Norwich, CT — Bill Thibeault, a survivor of the 1969 USS Frank E. Evans tragedy, has turned his personal story of loss into a powerful film project to honor his fallen shipmates. His latest film, Seventy-Four, captures the lives of Gary, Greg, and Kelly Jo Sage—three brothers from a small Nebraska farming town who were among the 74 sailors lost when the destroyer collided with the Australian aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne during a SEATO exercise in the South China Sea.
On June 3, 1969, the USS Frank E. Evans was repositioning during the exercise when it crossed in front of the Melbourne, resulting in a catastrophic collision. The aft section of the destroyer sank in less than three minutes, claiming the lives of 74 sailors, including the Sage brothers. Thibeault, who survived the tragedy, has carried the memory of his shipmates ever since.
“It’s a story that has stayed with me for over five decades,” said Thibeault. “This film is a tribute to the lives lost and the families forever changed by that day.”
Written by Chris Goodenough, a fellow filmmaker and longtime collaborator, Seventy-Four tells the Sage brothers’ story, following their childhood in Nebraska and their service together aboard the USS Frank E. Evans. The short proof-of-concept film, produced in association with Outtake Pictures and Elite View Studios, premiered on YouTube on January 10, 2025. It will also be submitted to major film festivals, with the ultimate goal of producing a full-length feature film.
Thibeault and Goodenough envision Seventy-Four as a multimillion-dollar production that will honor the sacrifices of those who served aboard the Evans and bring greater awareness to this chapter of naval history.
“This isn’t just about the collision—it’s about the lives behind the numbers,” Thibeault emphasized. “By focusing on the Sage brothers, we’re telling a story of brotherhood, sacrifice, and the legacy of service.”
The release of the short film marks the beginning of what Thibeault hopes will be a broader effort to preserve the memory of the USS Frank E. Evans and the 74 lives lost. To view the premiere or learn more about the project, visit the official YouTube channel for Bill Thibeault Productions.
For additional information, contact Bill Thibeault at 860-373-5341 or bill.thibeault84@gmail.com.
“USS Frank E. Evans: The Tragic Collision That Shaped Naval History and the Fight for Recognition”
The Collision in the South China Sea
In the predawn hours of June 3, 1969, the USS Frank E. Evans (DD 754), a U.S. Navy destroyer, was participating in “Operation Sea Spirit,” a joint naval exercise involving more than 40 ships from Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) nations. Off the coast of Vietnam, the Evans was under a “darkened condition,” operating without external lights to avoid detection.
As the ship maneuvered to assume a new position 1,000 yards behind the Australian aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne (R21), a tragic miscalculation set the vessels on a fatal collision course. The Melbourne struck the Evans amidships, splitting the destroyer in two. The forward section of the ship sank within three minutes, claiming the lives of 74 sailors. Only one body was recovered, and 73 others were lost at sea, including three brothers from Niobrara, Nebraska: Gary, 22; Greg, 21; and Kelly Jo Sage, 19.
The stern section of the Evans, though severely damaged, remained afloat. The surviving 199 sailors were rescued by the Melbourne and later transferred to the American aircraft carrier USS Kearsarge (CVS 33).
The Aftermath and Recovery
The stern section of the USS Frank E. Evans was stabilized by a salvage team from the USS Everett F. Larson (DD 830) and towed to Subic Bay in the Philippines by the fleet tug USS Tawasa (AFT 92). On June 9, 1969, the damaged section arrived and was placed in the floating dry dock USS Windsor (ARD 22). After being stripped of valuable equipment, the Evans was decommissioned on July 1, 1969, and struck from the Navy’s active list.
On October 10, 1969, the stern section was towed out to sea and sunk during fleet target practice by the USS John R. Craig (DD 885), marking the final chapter for the vessel.
The 74 sailors who lost their lives in the collision became known as “The Lost 74.” They hailed from 28 states, but their names remain absent from the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C. because the collision occurred outside the officially designated combat zone.
Update 17 January 2025
“Seventy-Four” is now a Quarter-Finalist in the New York International Film Awards monthly screening, February 6 in Manhattan. If you haven’t seen the film yet, the link to watch it is below.
