For extraordinary heroism during action against enemy Japanese forces in the Solomon Islands on August 7-8, 1942. As coxswain of a landing boat containing assault troops of the parachute battalion, EVANS, although two other landing parties were repelled by violent enemy resistance, conducted his own boat to a beach on one of the islands, disembarked, and remained ashore. When the troops were pinned down by hostile gunfire, he, under orders, evacuated the wounded and the majority of uninjured personnel to another island. Transporting Marine reinforcements to a landing beach on Tanambogo on August 8, he was again compelled, because of enemy fire, to conduct evacuation operations. Later, under a vigorous shelling by Japanese machine guns and mortars, he carried injured survivors from Gavutu to a naval vessel and successfully led an assault wave of boats containing Marines against Tanambogo, thereby contributing to the landing on and capture of that Island. His outstanding courage and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.