Eversole II (DD-789)
John Thomas Eversole, born 17 April 1915 in Pocatello, Idaho, graduated from the Naval Academy in 1938, and after duty at sea received aviation training. On 7 May 1941, Eversole joined Torpedo Squadron 6 in Enterprise (CV-6), and with many others of his squadron, gave his life for his country in the opening phases of the Battle of Midway 4 June 1942, in an attack on Japanese carriers made through heavy opposition. Lieutenant (junior grade) Eversole's determination in this action was posthumously recognized with the award of the Navy Cross.
II
The second Eversole was launched 8 January 1946 by Todd-Pacific Shipyards, Inc., Seattle, Wash.; sponsored by Mrs. S. R. Eversole, mother of Lieutenant (junior grade) Eversole; and commissioned 10 May 1946, Commander B. P. Ross in command.
Eversole arrived at San Diego, her home port, 6 October 1946, and in the years prior to the Korean war, twice sailed to the Far East for duty with the 7th Fleet, patrolling off China and Japan. She sailed from San Diego 1 May 1950 for another such tour, and thus was in the Orient upon the opening of the war. Until 8 February 1951, when she returned to San Diego, she screened the fast carrier task forces as they launched air strikes against North Korean targets.
During her second tour of duty in the Korean War, from 27 August 1951 to 10 April 1952, Eversole bombarded Hungnam, Wonsan, and other points along the east coast of Korea, and served in the Blockading and Escort Force, with ships of the navies of Great Britain, Canada, Netherlands, Australia, New Zealand, and the Republic of Korea. From 17 November 1952 to 29 June 1953, she served a similar tour of duty.
From 1954 through 1962, Eversole made an annual deployment to the Far East, serving on the Taiwan Patrol, exercising off Japan, Okinawa, and in the Philippines, and visiting a wide variety of western Pacific ports. In both 1957 and 1958, she made her outward bound passage by way of Australia, and in all of these tours, made an important contribution to the power for peace of the 7th Fleet.
During her periods of training and preparation for deployment on the west coast, Eversole often visited ports of the Pacific Northwest, and on occasion voyaged to the Hawaiian Islands.
Eversole received seven battle stars for Korean war service.
