Destroyer Captain
The Life of Ernest E. Evans
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3.8 • 5 Ratings
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- $12.99
Publisher Description
From James D. Hornfischer, New York Times bestselling author of The Last Stand of the Tin Can Soldiers, a riveting account of the life of WWII hero Commander Ernest E. Evans and his heroics and sacrifice during the Leyte Gulf Battle of Samar.
For the first time ever, acclaimed naval historian James D. Hornfischer, “the dean of World War II naval history," writing with his son David J. Hornfischer, explores Capt. E. Evans’s incredible story, from his humble upbringing as a child of a Cherokee and Creek family in Pawnee, Oklahoma, and his graduation from the Naval Academy in 1931, to his service on fighting ships during the Pacific War and his selfless bravery and cool command during a valiant faceoff with the pride of the Japanese Navy.
Interspersed with impeccable research, interviews with men who fought alongside Capt. E. Evans, and thrilling anecdotes about United States Navy experiences during WWII, Destroyer Captain provides insight into an incredible man who spent his life beating the odds through courage, ability, and sheer determination. Never were these attributes better on display than on the morning of October 25, 1944, when, in the waters off Samar, a small flotilla of US Navy ships encountered a Japanese fleet superior in both vessels and firepower. Aboard the USS Johnston, Capt. Ernest E. Evans seized the moment, ordering his destroyer to steam forward and attack. Heavily outgunned, Evans and his sailors fired torpedo after torpedo, all the while maneuvering to dodge enemy shells, as two other American destroyers joined the fight. It was a valiant last stand for Capt. E. Evans, one of the toughest warriors in the Navy, but thanks to his bravery and steadiness under fire, these dogged Americans routed one of the most powerful naval forces that Tokyo had ever put to sea.
A remarkable story of patriotism and courageousness, Destroyer Captain honors a singular American hero whose name shall never be forgotten.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
"This is going to be a fighting ship. I intend to go in harm's way," declared newly commissioned Captain Ernest E. Evans, the first Native American to be awarded the Medal of Honor and the subject of this gripping biography from the late historian James D. Hornfischer (The Fleet at Flood Tide) and his son David. Born in 1908 in Pawnee, Okla., Evans enlisted in the Navy in 1926 and was quickly recommended to the Naval Academy. By the time the U.S. entered WWII, he had served on eight ships as an officer, and in 1943 he was assigned command of the USS Johnston. Off the coast of Guam in July 1944, the Johnston was tasked with bombarding the beachheads to soften the Japanese defenses; when the marines finally made their approach in August, Evans daringly brought the Johnston close to shore to draw fire. In October, the Johnston and other destroyers found themselves outgunned by a Japanese flotilla while escorting U.S. carriers in the Philippine Sea. The Johnston attacked; despite the ship sustaining several lethal hits, Evans repeatedly maneuvered the Johnston between the Japanese and the American carriers. The carriers slipped away as Evans went down with his ship. Graceful prose and heart-pounding action make this one for WWII buffs to relish.
