Raymond E. Evans

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to Raymond E. Evans (37068907), Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company G, 274th Infantry Regiment, 70th Infantry Division, on 21 February and 3 March 1945, near Etzling and Styring Wendel, France. During an attack on 21 February, the first platoon of Company G was attached to Company E, 274th Infantry Regiment as protection for the latter’s right flank. When his squad was pinned down by enemy machine gun fire, Staff Sergeant Evans exhibited outstanding bravery by exposing himself to hostile fire in order to make a personal reconnaissance of the situation. Having discovered a comparatively safe route, he skillfully led his squad to a position where they fired upon the enemy machine gunners, forcing them to withdraw and abandon their guns. Demoralized, 32 of the enemy surrendered immediately thereafter. On 3 March, to guarantee the security of his company’s right flank, Staff Sergeant Evans again displayed superior courage and leadership by first crossing 100 yards of open terrain alone, to a house from which he skillfully placed his men 150 yards into enemy territory where their line of fire was sufficiently forceful to safely secure the company’s flank.