Lest We Forget

About Gary Joseph Vigue

Gary was born in Dover, New Hampshire, and was raised in Farmington, New Hampshire.  Gary joined the Navy on 17 November 1966 at Portland, Maine, and reported the same day for recruit training at NTC Great Lakes, IL, graduating on 1 February 1967. He was received aboard the USS Savage (DER 386), homeported in Pearl Harbor, HI. He made SN on board and on 13 May 1968 he transferred to USS Leonard F. Mason (DD 853).  Gary married Sarah Guay in Los Angeles, CA, on 6 July 1968 and was received on board the USS FRANK E EVANS (DD 754) on 21 July 1968, where he served for 11 months. While on board, Gary was promoted to Quartermaster Third Class (QM3).  At the time of the collision, Gary was on watch in the pilot house (the bridge) as QM of the Watch.

About the USS Frank E Evans DD-754 

On June 3, 1969, the USS Frank E. Evans (DD-754) was participating in “Operation Sea Spirit” alongside more than 40 ships from Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) nations. While maneuvering to a new station 1,000 yards astern of the Australian aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne (R21), the two vessels collided. Melbourne struck Evans amidships, cutting the destroyer in half. The forward section of Evans sank within three minutes, resulting in the loss of 74 sailors. Only one body was recovered, and 73 crew members were lost at sea, including three brothers from Niobrara, Nebraska: Gary (22), Greg (21), and Kelly Jo Sage (19). The 199 survivors were taken aboard Melbourne before being transferred to the USS Kearsarge (CVS-33) and transported to Subic Bay, Philippines. A salvage team from USS Everett F. Larson (DD-830) stabilized the stern section before it was towed to Subic Bay by the fleet tug USS Tawasa (ATF-92). The remaining section of Evans was decommissioned and later sunk during fleet target practice on October 10, 1969. The “Lost 74” sailors came from 28 U.S. states. Their names are not included on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., as the incident occurred outside the designated combat zone. To honor them, the USS Frank E. Evans Association has placed memorial stones in each of their home states. The USS Franks E Evans (DD-754) Destroyer is Memorial #27 on the Memorial Walkway at the New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery. Quartermaster (QM) Gary Joseph Vigue was one of the 74 sailors lost at sea in the tragic collision of the USS Frank E. Evans (DD-754) and the Australian aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne on June 3, 1969. He was from New Hampshire and was among the crew members who perished when the forward section of Evans sank within minutes. The phrase “Lest We Forget” is often used in remembrance of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in military service. QM Gary Joseph Vigue’s name is honored along with his fellow lost sailors, and efforts continue to recognize them on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.