|
Her keel was
laid July
21, 1940 by
Gulf
Shipbuilding
Corp. at
Chickasaw,
Alabama. She
was named
for Admiral
Robley Evans
who was
nicknamed
“Fighting
Bob Evans”.
She was
christened
by Mrs.
Charlotte
Isherwood
Evans
October 4,
1942. It was
December 11,
1943 when
her
commission
pennant was
two-blocked
under the
command of
Commander
F.C. Camp.
After
shakedown,
fitting out
and a lot of
firing at
sleds and
sleeves and
making
torpedo and
speed runs
she was sent
through the
Panama Canal
to the war
in the
Pacific. It
was March
3rd when she
put Balboa
astern as
part of the
escort for
four
transports
headed for
Pearl
Harbor.
Operating as
part of a
vast
organization
she would
perform the
numerous
duties
required of
Destroyers.
We knew she
was not much
different
than other
2100
Fletcher
class
Destroyers
but she was
much more to
us. She was
our ship,
our home and
our ticket
back after
the war was
won. Her
crew was
mostly
civilians in
uniform but
with a lot
of training
and hard
work became
an
organization
and a first
class crew.
The EVANS
was but a
small cog in
a huge
machine but
would prove
a valuable
one.
At Pearl
Harbor,
March was
spent with
more
training
practice
firing and
loading,
speed and
torpedo
runs. At the
end of March
she was sent
to patrol
the Marshall
Islands
keeping the
by-passed
Jap garrison
occupied,
One day in
one of the
small
lagoons life
was sighted
and with all
hands at
“GQ” a
landing
party was
sent ashore.
It was
learned
through sign
language and
grunts they
were natives
that had
escaped from
Jap held
Wotje in a
small canoe.
Soon after
the party
returned the
natives
brought a
turtle
alongside as
a gift. This
was the
total action
in the
Marshalls
for the
EVANS.
She arrived
back at
Pearl Harbor
on May 18th.
We could
tell
something
big was
coming by
the large
number of
ships in the
harbor.
After two
weeks of
more
training and
working on
the ship and
taking on
stores we
shoved off
in a huge
Fifth Fleet
convoy. We
steamed west
for well
over a week
arriving in
the vicinity
of Saipan in
the Mariana
Islands. We
were given
the job
escorting
tankers. Not
the duty we
wanted but
it was a job
that had to
be done.
There were a
lot of air
raids, we
shot down
one plane
and hit
others
keeping most
of them out
but two
tankers that
were
slightly
damaged. As
we patrolled
for subs we
heard the
radio
reports from
our pilots
of their
brilliant
action in
the now
famous
“Turkey
Shoot” on
June 19,
1944 as they
chased the
Jap fleet
across the
Philippine
Sea. They
shot down
over 350 Jap
planes that
day. By the
end of June
we had to
return to
Eniwetok for
badly needed
stores. We
were glad
for the
change from
the canned
meat and
dehydrated
food we had
been eating
quite a
while. In
less than
two weeks we
were back at
Saipan for
another
months duty
on the line
then back to
Eniwetok for
a much
needed two
weeks rest.
August 26th
we weighed
anchor and
headed South
to Manus in
the
Admiralty
Islands. As
we crossed
the Equator
the old
salts aboard
held the
customary
gruesome
festivities
making us
all
shellbacks.
We felt like
salts now
even though
a lot of us
were still
in our
teens. In
Manus we got
vital
equipment
and spare
parts any
way we could
then left
with the
tankers and
50 bags of
mail for
task force
58. We made
tedious mail
deliveries
in high seas
without
incident due
largely to
Captain
Camp's
expert ship
handling.
Our next
duty was a
32-knot
speed run to
Owi and
General
Douglas
MacArthur
with photos
of the large
Carrier
plane strike
that smashed
Luzon in
early
September.
We had
visions of
running into
Jap patrols
in these
waters and
ran in radio
silence but
it was quiet
except for
the shaking
and rumbling
of the ship
running at
flank speed.
It was a
relief
getting away
from the
constant
radio
chatter and
watching
over the
tankers.
We were low
on fuel and
the English
would give
us none so
we had to
save fuel.
It was a
much slower
trip from
Owi North to
Palau where
we gave the
Marines
cover as
they landed
on Palau and
Anguar.
We operated
with Admiral
Halsey and
the third
fleet until
mid October
then we had
to go to
Manus for
stores and
right back
out with the
main fleet.
We were
surprised to
learn we
were West of
Tokyo's
Longitude
while taking
part in the
second
battle of
the
Philippine
Sea. The Jap
fleet took a
beating and
were in bad
shape after
that battle.
