year.
Other excursions brought the Evans group to the Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse Monuments. It had snowed so the scenery was quite different from the summer-like scenery the Manns found during a visit two years ago in September. The trees and mountains were covered with snow while the roads were clear. Mount Rushmore showed what appeared to be the Presidents crying with the streams of moisture from the melting snow running down their faces. It was beautiful to say the least.
While at Ellsworth Air Force Base, the group had their annual memorial to honor not only the “74” sailors who gave their lives on board the Evans on June 3, 1969, but also all members and family who had passed away during the year. It was a moving ceremony held at the South Dakota Air & Space Museum outside the Ellsworth Base.
On Saturday night, the final banquet was a murder mystery in which Joe Bob and Dale had acting parts. The title was “Murder at the Deadwood Salon”. All cast members dressed in 1864 costumes, had no memorized lines but adlibbed their parts from information given. The event was well received by those in attendance.
The next Reunion will be in Long Beach, California, from May 28-June 4, 2019. The group will be staying on the Queen Mary cruise ship which is moored in Long Beach. Long Beach was the home port for the U.S.S. Frank E. Evans DD 754 when it was cut in two by the Australian aircraft carrier, The Melbourne, in 1969. The memorial will be held on June 3rd which is the date of the accident. Joe Bob Mann was on board the ship when the accident happened resulting in the 74 sailors losing their lives when the front end (the bow) of the ship sank. The Evans Association is working diligently to get those “74” names on the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C.
