Ernest E. Evans

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For other persons named Ernest Evans, see Ernest Evans (disambiguation).
Ernest Edwin Evans
August 13, 1908(1908-08-13) – October 25, 1944 (aged 36)

LCdr. Ernest E. Evans at the commissioning ceremonies of USS Johnston, Seattle, Washington, 27 October 1943.
Place of birth Pawnee, Oklahoma
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Navy
Years of service 1931-1944
Commands held USS Alden (DD-211)
USS Johnston (DD-557)
Battles/wars World War II
*Battle of Leyte Gulf
Awards Medal of Honor
Navy Cross
Bronze Star
Purple Heart
American Defense Medal
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
Philippine Liberation Medal
World War II Victory Medal

Ernest Edwin Evans (13 August 1908–25 October 1944) was an officer of the United States Navy who received the Medal of Honor posthumously for his actions during World War II.

Contents

[edit] Biography

Three quarters Cherokee Indian, Evans was born in Pawnee, Oklahoma. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1931. During World War II, he commanded the destroyer Alden (DD-211), and later became the first and only skipper of the Fletcher-class destroyer Johnston (DD-557). Commanding Johnston, he was awarded the Bronze Star for meritorious achievement in action against a Japanese submarine on 16 May 1944.

In the Battle off Samar, a part of the Battle of Leyte Gulf, Evans fought his ship gallantly until it was sunk, 25 October 1944, by the Japanese force superior in number, firepower, and armor. Johnston, together with the destroyers Hoel (DD-533) and Heermann (DD-532), four destroyer escorts and six escort carriers (CVEs) formed the task unit 77.4.3, known as Taffy 3. This group, together with planes from Taffy 2 (TU 77.4.2), ultimately forced a vastly superior Japanese battlegroup comprised of several battleships, heavy cruisers, light cruisers and destroyers to abort their original mission to attack the landing beaches at Leyte under the command of General Douglas MacArthur and retreat.

What fate befell the Johnston's legendary captain was never conclusively established, and remains the subject of continuing conjecture among the ship's survivors. Some claim that he was hit by Japanese naval shellfire; others that he was able to jump into a damaged motor whaleboat. What is known is that he was seriously wounded during the battle; that he lived long enough to give the abandon ship order; and that he was not among those rescued. Commander Evans was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his material contribution to the decisive victory won in Leyte Gulf and shared in the Presidential Unit Citation awarded his group for this action in which he gave his life.

[edit] Namesake

In 1955, the destroyer escort USS Evans (DE-1023) was named in his honor.[1]

[edit] Medal of Honor citation

Medal of Honor
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as commanding officer of the U.S.S. Johnston in action against major units of the enemy Japanese fleet during the battle off Samar on 25 October 1944. The first to lay a smokescreen and to open fire as an enemy task force, vastly superior in number, firepower and armor, rapidly approached. Comdr. Evans gallantly diverted the powerful blasts of hostile guns from the lightly armed and armored carriers under his protection, launching the first torpedo attack when the Johnston came under straddling Japanese shellfire. Undaunted by damage sustained under the terrific volume of fire, he unhesitatingly joined others of his group to provide fire support during subsequent torpedo attacks against the Japanese and, outshooting and outmaneuvering the enemy as he consistently interposed his vessel between the hostile fleet units and our carriers despite the crippling loss of engine power and communications with steering aft, shifted command to the fantail, shouted steering orders through an open hatch to men turning the rudder by hand and battled furiously until the Johnston, burning and shuddering from a mortal blow, lay dead in the water after 3 hours of fierce combat. Seriously wounded early in the engagement, Comdr. Evans, by his indomitable courage and brilliant professional skill, aided materially in turning back the enemy during a critical phase of the action. His valiant fighting spirit throughout this historic battle will venture as an inspiration to all who served with him.

[edit] See also

United States Navy Portal

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ *history.navy.mil: USS Evans

[edit] References

  • James D. Hornfischer The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors Bantam Books, 2004. ISBN 0-553-80257-7
  • '"Evan Thomas'" "Sea of Thunder: Four Commanders and the Last Great Naval Campaign 1941-1945'" Simon & Schuster, 2006. ISBN 0-743-25221-7

[edit] Audio/visual media

  • Lost Evidence of the Pacific: The Battle of Leyte Gulf. History Channel. TV. No writer given.
  • Dogfights: Death of the Japanese Navy. History Channel. TV. No writer given.

[edit] External links

This article includes text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.