We were
called into
the new
fleet base
of
operations
at Ulithi
where
Commander
Bosquet Wey
was waiting
to relieve
Captain
Camp. We
knew we
would miss
Captain
Camp. He had
trained us
into a first
rate
fighting
unit and his
ship
handling was
brilliant. A
few days
later Lt.
John Gilnin
relieved
Commander
Payne as
executive
officer.
On New
Year's eve
we went on
patrol
around the
island. We
chased subs
several
times
dropping a
lot of depth
charges. We
went in to
bombard the
by passed
Jap garrison
on Jap. We
blew up a
bridge and
some
buildings
silencing
their
radios.
Aside from
this our
duty here
was quiet.
We were
ordered into
the
anchorage to
get
ourselves
and the ship
ready for
Iwo Jima.
After a
couple of
beer parties
on Mog Mog,
a lot of
work on the
ship and
taking on
supplies and
ammunition
we were
ready for
action.
In February
Admiral
Spruance,
commander of
the Fifth
Fleet
ordered the
EVANS
alongside
his
flagship,
the
INDIANAPOLIS
for special
orders. We
watched as
gradually
the huge
armada of
ships left
the
anchorage
each with
its
particular
orders.
Finally we
also headed
out to sea.
Our Carriers
headed
toward Tokyo
while the
EVANS
decoying as
task force
58 by fake
radio
messages
headed
Northwest
toward
Formosa to
try to draw
the Jap
fleet out or
at least
give them
some puzzles
to work out.
With our
orders
carried out
we returned
to Ulithi.
After
picking up
long awaited
mail we
joined the
escort with
the task
force taking
the Fourth
Marine
division to
Iwo Jima.
“D” day,
February 19,
1945 was
cool and
sunny as we
took a
station
North of the
island to
wait our
turn on the
firing line,
We had a
ringside
seat as the
invasion
unfolded all
around us.
The island
was a huge
ball of
smoke. We
watched
plane after
plane
disappear
into it then
emerge after
dropping
their bombs,
rockets and
belts of
shells from
their guns.
We saw shell
after shell
slam into
the island
and Mt.
Suribachi
from the
Battlewagons,
Cruisers and
Destroyers.
The dull
heavy roar
never ceased
and a steady
stream of
landing
craft with
tanks,
supplies and
Marines went
through the
smoke to the
beach.
Destroyers
moved in as
close as
they could
to blast out
their dug in
guns and
bunkers and
knock out
tanks.
We followed
the bloody
battles on
the radio as
the Japs
fought to
the last
man. It was
a credit to
the officers
and men that
there were
only a few
minor
scrapes
among the
hundreds of
ships
operating
around the
small
island. This
was due
largely to
their expert
seamanship
and expert
use of
surface
radar.
We were at
“GQ” most of
the time and
it was a
tired EVANS
crew that
manned their
battle
stations for
the tedious
job of shore
bombardment.
We blasted
away all day
and well
into the
night. Then
about 3 AM
the Japs
counter-attacked.
Over the
fire control
circuit came
the order
“all guns
rapid fire.”
The EVANS
sent tons of
steel and
explosives
into the
island only
two hundred
yards ahead
of our lines
helping the
Marines
break up the
attack. The
fire
director on
the beach
yelled time
after time
“direct hit
direct hit”
as we hit
tanks and
guns and
poured
five-inch
shells
directly
into the
onrushing
Jap lines.
By 6 AM we
were running
low on
ammunition
and were
relieved
about 7.
Then we had
the big job
of cleaning
up.
After a
count we
found we had
fired over
1900 rounds
of five-inch
shells.
Empty powder
cases
covered the
decks and
jammed the
passageways.
The paint
was burned
and
blistered on
the guns and
the blast
shields torn
loose. It
was a tired
EVANS crew
that joined
the “Baby
Flat Tops”
for
screening
duty. We
chased a few
subs
dropping a
lot of depth
charges and
thought we
got one but
got no
credit. We
rescued
several
Pilots that
were forced
to land in
the sea
because of
damaged
planes. They
couldn't
risk tearing
up the
flight deck.
On February
23, 1945 we
saw the
Marines had
raised a
flag on Mt.
Suribachi.
The men of
the EVANS
had acquired
a new
respect for
the Marines.
We knew the
hundreds of
ships and
planes had
done their
job well but
it was the
Marines that
took Iwo
Jima.
