This Military Service Page was created/owned by
AB Raymond Guinn
to remember
Evans, Andrew J., Jr., Maj Gen USAF(Ret).
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Contact Info
Home Town Charleston
Last Address San Antonio, TX
Date of Passing Dec 25, 2001
Location of Interment Arlington National Cemetery (VLM) - Arlington, Virginia
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Colonel Andrew J. Evans, Jr. (AFSN: FR-4072), United States Air Force, for gallantry in action against an armed enemy as Group Leader of sixteen F-84 type aircraft of the 49th Fighter Bomber Group, FIFTH Air Force, on 14 March 1953. On that date, Colonel Evans led an attack against heavily defended rail-bridges in northernmost North Korea. Leading the group directly to the target, Colonel Evans set-up his bomb pattern and proceeded to dive onto the target, positively marking it for the others in the group. Pulling out of the bomb run, Colonel Evans skillfully avoided the intense anti-aircraft fire, and proceeded south of the now totally destroyed rail-bridge to further harass the enemy. Sighting numerous boxcars and several vehicles, Colonel Evans called for a strafing attack. This attack continued under his competent direction until fuel consumption necessitated a quick return to the base. During this highly successful mission, the entire rail-bridge was destroyed, sixty-seven boxcars were damaged, one vehicle was destroyed, and four vehicles were damaged. Through his keen leadership and flying ability and exemplary devotion to duty, Colonel Evans was instrumental in seriously hampering the enemy's activity in that area, and reflected great credit upon himself, the Far East Air Forces, and the United States Air Force. General Orders: Headquarters, Far East Air Forces, General Orders No. 262 (May 26, 1953) Action Date: 14-Mar-53 Service: Air Force Rank: Colonel Regiment: 49th Fighter Bomber Group Division: 5th Air Force
Other Comments:
Awarded for actions during the Korean War Colonel Andrew Julius Evans, Jr. (AFSN: FR-4072), United States Air Force, was interned as a Prisoner of War during the Korean War after he was shot down and captured on 27 March 1953 and held until his release on 31 August 1953. Action Date: March 27, 1953 - August 31, 1953 Service: Air Force Rank: Colonel Division: Prisoner of War (Korean War)
Korean War
From Month/Year
June / 1950
To Month/Year
July / 1953
Description The Korean War; 25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953) began when North Korea invaded South Korea. The United Nations, with the United States as the principal force, came to the aid of South Korea. China came to the aid of North Korea, and the Soviet Union gave some assistance.
Korea was ruled by Japan from 1910 until the closing days of World War II. In August 1945, the Soviet Union declared war on Japan, as a result of an agreement with the United States, and liberated Korea north of the 38th parallel. U.S. forces subsequently moved into the south. By 1948, as a product of the Cold War between the Soviet Union and the United States, Korea was split into two regions, with separate governments. Both governments claimed to be the legitimate government of all of Korea, and neither side accepted the border as permanent. The conflict escalated into open warfare when North Korean forces—supported by the Soviet Union and China—moved into the south on 25 June 1950. On that day, the United Nations Security Council recognized this North Korean act as invasion and called for an immediate ceasefire. On 27 June, the Security Council adopted S/RES/83: Complaint of aggression upon the Republic of Korea and decided the formation and dispatch of the UN Forces in Korea. Twenty-one countries of the United Nations eventually contributed to the UN force, with the United States providing 88% of the UN's military personnel.
After the first two months of the conflict, South Korean forces were on the point of defeat, forced back to the Pusan Perimeter. In September 1950, an amphibious UN counter-offensive was launched at Inchon, and cut off many of the North Korean troops. Those that escaped envelopment and capture were rapidly forced back north all the way to the border with China at the Yalu River, or into the mountainous interior. At this point, in October 1950, Chinese forces crossed the Yalu and entered the war. Chinese intervention triggered a retreat of UN forces which continued until mid-1951.
After these reversals of fortune, which saw Seoul change hands four times, the last two years of conflict became a war of attrition, with the front line close to the 38th parallel. The war in the air, however, was never a stalemate. North Korea was subject to a massive bombing campaign. Jet fighters confronted each other in air-to-air combat for the first time in history, and Soviet pilots covertly flew in defense of their communist allies.
The fighting ended on 27 July 1953, when an armistice was signed. The agreement created the Korean Demilitarized Zone to separate North and South Korea, and allowed the return of prisoners. However, no peace treaty has been signed, and the two Koreas are technically still at war. Periodic clashes, many of which are deadly, have continued to the present.
