Vietnam War-era Marine who fought for veterans' rights passed away

Lane Evans Legislator, veteran, 63
Philly.com
November 10, 2014

Former Illinois Rep. Lane Evans, 63, a Vietnam War-era Marine who fought for veterans' rights during his 24 years in the U.S. House, died Wednesday in East Moline, Ill., after a long fight with Parkinson's disease.

"In the early days of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, Lane was one of the first members of Congress to take on issues like PTSD and TBI," said Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America CEO Paul Rieckhoff, referring to stress disorder and traumatic brain injury. "He helped put our issues on the map."

Mr. Evans joined the Marines at age 17 and had orders for Vietnam. But he served in Okinawa, Japan, as a security guard because his older brother was already deployed in the war.
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