John Stanley Evans, Jr.

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to John Stanley Evans, Jr., Coxswain, U.S. Navy (Reserve), for extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty while serving as a Landing Boat Coxswain embarked off the Transport Ship U.S.S. PRESIDENT JACKSON (AP-37), in action against enemy Japanese forces in the Solomon Islands on 7 – 8 August 1942. Coxswain Evans conducted his boat, containing assault troops for action in the Solomon Islands, to a beach, disembarking and remaining ashore, then evacuating the wounded and the majority of the uninjured personnel to another island. Later, under vigorous shelling by Japanese machine guns and mortars, he carried injured survivors to a naval vessel and successfully led an assault wave of boats containing Marines against Tanambogo, thereby contributing to the landing on and capture of that island. The conduct of Coxswain Evans throughout this action reflects great credit upon himself, and was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 315 (June 1943)