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Vietnam War Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient
Sp/4c Donald Ward Evans Jr., US Army
Letter Home From Vietnam
SP/4 Donald Evans
A Co. 2nd Bn 12th INF
APO 96268, San Francisco
Mr. and Mrs. Donald Evans
836 N Elspeth Way
Covina, CALIF
28 OCT, 66
Hello Mom + Dad How are the broken arms and colds coming along?
Things are still the same here. It rains at least once a day and is hot with lots of humidity. I'm in good shape. No alments or bullet holes. We are still treated about the same as when we in the states, just not to the same degree.
Being in shape can't be helped. I get in more patrol time than anyone else in the platoon. Along with that we've been putting in lots of other work like staking sand bags around our tents (9 high), filling in ditches the other outfit dug, and other types of maintenant. No rest for Johnson's under paid killers.
Contact with Charlie has only happened twice. A night ambush patrol from 2nd platoon got hit. There was suspose to have been lots of lead flying but no blood was found nor any bodies. Charlie doesn't leave bodies behind so its hard to say if any were hit. That same night Charlie Cong hit the berm. Again nothing cam of it.
Watch the T.V. for a parade in Saigon. Tell Bonnie also. "A" Company is going to be in it. The rest of the Battalion is going on a 3 day search and clear mission, but we get out of that. Its to bad Ha! The parade is Sunday or Monday. Should be in the paper or some news media.
Papy, haven't found any rock worth picking up, but when I do I'll send them to you.
So much for now.
Love Donnie
This letter is on display along with a portrait of SP4 Donald W. Evans, Jr. at Evans U.S. Army Hospital, Fort Carson, Colorado. It is reproduced here as written.
SP4 Donald Evans was a member of Alpha Company, 2d Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment (A/2/12), which was part of the 3d Brigade of the 4th Infantry Division. 3d Brigade/4th ID embarked at Seattle, Washington, on the troop ship General Nelson M. Walker in September 1966. After a stop in Okinawa, the ship arrived at Vung Tau on 8 October 1966, and the troops went ashore in landing craft . The brigade was assigned to III Corps Region in the 25th ID Area of Operations , just north of Saigon. The rest of 4th ID was at Pleiku in the Central Highlands.
On Tuesday, 1 November 1966, A/2/12 was in Saigon and marched in the National Day Parade , the commemoration of the establishment of the Republic of South Vietnam . Here is a picture of Alpha Company after the parade, which shows LT Allyn Palmer and guidon bearer PFC Larry Savage leading the company back to the assembly area.
In January 1967, 3d Brigade/4th ID was involved in Operation Cedar Falls . It served as a support and diversionary force working out of Dau Tieng, while the 1st and 25th Infantry Divisions performed a Search and Destroy Mission in the Iron Triangle to the south. Operation Cedar Falls officially ended on 26 January 1967, but A/2/12 encountered a Viet Cong strong point north of Dau Tieng the next day.
On Friday, 27 January 1967, SP4 Donald W. Evans, Jr., MOS 91B20, was killed in action while giving aid to wounded soldiers under fire. This occurred north of the Michelin rubber plantation at Dau Tieng, in the Tri Tam District of Binh Duong Province, South Vietnam. Specialist Evans was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. Below is his Medal of Honor Citation. Secretary of the Army Stanley R. Resor presented the Congressional Medal of Honor to Donald's wife and parents at a special ceremony at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., on 4 June 1968. The Republic of South Vietnam also awarded him the Military Merit Medal and the Gallantry Cross with Palm.
Donald was survived by his wife, Bonnie Jean Evans, his parents, Donald and Elsie Evans, and his brothers Richard and Harvey. His father died in 1974. His mother died on Thursday, 28 June 2001, at the age of 88. Donald is buried next to his father in Oakdale Memorial Park , Glendora, California.
On Thursday, 5 June 1986, Evans U.S. Army Hospital was dedicated to the memory of Specialist Fourth Class Donald Ward Evans, Jr, Soldier - Medic. Like all medics, he was known as 'Doc' to his friends. His name is inscribed on Panel 14E, Line 85, of the Vietnam War Memorial .
Paul M. Webber, M.D.
August 2001
Photos of Donald Evans at Dau Tieng, Vietnam:
Evans 3 | Evans 4
Photos 1 - 3 are courtesy of Richard Evans and Bill Comeau. Photo 4 was taken by George Hanna, who was an NCO in the 3d Platoon of A/2/12. On 27 January 1967, George Hanna was wounded and pinned down by enemy fire north of the Michelin Plantation. Donald Evans went to his aid. Bill Comeau's History of 2/12 Infantry tells the story of that day.
Here is a Map of Dau Tieng which shows the Alpha Company bivouac site in Dn Din Michelin, the Michelin Rubber Plantation. This is where these pictures were taken. There was an old French swimming pool at Dau Tieng, which was restored by 2/12 Infantry . Here is a picture of the swimming pool taken by Jim Olafson, the XO of Alpha Company. Notice the GI innovation of using a helicopter rotor wing for a diving board. Rumors that the pool was destroyed by Viet Cong sappers are wrong. Curtis Gilliland served with C/2/28 Infantry, 1st Division, at Lai Khe in 1968-1969. He reports that the pool was in use during his tour, and was renovated and still in use in 2003.
Special thanks to Bill Comeau , one of Doc Evans' friends in Alpha Company, who provided much of the information for this page. Bill Comeau has posted three other letters from Doc Evans:
25 Dec 1966 | 8 Jan 1967 | 25 Jan 1967
Special thanks to Evans U.S. Army Hospital and Cheyenne Mountain, Fort Carson Colorado
CITATION:
EVANS, DONALD W., JR.
Rank and organization: Specialist Fourth Class, U.S. Army, Company A, 2d Battalion, 12 Infantry, 4th Infantry Division. Place and date: Tri Tam, Republic of Vietnam, 27 January 1967. Entered service at: Covina, Calif. Born: 23 July 1943, Covina, Calif. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. He left his position of relative safety with his platoon which had not yet been committed to the battle to answer the calls for medical aid from the wounded men of another platoon which was heavily engaged with the enemy force. Dashing across 100 meters of open area through a withering hail of enemy fire and exploding grenades, he administered lifesaving treatment to 1 individual and continued to expose himself to the deadly enemy fire as he moved to treat each of the other wounded men and to offer them encouragement. Realizing that the wounds of 1 man required immediate attention, Sp4c. Evans dragged the injured soldier back across the dangerous fire-swept area, to a secure position from which he could be further evacuated Miraculously escaping the enemy fusillade, Sp4c. Evans returned to the forward location. As he continued the treatment of the wounded, he was struck by fragments from an enemy grenade. Despite his serious and painful injury he succeeded in evacuating another wounded comrade, rejoined his platoon as it was committed to battle and was soon treating other wounded soldiers. As he evacuated another wounded man across the fire covered field, he was severely wounded. Continuing to refuse medical attention and ignoring advice to remain behind, he managed with his waning strength to move yet another wounded comrade across the dangerous open area to safety. Disregarding his painful wounds and seriously weakened from profuse bleeding, he continued his lifesaving medical aid and was killed while treating another wounded comrade. Sp4c. Evan's extraordinary valor, dedication and indomitable spirit saved the lives of several of his fellow soldiers, served as an inspiration to the men of his company, were instrumental in the success of their mission, and reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of his country.
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