Rodney J. Evans
Encyclopedia
Rodney John Evans was a Sergeant in the United States Army
's 1st battalion of the 12th Cavalry Regiment
, 1st Cavalry Division. Evans was killed in action
during the Vietnam War
in Tay Ninh province. He died protecting other members of his unit from a concealed land mine
using his own body, for which he received the Medal of Honor
.
. His parents owned a dry cleaning business. After joining the US Army, he married his High School sweetheart, Barbara Geohagan. Evans was then sent to Vietnam and successfully completed a full tour of duty.
Upon his return to the United States, he was stationed at Fort Rucker
, Alabama, not far from where he grew up. Due to financial constraints his wife lived with her parents and would drive up to Fort Rucker on weekends to pick him up and take him home.
On Thursday, September 5, 1968, Barbara was killed in a car accident after going to Ft Rucker to take care of some business. She lost control of her car. Evans became very depressed, re-enlisted and volunteered for another tour in Vietnam. It took over a year for his papers to be processed and for Evans to receive orders for his return to Vietnam. By then, with the help of close friends he had come to grips with his loss. Shortly before his return to Vietnam, he realized his feelings had grown deep for one of these friends, Doris Alford. In fact, Doris had been instrumental in giving Rodney a reason to want to live. She had joined him in honoring Barbara and encouraged him to talk about her and cherish her memory. the impact led him to tell friends and his twin brother, Wyman, he no longer wanted to die and regretted re-upping for Vietnam. After he had left for Vietnam, Doris and his closest friends, the Dunn's (with whom he and Wyman lived after Army enlistment and again after Barbara's death) petitioned legislators and the Army to cut-short Evans' tour of duty due to the reasons he re-upped-- that he was under mental duress. Doris and the Dunn's received a call from Evans shortly before his death, while he was on a short "rest and relaxation" break. He was so grateful for the efforts. The word came from one legislator that Evans' paperwork was being processed and, indeed, he would be returned. It would take a few weeks, but he would be released from the commitment. Less than a week later, Evans was killed in action.
Rodney Evans died one day after his twenty-first birthday and is buried in Liberty Hill Cemetery, Florala, Alabama
. His name can be found on Panel 20W - Row 014 of the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C..
Two other Medal of Honor recipients, Allen J. Lynch (1967) and John Baca
(1970) served in Company
D, 1st Battalion
, 12th Cavalry
, 1st Cavalry Division.
Citation:
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
's 1st battalion of the 12th Cavalry Regiment
U.S. 12th Cavalry Regiment
The 12th Cavalry is a cavalry regiment of the United States Army.-History:On February 2, 1901, Congress authorized the organization of the Twelfth Regiment of Cavalry, Army of the United States...
, 1st Cavalry Division. Evans was killed in action
Killed in action
Killed in action is a casualty classification generally used by militaries to describe the deaths of their own forces at the hands of hostile forces. The United States Department of Defense, for example, says that those declared KIA need not have fired their weapons but have been killed due to...
during the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
in Tay Ninh province. He died protecting other members of his unit from a concealed land mine
Land mine
A land mine is usually a weight-triggered explosive device which is intended to damage a target—either human or inanimate—by means of a blast and/or fragment impact....
using his own body, for which he received the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
.
Biography
Rodney Evans was the adopted son of the Evans family of Florala, AlabamaFlorala, Alabama
Florala is a city in Covington County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 1,964.-Geography:Florala is located at . According to the U.S...
. His parents owned a dry cleaning business. After joining the US Army, he married his High School sweetheart, Barbara Geohagan. Evans was then sent to Vietnam and successfully completed a full tour of duty.
Upon his return to the United States, he was stationed at Fort Rucker
Fort Rucker
Fort Rucker is a U.S. Army post located mostly in Dale County, Alabama, United States. It was named for a Civil War officer, Confederate General Edmund Rucker. The post is the primary flight training base for Army Aviation and is home to the United States Army Aviation Center of Excellence and...
, Alabama, not far from where he grew up. Due to financial constraints his wife lived with her parents and would drive up to Fort Rucker on weekends to pick him up and take him home.
On Thursday, September 5, 1968, Barbara was killed in a car accident after going to Ft Rucker to take care of some business. She lost control of her car. Evans became very depressed, re-enlisted and volunteered for another tour in Vietnam. It took over a year for his papers to be processed and for Evans to receive orders for his return to Vietnam. By then, with the help of close friends he had come to grips with his loss. Shortly before his return to Vietnam, he realized his feelings had grown deep for one of these friends, Doris Alford. In fact, Doris had been instrumental in giving Rodney a reason to want to live. She had joined him in honoring Barbara and encouraged him to talk about her and cherish her memory. the impact led him to tell friends and his twin brother, Wyman, he no longer wanted to die and regretted re-upping for Vietnam. After he had left for Vietnam, Doris and his closest friends, the Dunn's (with whom he and Wyman lived after Army enlistment and again after Barbara's death) petitioned legislators and the Army to cut-short Evans' tour of duty due to the reasons he re-upped-- that he was under mental duress. Doris and the Dunn's received a call from Evans shortly before his death, while he was on a short "rest and relaxation" break. He was so grateful for the efforts. The word came from one legislator that Evans' paperwork was being processed and, indeed, he would be returned. It would take a few weeks, but he would be released from the commitment. Less than a week later, Evans was killed in action.
Rodney Evans died one day after his twenty-first birthday and is buried in Liberty Hill Cemetery, Florala, Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
. His name can be found on Panel 20W - Row 014 of the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C..
Two other Medal of Honor recipients, Allen J. Lynch (1967) and John Baca
John Baca
John Philip Baca is a former United States Army soldier and a Vietnam War veteran. He was awarded the Medal of Honor, the highest decoration of the United States Armed Forces, for his actions in combat.-Biography:...
(1970) served in Company
Company (military unit)
A company is a military unit, typically consisting of 80–225 soldiers and usually commanded by a Captain, Major or Commandant. Most companies are formed of three to five platoons although the exact number may vary by country, unit type, and structure...
D, 1st Battalion
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
, 12th Cavalry
U.S. 12th Cavalry Regiment
The 12th Cavalry is a cavalry regiment of the United States Army.-History:On February 2, 1901, Congress authorized the organization of the Twelfth Regiment of Cavalry, Army of the United States...
, 1st Cavalry Division.
Medal of Honor citation
Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company D, 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division. Place and date: Tay Ninh Province, Republic of Vietnam, July 18, 1969. Entered service at: Montgomery, Ala. Born: July 17, 1948, Chelsea, Mass.Citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sgt. Evans distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism while serving as a squad leader in a reconnaissance sweep through heavy vegetation to reconnoiter a strong enemy position. As the force approached a well-defined trail, the platoon scout warned that the trail was booby-trapped. Sgt. Evans led his squad on a route parallel to the trail. The force had started to move forward when a nearby squad was hit by the blast of a concealed mine. Looking to his right Sgt. Evans saw a second enemy device. With complete disregard for his safety he shouted a warning to his men, dived to the ground and crawled toward the mine. Just as he reached it an enemy soldier detonated the explosive and Sgt. Evans absorbed the full impact with his body. His gallant and selfless action saved his comrades from probable death or injury and served as an inspiration to his entire unit. Sgt. Evans' gallantry in action at the cost of his life were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.
Namesake
A street was named in Rodney Evans honor in his home town of Florala, Alabama- A Softball Complex at Fort Hood, the current home of the 1st Cavalry Division, was named in Rodney Evans honor.
See also
- List of Medal of Honor recipients
- List of Medal of Honor recipients for the Vietnam War