American Boys: The True Story of the Lost 74 of the Vietnam War

by Louise Esola

Overview

In the middle of a dark night off the coast of Vietnam on June 3, 1969, the USS Frank E. Evans is rammed by a ship ten times her size, sending her forward half to the bottom of the South China Sea and into oblivion. Seventy-four Americans are killed in the mysterious collision. The truth is confined to a footnote of the Vietnam War. Buried in obscurity even today, as the 74 names of those killed are not on the Vietnam Wall in Washington, D.C. In American Boys, journalist Louise Esola has uncovered and pieced together a powerful story. Groundbreaking and astonishing in scope, American Boys is a tale of heartbreak and perseverance. It's the story of a shattering injustice, of love and healing, and of a great generation of those who fought and vowed to never forget, though their nation has. "... a classic story of men and war." --Tony Perry, Los Angeles Times "...new light on a tragic chapter of the Vietnam War." --Joseph L. Galloway, We Were Soldiers Once...and Young

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780996057400
Publisher:	Pennway Books
Publication date:	09/02/2014
Pages:	452
Sales rank:	886,532
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.30(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Louise Esola has been a journalist for over fifteen years. Her work has been featured in numerous publications, including UT San Diego, the Philadelphia Inquirer, and the Associated Press. A proud native of Philadelphia, she lives in Southern California with her husband and children. www.louiseesola.com

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"Louise Esola has shed new light on a tragic chapter of the Vietnam War. She has dug deeply into an accident at sea that took the lives of 74 young American sailors and has told their stories brilliantly! American Boys is worth your attention."

--Joseph L. Galloway, co-author of We Were Soldiers Once...and Young

“With Louise Esola's powerful storytelling, American Boys uncovers a lost chapter of history full of grace and determination. A compelling read.”

--Gregory A. Freeman, bestselling author of Sailors to the End: The Deadly Fire on the USS Forrestal and the Heroes Who Fought It

“Louise Esola has done a remarkable job of research in putting together this forgotten story of 74 young men who lost their lives on the USS Frank E. Evans during the Vietnam War. Ms. Esola, writing with conviction and compassion, does a long-neglected service to the memories of those killed in the line of duty. As a Vietnam War veteran myself, I salute Louise Esola and all those who have given their time and energy to keep alive the memories of the fallen.”

--Bestselling author and Vietnam veteran Nelson DeMille

“With stellar reporting and strong writing, Louise Esola has rescued a largely forgotten incident of the Vietnam War: the sinking of the destroyer Frank E. Evans in 1969. “American Boys” traces the sailors from hometowns across America to their service aboard the ill-fated ship, giving the sailors the respect that their country has denied them. “American Boys” could easily become a classic story of men and war.”

--Tony Perry, Los Angeles Times

“American Boys is that rare offering, and deserves its own commendation as a piece of powerful research into a segment of Vietnam history that many have tried to bury over the decades…one that deserves to not be forgotten.”

--Midwest Book Review

"This is the story of one of the greatest--still unresolved--tragedies of the Vietnam War, one the U.S. Navy has pretended had nothing to do with it. American Boys explores the realities of Vietnam naval operations and, in evocative prose and stunning detail, it reports the sinking of the American destroyer Frank E. Evans, along with the decades-long struggle of survivors and families to get the Navy to acknowledge the truth of the matter. This book should be read and those Evans sailors commemorated."

--John Prados, bestselling author of Vietnam: The History of an Unwinnable War, 1945-1975

“Louise Esola's finely-wrought account of a Vietnam-era disaster at sea and its unending impact on the drowned sailors' loved ones will echo in your mind long after you've put it down. This beautiful, heart-breaking book should be required reading at the Pentagon and the White House.”
--Jack Cheevers, author of “Act of War: Lyndon Johnson, North Korea, and the Capture of the Spy Ship Pueblo.”
“American Boys is an important story, beautifully told. Long after you finish this book, you will remember the men of the USS Frank E. Evans, and understand why the fight to include the names of its 74 lost crew members continues.”

--Kristen Graham, Pulitzer prize-winning journalist with the Philadelphia Inquirer

Editorial Reviews

★ 2014-10-20
This is history at its best: the riveting, realistic story of courageous sailors forgotten by their country.During an exercise in the South China Sea on June 3, 1969, the destroyer USS Frank E. Evans was split in half after colliding with an Australian aircraft carrier. Seventy-four men perished. Although the ship was actively engaged in the Vietnam War, the names of these men have never been placed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. In her first book, seasoned journalist Esola brings the events and people involved vividly to life. She begins with a double-barreled prologue: first, a powerful description of the memorial wall, ending with Ann Armstrong Dailey's realization that her brother Alan's name is not on it. "It was like he was dead all over again," their sister said. Next, a gripping account of the ship's final moments puts readers right in the middle of the action: "Everything was going, rolling, topsy turvy. And fast." What follows is a comprehensive yet uncannily personal history of this arcane footnote to the Vietnam War. Esola inhabits the minds and hearts of all players, from sailors to admirals to Kennedy, Johnson and Nixon. Many men, she discovers, joined the Navy (some at the behest of their parents) to avoid being drafted into the Army. She moves easily from their personal stories to politics to the reasons WWII vintage ships like the Evans—a "floating paint bucket"—were still in service. The story proceeds from the men's enlistments and the ship's role in Vietnam through to the accident and its aftermath. Later, Esola's own growing involvement forces her to abandon journalistic detachment and join the effort to have these men recognized. Replete with black-and-white pictures, endnotes and incredibly detailed research, this book is both comprehensive history and a beautifully written human tale that reads like a novel: "Eunice Sage wore a short-sleeved black suit and matching gloves; a gold rose pinned to the center of her blouse glistened in the sun." It should appeal not only to readers of military history, but to anyone who enjoys a well-told, fascinating tale.An intriguing, well-written and poignant work that transcends its historical genre.

Kirkus Reviews