We were glad
to head
South on
March 8th to
the warmer
weather we
had been in
for about
ten months
before Iwo
Jima. It was
an Archer
waiting to
relieve
Captain Wey
who had been
promoted to
Destroyer 38
commander.
We would
miss him he
had been an
outstanding
Skipper. As
his flagship
pulled from
alongside we
were joking
that we made
our Captains
look so good
they were
all
promoted.
We saw the
anchorage
was jammed
with ships
with more
arriving
every day
and we knew
the Okinawa
invasion was
close at
hand. In
less than a
week the
Minesweepers
and
bombardment
Cruisers and
Battleships
headed
North. We
were at work
scraping and
painting the
ship and
repairing
the guns and
equipment.
We had a few
beer parties
on Mog Mog
at the other
end of the
anchorage.
The trips in
the
whaleboats
were wet and
salty but we
didn't mind.
We enjoyed
the movies
on the
fo'c'sle
deck we
hadn't seen
any in a
long time.
After the
full nights
in the sack
we were
rested when
we left on
March 21st
with the
small
Carriers as
one of three
long pincers
sent to
simultaneously
converge on
Okinawa from
Leyte,
Saipan and
Ulithi, Task
Force 58 had
gone ahead
and were
already
bombarding
Kyusha with
their big
guns. March
25th our
Carriers
were in
striking
position.
For six
weeks our
Hellcats and
TBM's were
catapulted
from the
small flight
decks to
bomb and
strafe the
Jap's dug in
on the
islands.
We
constantly
maneuvered
screening
the Carriers
as they
turned into
the wind to
launch and
recover
their
planes. We
rescued
several
pilots that
had to land
in the water
because of
damaged
planes and
returned
them to
their
Carriers to
fly again.
The Japanese
suicide
attacks got
more and
more
frequent. We
were at “GQ”
at least
once every
hour. Only a
few got past
our fighter
planes and
we shot down
one that was
going to
crash into a
Carrier. We
got what
supplies we
could from
the Carriers
but after 42
consecutive
days at sea
we were
running low
and had to
go in.
We dropped
anchor at
Kerama Retto
two hours
from Okinawa
on May 2nd.
We rushed
around after
badly needed
supplies,
parts and
ammunition.
Kamikazes
raided the
anchorage
every day
the sky was
a mass of
exploding
shells and
still a few
ships were
hit. The
small harbor
at Kerama
Retto was
fast
becoming a
graveyard
for battered
Destroyers
and
Destroyer
Escorts.
There were
new
additions
every day to
the list of
sunk and
damaged
victims of
the more and
more
frequent
kamikaze
attacks. On
May 10th we
were sent to
picket
station 15.
We knew no
ship had
returned
from that
station
undamaged
and many had
been sunk
there. We
were
operating
with the
HADLEY a new
2200
Destroyer
with four
landing
craft as
support
ships. We
circled the
landing
ships and
were at “GQ”
a lot of the
time. At
dusk a lone
“Kate” was
spotted
sneaking in
low on the
water. It
was
identified,
and blown up
even before
all battle
stations
were manned.
The next
morning, May
11, 1945, a
seaplane was
spotted
trying to
sneak in low
on the
water.
It was
identified
as a “Jake”
and we
opened fire
as it
started its
suicide run.
It got close
enough for
our 20 and
40 mm's to
open up.
About 1000
yards off
our fantail
we blew it
up in a
terrific
explosion
with a
direct hit.
We knew we
were in for
a battle
when our
radar picked
up large
numbers of
enemy planes
coming in
waves from
the North.
As they got
near we
maneuvered
to bring our
guns to
bear. The
leading
“Kate” came
in low and
was shot
down 6000
yards off
the bow. The
second
disintegrated
from a
direct hit
from our
five-inch
guns. A
third was
made to miss
by the
Skipper's
ship
handling and
shot down
three
planes. We
didn't know
why they
came in one
at a time
but as long
as they did
we kept
blowing them
out of the
sky with the
concentrated
fire of our
guns. They
were falling
all around
us.
Then they
started
double-teaming.
They came
from every
angle, low
on the water
out of the
sun and
everywhere
in between.
All boilers
were on line
as Captain
Archer
maneuvered
at flank
speed. He
avoided hits
several
times. Then
a “Kate”
even though
hit, dropped
a torpedo at
500 yards.
With a hard
left rudder,
the captain
caused it to
miss and our
guns blew
the plane up
off the
stern as it
pulled up.
Suddenly a
“Judy” dove
out of the
sun pulling
up at the
last minute
dropping its
bombs. The
captain
again caused
a miss just
aft. They
were so
close, the
fantail was
lifted out
of the
water. Our
guns shot it
down as it
pulled up.
