Ernest E. Evans' Stand Aboard Samuel B. Roberts at Leyte Gulf

Dec 09 , 2025

Ernest E. Evans' Stand Aboard Samuel B. Roberts at Leyte Gulf

Ernest E. Evans stood alone amid thunderous shells and storm-blackened skies. His ship, USS Samuel B. Roberts, was a battered David facing Goliaths of the Imperial Japanese Navy. The order was clear: hold the line no matter the cost. Amid chaos so complete it seemed hell itself had opened, Evans forged a gauntlet of steel and defiance nobody—not friend, not foe—would soon forget.

Blood on the Bridge: The Making of a Warrior

Born January 13, 1908, in Pawnee City, Nebraska, Ernest Edwin Evans grew up with steady Midwestern grit. The kind bred from quiet fields and whispered prayers. He found his compass early—not just in maps or stars, but in the unshakable resolve of faith and duty.

Evans’ naval career was shaped by a relentless creed: lead from the front, protect your crew, fight until you fall. Though modest of speech, he carried the weight of command like a yoke—never shirking, never cold. Men who sailed with Captain Evans called him a natural protector, a fierce commander who bore his burdens with silent grace.

He subscribed deeply to Romans 5:3-5—“tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.” This wasn’t just scripture. It became a fortress as he faced the unspeakable.

The Battle Off Samar: Defiance Against the Odds

October 25, 1944. The Leyte Gulf—waters where destiny would scar the Pacific forever.

Evans commanded the Samuel B. Roberts, a destroyer escort tasked with screening escort carriers. On that morning, a massive Japanese Center Force under Vice Admiral Takeo Kurita barreled through the fog—a fleet of four battleships, six heavy cruisers, and two light cruisers. Their mission: annihilate the tiny escort group known as “Taffy 3.”

The odds were grotesque—1,300 tons against 30,000 tons in firepower; 15 guns against battleship broadsides. Yet Evans knew surrender was no option.

The Roberts charged.

He ordered every gun to blaze, maneuvering with reckless courage to confuse and hold Kurita’s ships. His destroyer took countless hits—fires broke out, engines faltered, yet Evans stayed in the fight. His voice cut through the storm, rallying his men: “We’re going to damage them, no matter the cost.”

Evans rammed destroyers and cruisers alike, dodged shells, and laid down smoke to shield his carriers. Amid exploding flak and cascading death, he sacrificed his ship and himself so the fleet would emerge from hell.

When the Samuel B. Roberts rolled over and sank, Evans was on the bridge, wounded but standing—command until the bitter end.

Medal of Honor for Unyielding Valor

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

“For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty... while defending escort carriers, he singlehandedly engaged a vastly superior Japanese task force... sacrificed his ship and ultimately his life in the defense of the fleet.”

Rear Admiral Clifton Sprague, commander of Taffy 3, said:

“Captain Evans was a lion. No man has ever sailed into battle with such reckless courage.”

His legacy was not just in medals but in the lives saved, the ferocity that bought time, and the unbroken spirit that inspired a fleet.

The Legacy Burns On

Ernest Evans’ final battle became a testament to raw grit over overwhelming odds. His sacrifice proved that courage is not measured by size or strength but by will and heart.

Today, the story of Captain Evans is a ledger of sacrifice etched in Pacific history and veteran lore. It’s a reminder: true leadership costs everything.

For those who carry scars from combat—seen or hidden—Evans’ fight whispers a dangerous grace: suffering, purpose, and redemption are inseparable.

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.” (Matthew 5:9) Evans made peace through war. His scars, his sacrifice—speak louder than any armistice.

The Samuel B. Roberts rests on the ocean floor, but her captain’s soul sails eternal—shining torch for those who dare to stand when all else falls.

This is the price of freedom: blood mixed with undying honor. And in that price, redemption.

Sources

1. Naval History and Heritage Command, “Samuel B. Roberts (DE-413) Commanding Officer’s Action Report” 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, Volume XII: Leyte 4. Sprague, Clifton, Action Report of Task Unit 77.4.3 (‘Taffy 3’), October 1944