Navy Identifies SEAL Lost at Sea During Training

Navy Identifies SEAL Lost at Sea During Training
Feb 27, 2013
Honolulu Advertiser
by William Cole

The Navy identified the SEAL commando who was lost at sea last week during training off Kaena Point as Special Warfare Operator 1st Class Matthew John Leathers of Woodland, Calif.

The Coast Guard said it suspended its search for Leathers Sunday after "exhaustive efforts" to locate the 33-year-old, who went missing during an open-ocean training exercise last Tuesday.

Coast Guard, Navy and Marine Corps crews worked with Honolulu Fire Department and Ocean Safety to search an area covering more than 24,000 square miles using aircraft, cutters, small boats and shore personnel.

"In this case, I have the heartbreak of informing not only the family, but a close-knit military community, that a loved one could not be found," Capt. Joanna Nunan, commanding officer of Coast Guard Sector Honolulu, said Sunday in a news release.
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Families of Sailors on USS Frank E. Evans want names added to The Wall

74 more lives lost at sea during the Vietnam war but they are not on the monument built to honor all of the lives lost. Why? We know there are more stories out there. Stories of the men and women that died as a result of Agent Orange, died as a result of the wound they carried trapped inside of them, PTSD, when they committed suicide. The death of these sailors has no reason at all to be kept off list of names on The Wall. They need to do this at least for the families and for the survivors. It had a crew of 278.

List of the crew where you can see the list of the names of the lost in red.
http://www.ussfrankeevansassociationdd754.org/Crew_List_of_USSFEE.pdf

Family Of Vietnam Vet Fights To Add Name To Wall Reporting
Bridgette Bornstein (WCCO)

Forty years after a Vietnam War veteran from Minnesota was lost at sea, his
family's fight continues. They want to see his name added to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall along with the names of 73 other servicemen who died with him.

Gene Lehman's body was never recovered after his ship sank during maneuvers in the South China Sea. His family still does not have closure.

"Forty years is a long time," said Vietnam Veteran Gene Lehman's widow Janice Lehman, as she wiped away tears.

It can be hard for Janice Lehman to talk about her husband who was lost at sea when his ship, the USS Frank E. Evans, was split in half when it was accidentally struck by an Australian ship during war-related maneuvers on June 3, 1969.

"We got a letter from the president in 1969, from Richard Nixon, that these men should not be forgotten," said Janice Lehman.
go here for more
http://wcco.com/local/vietnam.veterans.wall.2.1041250.html

Three brothers were lost on that ship that day, and they are not counted on The Wall.

40 Years Later: The USS Frank E. Evans
By Jim Nelson

Story Created: Jun 3, 2009 at 6:26 AM CDT

Of the 74 killed that morning, three were from Niobrara, Nebraska. Now, 40 years later, their cousin Dale, also a veteran, recalls their story.

"I Came into the farmhouse and my mom was crying. I asked her; 'what are you ballin' about?' She said; 'they're dead - they're all gone." The words of Dale Sage are a chilling reminder of the heartache felt around the country.

Dale's cousins are Greg, Gary and Kelly Sage. Three brothers, all serving in the U.S. Navy, all aboard the U.S.S. Frank E. Evans. While their fate was decided that June morning, the mourning was put on hold. "Their own dad thought there was a possibility that for some reason, they may have surfaced and were still alive in a POW camp," Sage recalls.

That same glimmer of hope was shared by Dale. "I've held onto it for years."

But that hoped slipped after speaking to survivors from the Evans. It was then that he understood those three boys from Niobrara, Nebraska weren't coming home. Now, for Dale, the events that unfolded 40 years ago, mean much more than the loss of family. "74 died that day, not just the Sage boys, but 74."
go here for more
http://www.ksfy.com/news/local/46806752.html

In memory of those who lost their lives in USS Frank E. Evans DD-754
June 3, 1969
"As long as we embrace them in our memory, their spirit will always be with us"


