USS Evans (DE-1023)

USS Evans (DE-1023), a Dealey-class destroyer escort, was the third ship of the United States Navy to have the name Evans. However it is the only ship to be named for Ernest E. Evans, a naval officer and recipient of the Medal of Honor.

The third Evans (DE-1023) was launched 14 September 1955 by Puget Sound Bridge and Dredging Company, Seattle, Washington; sponsored by Mrs. H. Hendrickson; and commissioned 14 June 1957, Lieutenant Commander H. F. Wiley in command.

Operational service
Evans arrived at San Diego, her home port, 4 August 1957, and began shakedown operations along the west coast. Her first lengthy deployment, from 21 January 1958 to 27 June, found her serving with Commander, Naval Forces Marianas, for duty in the administration of Pacific territories held by the United States in trust under the United Nations. She proceeded to visit Japan, Hong Kong, and the Philippines, and to train with ships of the navy of the Republic of Korea.

During her second tour of duty in the Far East, from 8 January 1959 to 13 June, Evans was in Leyte Gulf 7 February to conduct memorial services for her namesake, Commander Ernest Evans. She exercised with the navy of the Republic of the Philippines, patrolled the Taiwan Straits, served briefly as station ship at Hong Kong, and joined in exercises off Okinawa during the remainder of her tour. On 14 April 1960, Evans again climaxed a west coast training period by sailing for the western Pacific on a tour of duty which continued until 21 July 1960. She then returned to operations off the coast for the remainder of the year.

In September, 1968, she was assigned to the Naval Reserve Force (NRF) as a unit of Reserve Destroyer Squadron 27 at Seattle, Wash. She was eventually decommissioned on 3 December 1973 and was sold for scrap in 1974.

Unit awards
USS Evans received five Armed Forces Expeditionary Medals and seven Vietnam Service Medals.

Armed Forces Expeditionary Medals

 * 18 June 1960&mdash;24 June 1960 G Quemoy Matsu
 * 29 June 1960&mdash;30 June 1960 G
 * 23 July 1961&mdash;24 July 1961 G
 * 2 May 1963&mdash;4 May 1963 I Vietnam
 * 11 August 1964&mdash;22 September 1964 I

Vietnam Service Medals

 * 20 March 1966&mdash;24 March 1966
 * 12 April 1966&mdash;27 April 1966
 * 1 July 1966&mdash;2 July 1966
 * 24 May 1967&mdash;5 June 1967
 * 18 June 1967&mdash;27 June 1967
 * 2 August 1967&mdash;14 August 1967
 * 10 September 1967&mdash;6 October 1967