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At anchorage
in Central Pacific
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Presidential Unit Citation
to USS Evans
THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY
Washington
The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the
PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION to the
UNITED STATES SHIP EVANS
for service as set forth in the following CITATION:
"For extraordinary heroism in action as Support Destroyer on Radar
Picket Station Number 15 during an attack by approximately 100 enemy Japanese
planes, forty miles northwest of the Okinawa Transport Area, May 11, 1945. Fighting
valiantly against waves of hostile suicide planes plunging toward her from all
directions, the USS EVANS sent up relentless barrages of antiaircraft fire
during one of the most furious air-sea battles of the war. Repeatedly finding
her targets, she destroyed fourteen enemy planes, assisted in downing three others
and, by her vigilance and superb battle readiness, avoided damage to herself
until subjected to a coordinated attack by five Japanese planes. Shooting one
down clear of the ship, she was crashed by the other four with devastating
effect. With all engineering spaces flooded and with a fire raging amidships,
the gallant officers and men of the EVANS fought desperately against almost
insurmountable odds and, by their indomitable determination, fortitude and
skill, brought the damage under control, enabling their ship to be towed to port
and saved. Her brilliant performance in this action reflects the highest credit
upon the EVANS and the United States Naval Service."
For the President,
JAMES FORRESTAL
Secretary of the Navy
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