On October 25, 1944, during the Battle off Samar, Commander Ernest E. Evans, commanding officer of the USS Johnston, led his destroyer into one of the most one-sided naval engagements in U.S. history and changed the course of the battle.

Outnumbered and outgunned by a massive Japanese fleet, including battleships, heavy cruisers, and destroyers, CDR Evans made the fateful decision to launch a torpedo attack to protect vulnerable U.S. escort carriers. He was the first to lay smoke, the first to open fire, and the first to charge directly into the enemy.

Despite being hit early and sustaining serious damage, CDR Evans continued to lead with fearless determination. When power and communications failed aboard the Johnston, he shouted steering orders through an open hatch, keeping the fight going by sheer will and courage.

Over nearly three hours of brutal combat, the USS Johnston was hit repeatedly but continued to fire back, shielding the American fleet from destruction. Commander Evans was mortally wounded, and the ship ultimately sank, but his heroic stand helped force a Japanese retreat, a pivotal moment in the Battle of Leyte Gulf.

For his extraordinary bravery, Commander Ernest Evans was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.

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