World War II Honoree

Andrew J. Evans, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Wichita Falls, Texas

Honored By

Mrs. A. J. Evans, Jr.

Relationship

Wife

COMMISSIONED IN THE U.S. ARMY AFTER GRADUATING FROM TEXAS A&M IN 1939. AS A 1ST LIEUTENANT COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER WITH HEADQUARTERS COMPANY, 2ND BATTALION, 16TH INFANTRY HE WAS IN THE FIRST WAVE TO ATTACK THE GERMAN FORCES ON OMAHA (EASY RED) BEACH AT NORMANDY, FRANCE ON JUNE 6, 1944. THREE OUT OF FOUR OF HIS COMPANY WERE EITHER KILLED OR INJURED ON THAT DAY. PARTICIPATED IN THIS MOST HEROIC ASSAULT AFTER UNDERGOING HEMORRHOID SURGERY TWO WEEKS EARLIER AND TURNING DOWN A MEDICAL EXEMPTION FROM THE INVASION. SUBSEQUENT TO D-DAY HE AND THE OTHERS REMAINING IN HIS OUTFIT PARTICIPATED IN THE BREAK THROUGH AT ST. LO, THE LIBERATION OF PARIS AND THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE. AFTER CROSSING THE RHINE, SOUTH OF BERLIN, THEY MET THE RUSSIAN FORCES AT THE ELBE RIVER WHERE THOUSANDS OF THE ENEMY WERE CAPTURED IN AND AROUND FRANZENSBAD, CZECHOSLOVAKIA. NEXT WAS THE OCCUPATION OF BAMBERG, GERMANY WHERE THE CELEBRATED V-J DAY. RETURNED TO THE U.S. AT NEWPORT NEWS, VIRGINIA ON SEPTEMBER 17, 1945. FOR HIS ACTIONS IN COMBAT, HE WAS AWARDED THE BRONZE STAR WITH TWO OAK LEAF CLUSTERS AND THE SILVER STAR.