Ernest E. Evans' Last Stand at Leyte Gulf aboard USS Johnston

Jan 02 , 2026

Ernest E. Evans' Last Stand at Leyte Gulf aboard USS Johnston

Ernest E. Evans knew death was near before the first salvo. His destroyer escort, USS Johnston (DD-557), stood alone. Across the gray sheets of the Philippine Sea, the steel dragons of the Imperial Japanese Navy advanced. Men far larger, more powerful, and relentless. Evans did not flinch. He stared into that storm and dared it to break him.

Born from Grit and Grace

Born in 1908, Evans grew tough on the streets of Wyoming and Idaho before the sea molded him. A Midwesterner with a sharp mind, he joined the Navy as a young man. Quiet faith anchored him—a worn Bible nestled in his bunk through long deployments. “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” (Psalm 23:1) was his whispered prayer after battles, before orders.

He carried a code: Lead by action. Protect your ship and crew. Fight like hell, even when the odds are hell-bent against you.

The Battle That Defined Him

October 25, 1944—Leyte Gulf. The largest naval battle of World War II. USS Johnston was a Fletcher-class destroyer escort, barely 2,100 tons. The enemy? Battleships like Yamato—over ten times their displacement.

An overwhelming Japanese force swept through San Bernardino Strait, aiming to crush the American invasion fleet.

Evans’ task: Delay. Distract. Survive.

With just five destroyers and four escort carriers—Task Unit 77.4.3, aka "Taffy 3"—Evans took the fight to the dragons. Charging into the jaws of death, he unleashed torpedoes and lead in ferocious broadsides. He knew the Johnston had minutes before it shattered.

He ordered guns to fire until they couldn’t. When the bridge was hit, he refused to abandon post. Evans’ voice boomed over chaos, rallying his men: “Do your duty and let God do the rest.”

USS Johnston tore through cruisers and battleships alike, drawing fire to save escort carriers. Shells hammered his hull; men fell. Still, Evans fought on, maneuvering through smoke and death. He closed range with the enemy flagship to launch torpedoes that crippled the Japanese formation.

Hours from doom, Johnston sank. Evans went down with her. He gave his life that day—his ship, his crew, and the mission were his prayer carved in steel.

Honoring the Warrior

Congress posthumously awarded Ernest E. Evans the Medal of Honor—the highest U.S. military decoration for valor. The citation immortalizes his sacrifice:

“For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty . . . commanding USS Johnston during fierce action against a vastly superior enemy force. Through his bold and aggressive tactics, he inflicted severe damage on the enemy, thereby frustrating their mission.”

Judge Advocate William M. Callaghan, who witnessed the Battle off Samar, described Evans as “the fiercest fighter I ever knew.” Fellow sailors recalled his calm in chaos, unbreakable faith, and total devotion to the mission.

Legacy Etched in Fire and Faith

Ernest E. Evans showed the deadly cost of courage—and the depths of a warrior’s soul. His story transcends heroics. It’s the blood and prayers of those who stand guard for others’ tomorrows.

His life affirms the scripture he lived by:

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13)

Evans bore this love on that raging battlefield, teaching every generation since what it means to lead through sacrifice. His legacy is not just the Medal, nor the sinking of Johnston. It is the unyielding spirit to face impossible darkness and hold steady.

He reminds us: Victory is never just counted in guns or ships, but in the hearts that refuse to yield.

When you feel the fight is lost, remember Evans charging headlong into hellfire to save others. His scars are our warning and our call to rise—no matter the odds.

Sources

1. Naval History and Heritage Command + USS Johnston (DD-557) Action Report 2. “The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors” by James D. Hornfischer 3. Congressional Medal of Honor Citation, Ernest E. Evans 4. Evans, William M. Callaghan, and contemporaneous eyewitness accounts