Name Rate
Armstrong, Alan H. Ensign
Baker, James R. Seaman Apprentice
Botto, Andrew J. Yeoman 3rd Class
Box, Thomas B. Seaman
Bradley, James F. Electronics Technician 3rd Class
Brandon, Robert G. Ensign
Brown, Melvin H. Seaman Apprentice
Brown III, William D. Boiler Tender 2nd Class
Cannington, Charles W. Hospital Corpsman
Carlson, Christopher J. Radarman 2nd Class
Clawson, Michael K. Seaman
Clute, Danny V. Seaman
Cmeyla, James R. Yeoman 3rd Class
Cool, Larry W. Electronics Technician Communications 3rd Class
Corcoran, Patrick M. Seaman
Craig, Joe E. Seaman Apprentice
Davis, James W. Electronics Technician Radar 3rd Class
Deal, Leon L. Seaman Apprentice
Dykes III, James F. Seaman
Earley, Raymond J. Seaman Apprentice
Espinosa, Steven F. Gunner's Mate Guns 3rd Class
Fagan, Stephen D. Seaman Apprentice
Fields, William D. Seaman Apprentice
Flummer, Alan C. Seaman Apprentice
Frye, Henry K. Seaman Apprentice
Garcia, Francis J. Seaman
Gardner, Melvin H. Sonar Technician Surface 3rd Class
Gearhart, Donald E. Seaman Apprentice
Glennon, Patrick G. Boatswain's Mate 3rd Class
Glines, Kenneth W. Seaman
Gonzales, Joe L. Seaman Apprentice
Gracely, Larry A. Sonar Technician Surface 3rd Class
Grissom Jr., Devere R. Seaman Apprentice
Guyer, Steven A. Seaman Apprentice
Henderson, Terry L. Radarman 3rd Class
Hess, Edward P. Electrician's Mate Construction
Hodgson, Garry B. Radarman 2nd Class
Kerr, James W. Seaman Apprentice
King, Willie L. Boatswain's Mate 1st Class
Laliberte, George J. Radarman 1st Class
LeBrun, Ray P. Radioman 2nd Class
Lehman, Eugene F. Radarman 1st Class
Lyons Jr., I. Seaman Apprentice
Meister, Douglas R. Seaman Apprentice
Melendrez, Andrew M. Seaman Apprentice
Messier, Frederick C. Seaman
Miller, Timothy L. Seaman Apprentice
Norton Jr., John T. Ensign
Ogawa, Gregory K. Ensign
Orlikowski, Michael A. Seaman Apprentice
Orpurt, Linden R. Interior Communications Electrician 2nd Class
Pattee, Dwight S. Lieutenant (j.g.)
Pennell, Craig A. Seaman Apprentice
Pickett, Jerome Seaman Apprentice
Preston Jr., Earl F. Yeoman 2nd Class
Reilly Jr., Lawrence J. Boiler Tender 3rd Class
Rikal, Victor T. Radarman 2nd Class
* Sage, Gary L. Boatswain's Mate 2nd Class
* Sage, Gregory A. Radarman 3rd Class
* Sage, Kelly J. Seaman Apprentice
Sauvey, John A. Seaman Apprentice
Searle, Robert J. Boiler Tender Fireman Apprentice
Smith, Gerald W. Fireman Apprentice
Smith Jr., Thurston P. Seaman
Spray, John R. Sonar Technician Surface 2nd Class
Stever, Jon K. Lieutenant (j.g.)
Tallon, Thomas F. Seaman Apprentice
Thibodeau, Ronald A. Radarman 2nd Class
Thomas, John W. Radarman 3rd Class
Tolar, John T. Seaman Apprentice
Vigue, Gary J. Quartermaster 3rd Class
Warnock, Con W. Radarman 3rd Class
West III, Henry D. Seaman Apprentice

* Brothers
go here for more information on this ship and the crew that was lost and should not be forgotten
Maritime quest USS Frank E. Evans

Petty Officer 1st Class Theophilus K. Ansong lost at sea

DoD Identifies Navy Casualty


The Department of Defense announced today the death of a sailor who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Petty Officer 1st Class Theophilus K. Ansong, 34, of Bristow, Va., was lost at sea Feb 4. Ansong was assigned to USS San Antonio (LPD 17) as it conducted operations in the Gulf of Aden.

The cause of death is under investigation.

http://icasualties.org/Iraq/index.aspx