Biography of CDR Ernest E. Evans, USN

Commanding Officer

USS JOHNSTON (DD 557)

CDR Ernest E. Evans, USN

U.S. Navy photograph

Commander Ernest Edwin Evans, U.S. Navy

	Congressional Medal of Honor
	Navy Cross
	Legion of Merit
	Bronze Star
	Purple Heart
	Combat Action Ribbon
	Presidential Unit Citation
	American Defense Service Medal
	American Campaign Medal
	Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
	World War II Victory Medal
	National Defense Service Medal
	Philippine Presidential Unit Citation
	Philippine Liberation Medal
Award Criteria

RANK	DATES	DUTY STATION/EVENT
-	1908	Born in Pawnee, Oklahoma
S1c	1926	Recruit Training Command
MIDN	1927-1931	Student at U.S. Naval Academy Annapolis
ENS	1931-1932	USS Colorado (BB-45)
LTJG	1931-1933	USS Roper (DD-147)
LT	1933-1935	USS Rathburne (DD-113)
LT	1935-1936	USS Pensacola (CL-24)
LT	1937-1938	USS Chaumont (AP-5)
LT	1938-1939	USS Cahokia (ATA-186)
LCDR	1940-1941	USS Blackhawk (AD-9)
LCDR	1942-1943	USS Alden (DD-211)
CDR	1944	USS Johnston (DD 557)
CDR	1944	Killed in Action at Samar

Short biography of
Commander Ernest Edwin Evans, U.S. Navy

Ernest Edwin Evans was born in Pawnee, Oklahoma on August 13, 1908. He was three quarters Cherokee Indian.

He entered the U.S. Navy as an enlisted man on May 29, 1926, attended the U.S. Naval Academy in 1927 and graduated in 1931.

Served in the Far East as Executive Officer of USS Alden (DD-211) and a member of the American-British-Dutch-Australian (ABDA) forces.

Awarded the Bronze Star for meritorious achievement in action against a Japanese submarine on 16 May 1944.

Commander Evans was Commanding Officer of USS Johnston (DD-557) during the Battle Off Samar. When Johnston was sunk Commander Evans was seen leaving the ship. He was never found with the group of survivors who spent nearly two days in the water. He 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. Was originally awarded the Navy Cross for his action at Samar, later recalled and replaced by the Medal of Honor.

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

Source: USS JOHNSTON-HOEL Association and Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships

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