"Calmness, Courage, and Efficiency": Remembering the Battle of Leyte Gulf.The Battle of Leyte Gulf, 23-26 October 1944.Johnston (DD-557 )-DANFS historical summary.The Ship, Her Crew, and the Battle of Leyte Gulf Contributions of Native Americans to the U.S.USS Evans (DE-1043)- Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships(DANFS) historical summary of namesake ship.Evans of Johnston (DD-557)- from "World War II Profiles in Duty" Surface Warrior-Remembering Ernest Evans-article from NHHC's blog, The Sextant.We called him - though not to his face - 'the Chief.' The Johnston was a fighting ship, but he was the heart and soul of her.” “He was an Oklahoman and proud of the Indian blood he had in him. “The skipper was a fighting man from the soles of his broad feet to the ends of his straight black hair,” said Ensign Robert C. Evans posthumously received the Medal of Honor. The ship received six battle stars for service in World War II. Of the 186 lost, about 50 were killed by enemy action, 45 died on rafts from battle injuries and 92, including Evans, were alive in the water after Johnston sank, but were never heard from again.įor Johnston’s supreme courage during the Battle off Samar, she was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation. Twenty-five minutes later, the destroyer rolled over and began to sink. At 9:45 a.m., Evans gave the order to abandon ship. After two-and-a-half hours, Johnston-dead in the water-was surrounded by enemy ships. Noticing the Japanese ships were targeting escort carrier Gambier Bay (CVE-73), Evans gave the order to “commence firing on that cruiser, draw her fire on us and away from Gambier Bay.” One by one, Johnston took on Japanese destroyers, although Johnston had no torpedoes and limited firepower. Despite the grave damage, no torpedoes remaining, and reduced speed and firepower, Johnston commenced a second attack firing 30 rounds into a 30,000-ton Japanese battleship. Although Johnston had hit the heavy cruiser, enemy shells managed to strike Johnston as well causing widespread damage and casualties. carrier aircraft from TF 38 while undergoing repairs in port at Dasol Bay, West Luzon, Philippines, on 25 November 1944). Under a hail of Japanese fire, Johnston fired more than 200 rounds and 10 torpedoes at Japanese heavy cruiser, Kumano, which limped away and survived the battle (she was finally sunk by U.S.
Despite being heavily outmatched, Evans gave the order to attack a major portion of the Japanese fleet. On 25 October 1944, a pilot reported the powerful Japanese Center Force steaming into Leyte Gulf heading directly towards Johnston and her small escort carrier task unit. 20, 1944, Johnston joined Seventh Fleet’s Escort Task Unit 77.4-call sign “Taffy 3”-to defend the north Leyte Gulf, east of Samar and off San Bernardino Strait, and the Leyte beachhead for General Douglas MacArthur’s return to the Philippines.
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