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Adapted from "Rear Admiral William Augustus Evans, Supply Corps, United States Navy, Retired" [biography, dated 22 July 1965] in Modern Biographical Files collection, Navy Department Library.

Topic
  • Operations
Document Type
  • Biography
Wars & Conflicts
  • World War II 1939-1945
File Formats
Location of Archival Materials
  • NHHC-Library

William Augustus Evans

22 May 1909-[no death date]

PDF Version [167KB]

William Augustus Evans was born in New York, New York, on May 22, 1909, son of William A. D. and Margaret Sharkey Evans. He attended the University of Virginia in 1928-1929, and was awarded the degree of Bachelor of Science in Economics from Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He joined Pan American Airways on September 1, 1935, and served as Traffic Representative in New York, and later Santiago, Chile; Assistant District Traffic Manager, at Los Angles, California; District Traffic Manager at San Francisco, California, and Territorial Representative, Cleveland, Ohio.

Commissioned Ensign in the Supply Corps of the US Naval Reserve on June 2, 1934, he reported for active duty on January 4, 1941, after participating in the training for a USNR officer on inactive status prior to that time. He had four months instruction at the Supply Corps Naval Reserve Officers School in Washington, DC, and in June 1941 reported as Assistant to the Supply Officer at the Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida. He remained there after the outbreak of World War II, until August 1942, and during that time was promoted to Lieutenant and Lieutenant Commander in the Supply Corps of the Naval Reserve.

From September 1942 until November 1943 her served as Assistant to the Supply Officer of the Naval Supply Depot, Scotia, New York, after which he was assigned to the Stock Division of the Bureau of Supplies and Accounts, navy Department, Washington, DC. Detached in March 1944, he joined USS Currituck (AV-7) as Supply Officer and served in that capacity until the end of hostilities. He was awarded a Letter of Commendation, with Ribbon and Combat “V,” by the Commander in Chief, US Pacific Fleet, as follows:

“For distinguishing himself by meritorious service as Supply Officer of the USS Currituck (AV-7) from 26 June 1944 until 31 August 1945, and particularly for the periods in operations against the enemy when, as Flagship of Commander Aircraft, SEVENTH Fleet, the Currituck participated in the invasion and conquest of Leyte, Philippine Islands, 6 January 1944 to 6 January 1945, the assault and invasion of Luzon 9 January to 27 January 1945, and in the war operations in the Philippines…”

In the rank of Commander he reported in November 1945 to the Naval Supply Depot, Bayonne, New Jersey, where he served for five months as Planning Officer. In May 1946 he assumed command of the Naval Supply Depot, Guantanamo, Cuba, and a month later his transfer to the Supply Corps of the US Navy became effective. He remained in that command, with collateral duty as Supply Officer on the Staff of the Commander Naval Operating Base, Guantanamo, until July 1948, when he was ordered to the Naval Supply Center, Oakland, California. There he served for two years as Planning Officer.

He was a student at the Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Virginia, from August 1950 to February 1951, and for ten months thereafter served as Executive Officer of the Ordnance Supply Office, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. In January 1952 he was transferred to the Bureau of Supplies and Accounts, Navy Department, Washington, and served for eleven months as Assistant Director of Naval Personnel, and from December 1952 until July 1955 as Director of Naval Personnel in that Bureau.

With his selection for the rank of Captain in the summer of 1955 (date of rank, July 1, 1955), he was ordered to the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard, where he served as Supply Officer from August 1955 until December 1957. In February 1958 he became Commanding officer of the Naval Supply Corps School, Athens, Georgia and in December 1961 was ordered detached for duty as Force Supply Officer on the Staff of Commander Service Force, US Atlantic Fleet. His selection for the rank of Rear Admiral was approved by the president on July 30, 1962 (date of rank, November 1, 1963). “For exceptionally meritorious conduct… as Fleet and Service Force Supply Officer, United States Atlantic Fleet, from January 21, 1962 to June 30, 1965…”he was awarded the Legion of Merit. The citation further states in part:

“During this period, Rear Admiral Evans has made vitally important contributions to supply and transportation management in the Atlantic Fleet, with principal emphasis on improving material support of the fleet and on economy of fleet supply and transportation operations. His distinguished accomplishments in the fields of Supply and Fiscal Management and Air and Sea Transportation have enhanced the material readiness of the fleet, have resulted in incalculable savings to the Government, and have been the foundations of forward-looking supply management and operating procedures upon which will be built the logistic support programs required by the modern Navy…”

He was transferred to the Retired List of the US Navy on July 1, 1965.

In addition to the Legion of Merit and the Commendation Ribbon with Combat “V,” Admiral Evanshas the American Defense Service Medal; American Campaign medal; Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, with two bronze stars, World War II Victory Medal; National Defense Service Medal; and the Philippine Liberation Ribbon with one bronze star. He also has the Naval Reserve Medal for ten years’ service in the US Naval Reserve.

END 

Published: Thu Apr 30 08:00:27 EDT 2020