frankie evans a navy destroyer that collided with an australian ship and sank in the south china sea in june 1969. 74 men died that day including jim reilly's brother lawrence. >> we think this is a significant step. with california is acknowledging they perished on board. >> reporter: washington is not recognizing them. >> this tragedy at sea happened outside of the official combat zone for vietnam. >> reporter: ironicically the u.s.s. frankie evans the ship that sank was awarded a vietnam service medal but the men on board who died cannot get recognized by the pentagon. >> with california adding 22 names that should send a message back to washington, d.c. that the government out here is listening and paying attention and honoring their veterans. why won't the department of defense do the same thing. >> that was mike leary reporting. he asked the department of defense why they will not put those names on the wall but he did not hear back. the veterans who attended today say they will not stop until all the veterans are honored at the nation's capital. >>> volunteers are helping reno