Ernest E. Evans led attack that sunk several Japanese vessels and turn the larger fleet into retreat

Ernest E. Evans led attack that sunk several Japanese vessels and turn the larger fleet into retreat, On 27 October 1943, a short, barrel-chested, full-blooded Cherokee Indian in a Navy lieutenant commander's uniform stepped to a podium in a Seattle shipyard.

Ernest E. Evans was about to assume command of a brand new Fletcher-class destroyer—USS Johnston (DD-557)—and before him were her crew and the assembled guests for her commissioning ceremony. He told the crowd he had been serving in an old, World War I-vintage destroyer when World War II broke out. His ship had been forced to beat an ignominious retreat out of the Java Sea to escape annihilation. "This is going to be a fighting ship,” he said, motioning toward the bunting-draped destroyer, “I intend to go 'in harm"s way,’ and anyone who doesn’t want to go along had better get off right now.” He then added in a firm, convincing voice, “I will never again retreat from an enemy force.”

Almost a year to the day from that moment, Evans got his chance to prove that he meant what he said.  At the Battle of Leyte Gulf, Johnston and a handful of other destroyers and destroyer escorts found themselves the only units standing between vulnerable American troops on the landing beach and an oncoming formidable Japanese force of cruisers and battleships. Joined by the other U.S. ships and some aircraft (armed with ordnance suitable for land targets but no match for large warships), Evans turned his ship “in harm’s way” and charged headlong at the enemy armada.

This seemingly futile charge is one of the great moments in U.S. naval history, rarely equaled, never exceeded. As they charged in, the small U.S. ships were chewed to pieces by the large-caliber enemy guns but continued in so close that several were below the depression angle of the Japanese guns. Pilots with no ordnance remaining attacked anyway.  Late in the battle, Johnston was seen still firing away despite horrific damage, her captain—bandaged and bloody, his uniform in shreds—conning her from the fantail because her bridge had been utterly destroyed.

Ernest E. Evans led attack that sunk several Japanese vessels and turn the larger fleet into retreat 2013-05-27T01:21:00-07:00 Rating: 4.5 Diposkan Oleh: My Videos Tube