Ernest E. Evans and the Samuel B. Roberts at Leyte Gulf

Nov 03 , 2025

Ernest E. Evans and the Samuel B. Roberts at Leyte Gulf

Ernest E. Evans stood on the bridge of USS Samuel B. Roberts, eyes locked on a horizon thick with death. The distant roars of gunfire weren't just noise—they were the approaching storm. Against impossible odds, he chose to fight. Not retreat. Not surrender. He charged headlong into hell.

The Early Fires Forge the Steel

Born in Columbus, Ohio, 1908, Evans carried a Midwestern grit that never faltered. Enlisted in the Navy as a machinist, he rose through the ranks on sheer determination and an iron will. This wasn’t just service; it was a calling.

His faith quietly underpinned his every decision—rooted in a deep sense of duty to country and comrades. The scriptures were always close:

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:9

Evans lived by a code older than armies: honor in actions, sacrifice without question.

The Battle That Defined Him

October 25, 1944. Leyte Gulf. The largest naval battle in history. Evans commanded the Samuel B. Roberts, a Buckley-class destroyer escort—not a battleship. A mosquito, facing a wolf pack.

When Vice Admiral Kurita’s massive Center Force appeared, it spelled doom for a ragtag escort unit known as “Taffy 3.” Overwhelmed and outgunned, Evans made a choice—a choice carved from courage, not common sense.

He ordered full speed ahead into the Japanese battle line—guns blazing, smoke bellowing, engines roaring. His ship struck like a hammer against the enemy’s towering warships and cruisers. Against battleships like Yamato and Kirishima, Evans’ corvette unleashed hellfire with reckless tenacity.

As torpedoes sliced through water and shells thudded against hull, Evans maneuvered the Roberts close enough to launch torpedoes of their own, crippling a heavy cruiser. His ship suffered grave damage, but still, he led the charge.

At one point, the bridge was being shelled, and shrapnel flew like death itself was hounding them. Evans’ final radio transmission rang out: “We’re making a torpedo run... Give ’em hell!”

When the Samuel B. Roberts finally sank, Evans went down with her. His sacrifice bought precious minutes—minutes that saved an entire fleet of carriers and countless sailors.

Honors Hard-Earned in Fire

Posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, Evans’ citation reads with sober reverence:

“For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity… Against overwhelming odds, he gallantly engaged a vastly superior Japanese force, inflicting severe damage, and thus contributing materially to the ultimate success of the battle.”

Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz said,

“Never in the field of naval warfare has so much been owed by so many to so few.”

Fellow sailors remembered Evans as a leader who never flinched:

“He fought like a lion—he made us fight like lions.”

The Samuel B. Roberts was dubbed “the destroyer escort that fought like a battleship,” a testament to Evans’ indomitable spirit.

Legacy Etched in Fire and Faith

Ernest E. Evans’ story is not just one of battlefield valor—it’s a testament to faith-fueled courage under fire. His scarred name lives on stamped in Navy lore and the hearts of those who fight beyond measure.

His sacrifice speaks across generations: courage is not the absence of fear but the triumph over it. Leadership means standing in the bullets so others can live. Redemption echoes in every survivor’s breath.

From the blood and smoke rises this truth—true warriors leave behind a legacy forged in sacrifice, honor, and faith.

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” – Romans 8:18

Sources

1. Naval History and Heritage Command, "Ernest E. Evans: Medal of Honor Recipient" 2. Morison, Samuel Eliot, History of United States Naval Operations in World War II, Vol. 12: Leyte, June 1944-January 1945 3. C Ward, Richard, The Battle of Leyte Gulf: The Last Fleet Action 4. Official Medal of Honor citation, U.S. Navy archives