[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 1 (Tuesday, January 4, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E27]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        INTRODUCTION OF THE FAIRNESS TO ALL VIETNAM VETERANS ACT

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                    HON. JUANITA MILLENDER-McDONALD

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, January 4, 2005

  Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I want to bring to the attention 
of this Congress, legislation that I am reintroducing today.
  The Fairness to All Vietnam Veterans Act directs the Secretary of 
Defense to find an appropriate way to recognize and honor Vietnam 
Veterans who died in service to our nation but whose names are not 
listed on the wall of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
  A family in my district, Mary and Tom Manley of Long Beach 
California, brought the need for this legislation to my attention.
  Tom Manley is a survivor of the U.S.S. Frank E. Evans.
  The Evans sailed from the Port of Long Beach for the last time in the 
spring of 1969.
  After seeing serious combat off the coast of Vietnam, the U.S.S. 
Evans was sent to a brief training exercise called ``Operation Sea 
Spirit.'' This training exercise involved ships of the Southeast Asia 
Treaty Organization.
  In the early morning hours of June 3, 1969, the crew of the U.S.S. 
Frank E. Evans awoke to the sounds of an Australian carrier splitting 
their vessel in half. The forward half, where all 74 deaths took place, 
sank in three minutes. There were 198 survivors.
  Although the Evans was in the South China Sea, these sailors' names 
are not listed on the Vietnam Memorial wall because the U.S.S Evans was 
just outside the designated combat zone, which determines inclusion on 
the wall.
  Unfortunately, the case of the U.S.S. Frank E. Evans does not stand-
alone.
  There are many families across the United States, like the Manleys in 
Long Beach, who have loved ones and friends that have been excluded 
from proper recognition--maybe even in your district.
  It is time for the Department of Defense to examine current policies 
for placement on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.
  This legislation also calls on the organizations and government 
agencies that originally constructed the Vietnam Veterans Memorial to 
examine the feasibility of inscribing additional names.
  Should there be no practical way to add these names, the bill seeks 
appropriate alternatives for recognizing these veterans.
  I ask Members to join me in properly honoring those Veterans who have 
given their lives for their country.
  With the ongoing conflict in Iraq we are all acutely aware of the 
sacrifices our men and women in the military have recently made to 
ensure our nation's safety, security and our freedom.
  A Nation is judged on how well they treat their Veterans. Let us not 
forget those of a past generation who fought for the freedom that we 
all cherish today.
  Join me and support The Fairness to All Vietnam Veterans Act.

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