Ernest E. Evans and the USS Johnston at the Battle of Samar

Jan 27 , 2026

Ernest E. Evans and the USS Johnston at the Battle of Samar

Ernest E. Evans stood alone against a storm of iron and fire. His destroyer escort, the USS Johnston, battered and burning, tore into a Japanese fleet three times its size. Torpedoes flew like death’s whispers in the dark. Explosions tore through the night like the wrath of gods. Evans fought not for glory, but because surrender was never an option.

When every man counts, and every breath could be your last — that’s when true steel is forged.

Background & Faith: The Making of a Warrior

Born in 1908 in Pawnee, Oklahoma, Ernest Evans came from sturdy soil—hard-working, straightforward people who knew sacrifice by heart. His roots grew in discipline, faith, and an unshakable sense of duty. Before he ever set foot on a naval vessel, he carried the quiet strength of the heartland.

Faith wasn’t showmanship. It was the bedrock beneath his boots, the armor beneath his uniform. He lived by Proverbs 27:17: _“As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.”_ Evans led by example—raw competence, integrity, and care for the men under his command.

The Battle That Defined Him: Samar, October 25, 1944

The morning sun rose over the Philippine Sea, revealing a nightmare. Evans commanded the USS Johnston, a Fletcher-class destroyer barely six years old, with a crew of 327 souls and a firepower linearly outmatched. Fleet Admiral Thomas C. Kinkaid’s Task Unit 77.4.3, known as “Taffy 3,” faced a monstrous Japanese force. Battleships. Cruisers. Destroyers. Heavy guns aimed at destruction.

Evans’ orders were clear: protect the escort carriers. But with only 300 tons of metal and ten 5-inch guns, Johnston was a mouse among lions.

He charged.

Through thick smoke and shrapnel, Evans maneuvered aggressively, closing to torpedo range. He launched four full spreads of torpedoes at the heavy cruisers, crippling the Chōkai and forcing others into evasive action. His guns poured steel at enemy bridges, superstructures, anything that moved. Johnston was a beacon of chaos in the chaos.

Multiple hits tore into his ship. The boilers were knocked out early. The hull was racked with fire. Yet, Evans refused to quit the fight or abandon his station. His actions bought precious minutes, allowing carriers to escape destruction.

At one desperate moment, when he finally ordered abandon ship, Evans was reportedly found dead on the bridge, clutching the wheel.

“His was the determination of a man who would not surrender. The gallantry of Lieutenant Commander Ernest Evans was without parallel.” — Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, after-action report.

Recognition: The Medal of Honor and Beyond

Evans’ Medal of Honor citation lays bare the brutal truth of his heroism:

“For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as commanding officer of the USS Johnston.”

His citation credits him for “skillful and courageous handling of his ship,” and for “inspiring his men to heroic action.”

He was the only destroyer commander in World War II to receive the Medal of Honor for actions off Samar. Another tribute came from his crew—survivors who swore by his unyielding leadership, saying, “Evans never stopped fighting—and he never left a man behind.”

Legacy & Lessons: The Spirit That Endures

Ernest E. Evans didn’t survive to leave behind speeches or memoirs. But his story is carved into history—etched in the iron bones of the Johnston and the broken ships he saved. Samar was a lesson in courage against impossible odds. Victory wasn’t guaranteed; it was earned by blood and unbreakable will.

His story reminds us: Courage is not the absence of fear. It’s action despite fear. That’s the grit that holds the line when everything falls apart.

In a world quick to forget the cost of freedom, Evans’ sacrifice pulls us back. To remember those who stand between chaos and order. Those who say, “Not today.”

_“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

Lieutenant Commander Ernest E. Evans bore that promise on the bridge of the Johnston. His duty burned bright—brief and blazing—so others might see the dawn.

Sources

1. Naval History and Heritage Command, “USS Johnston (DD-557) and Battle off Samar” 2. United States Navy, Medal of Honor Citation for Ernest E. Evans 3. Morison, Samuel Eliot. History of United States Naval Operations in World War II, Vol. XII: Leyte 4. Nimitz, Chester W., After-Action Report on Battle off Samar, October 1944