-Isms: Views on life in rural America

Etch these names in your mind: Greg, Gary and Kelly. They belong to the Sage brothers, of Niobrara. On June 3, 1969, these three native sons were on board the USS Evans, positioned approximately 100 miles off the Vietnam coastline, in the South China Sea, engaged in a training exercise - Operation Sea Spirit - with the HMAS Melbourne, an Australian aircraft carrier. As darkness settled and training continued, the Evans turned right, moving at approximately 21 knots, or 24 miles per hour. An alarm sounds, but it’s too late. The Melbourne heads toward the US ship, splitting it in two.

Two of the Sage brothers were below deck, while another was on duty. According to a report from Nebraska Public Media, the third brother may have left his post to assist others to safety.

The Evans sunk quickly, claiming the lives of 74 sailors.

Casualties of war, Greg, Gary and Kelly are not listed on the The Wall. Neither are the other 71 sailors on board the USS Evans who perished at sea. Their deaths are considered “blue water,” meaning their deaths occurred outside a designated war zone.

Prior to the training exercise, USS Evans sailors pounded the Vietnam coast with artillery fire. This detail did not seem to matter to officials constructing the granite wall in Washington, D.C.

According to an article in the April 7 edition of “The Niobrara Tribune,” Greg, Gary and Kelly will not be included on a Vietnam veteran’s memorial planned in Papillion. Groundbreaking for the memorial took place March 29.

In their hometown, nearly 25 years ago, residents raised funds for a Nebraska State Historical Society marker to honor the young men who never returned home, who paid the ultimate sacrifice for their service.

Aren’t the Sage brothers, along with fellow sailors who lost their lives that fateful evening, casualties of war? Why is their loss of life considered less significant? They died while serving our country.

Not including these individuals on the D.C. and Nebraska monuments is a travesty. It feels like a decision was made to sweep that part of history to the side, to not honor that snippet of history, to disregard the loss of a human life. The men are true heroes.

I’m asking readers who believe the Sage brothers should be included on the Nebraska memorial to contact the NVMF at 7914 West Dodge Road #446, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. Encourage project director George Abbott to include the Sage Brothers and preserve their legacy.

As Robert Green Ingersoll said, “When the will defies fear, when duty throws the gauntlet down to fate, when honor scorns to compromise with death - that is heroism.”