Then what
seemed an
easy target
somehow got
through our
fire and
even though
hit crashed
into our
port bow.
The forward
repair party
put out the
fires and
stopped the
flooding.
Our guns
never quit
as they kept
coming at
us.
Plane after
plane went
into the sea
or
disappeared
in a flash
of flame and
smoke. There
was a lull
for about
two minutes
then our
main battery
opened up on
what looked
like another
easy target
closing fast
on our port
beam. It was
hit and
flaming when
it crashed
into our
port side
amidships. A
few seconds
later its
bomb
exploded
ripping a
large hole
in the hull
and flooding
both after
engineering
spaces, As
we were
switching
power to the
forward
control
board two
more dove at
us. We shot
one down
clear and
hit the
other but
and even
though
flaming it
crashed into
us starboard
just aft of
the bridge
blowing up
the forward
fireroom and
engine room.
Fires broke
out and
steam shot
into the
air.
Suddenly our
guns were
silent and
we sat dead
in the
water. With
our guns
silent we
could hear
the repair
parties
working.
Everyone
pitched in
helping any
way they
could. We
were lucky
the sea was
calm or the
“Fighting
BOB” would
have gone
down because
we were
flooding
fast. We
broke out
the
gas-operated
pumps to
keep afloat.
Marine
Corsairs
roared in
close to
look over
the damage.
They were a
welcome
sight. We
were working
to stay
afloat when
out of the
sky came
another
kamikaze. It
hit us just
forward of
the forward
torpedo
tubes
tearing up
the boat,
ripping a
warhead from
a torpedo
and blowing
up the
galley. We
couldn't get
a free pump
so we formed
a bucket
line to put
out the
fires.
Working
together and
with
equipment
from the
support
ships we
kept the
EVANS afloat
against all
odds. We
transferred
our dead and
wounded to
the support
ships and
they took us
in tow. As a
result of
this battle
on May 11,
1946 we had
33 killed
and 27
wounded.
The EVANS
was credited
with 14
planes and
assisting on
3 but we
thought we
shot down 19
and assisted
on 4 not
counting the
4 that
crashed
aboard which
were all
hit. They
said there
were 100
planes in
the raid but
it seemed
closer to
200. The
Marine
Corsairs got
to them
first and
shot so many
they ran out
of
ammunition.
At least 100
came in to
attack us.
The Corsair
pilots
stayed in
the battle
even without
ammunition.
They
maneuvered
to force
attacking
planes away
from the
ships and
actually
rode some
into the
water by
flying
closer and
closer.
The battle
lasted two
hours and
the two
Destroyers
were
credited
with 42
planes
destroyed.
The largest
number ever
for the
ships of
their size
and we knew
the count
was short.
Both
Destroyers
were awarded
a
Presidential
Unit
Citation one
of the most
furious air
sea battles
of the war
and the
crews fight
against all
odds
bringing the
damage under
control
enabling the
ship to be
towed to
port and
saved.
After
temporary
repairs at
Kerama Retto
the
“Fighting
BOB EVANS”
was towed
the 8000
miles to San
Francisco
and berthed
at Mare
Island Navy
Yard on July
27th. Only a
few of the
crew came
back with
the ship.
Most of us
came back
ahead on a
transport
arriving on
July 3rd.
The crew was
going to
keep intact
so with the
crew home on
30 day leave
the huge job
of
rebuilding
the EVANS
was begun
but with the
end of the
war came a
stop work
order.
On August
28th
Commander
J.E. Pace
relieved
Captain
Archer. We
gave our
personal
thanks for a
job well
done. He had
led us in
battle well
saving us
and the ship
several
times. We
were proud
to have
served under
him.
Commander
Pace
directed us
in the
decommissioning.
The EVANS
was stripped
to a bare
hulk with
the official
ceremony set
for mid
November.
The
commission
pennant was
hauled down
from the
stumpy mast
and nailed
to the
director
scaffolding.
This marked
the end of a
great
fighting
ship. She
had been a
sturdy
reliable
home for us
with a
remarkable
capacity for
withstanding
punishment.
The workers
at Gulf
Shipbuilding
Corp. had
done their
job well. As
the crew
broke up we
knew we
would always
remember the
fellowship
that had
grown under
trying
conditions
and those we
left buried
at sea and
in the
cemetery on
Zamami Shima
that died
serving
their
country.
They will
always be a
part of our
lives. What
can be found
of the old
crew still
have a ship
reunion
every two
years. The
bond of
sweat and
blood still
holds.
|
