Rank: Warrant Officer
Unit: Air Cavalry Troop, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment
MOS: 062B – Helicopter Pilot, Utility And Light Cargo Single Rotor
Awards: Distinguished Flying Cross, Purple Heart Medal, Air Medal with Two Oak Leaf Clusters, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Badges: Army Aviator Badge
Unit awards: Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm device
Note: UH-1C, Tail # 66-00526, Pilot
Flight class: 65-15W, Fort Wolters, Texas
Enlisted by: Reserve
Date of birth: 17-Oct-1946
Hometown: Hampton, Virginia
Marital status: Never Married
Campaign: Vietnam Conflict
Entered service: 16-Nov-1964
Start of tour: 24-Nov-1966
Incident date: 28-Feb-1967
Date of casualty: 1-Mar-1967
Age at death: 20
Cause of death: Hostile, died of wounds. Helicopter Crash — Crew (MC). Aircraft loss, crash not at sea.
Thomas John Evans Jr was pilot of UH-1C helicopter on combat assault mission when hit by hostile small arms ground fire.
Location of fatality: Tay Ninh, South Vietnam
Place of interment: Parklawn Memorial Park, Hampton, Virginia, USA
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DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS
POSTHUMOUS
WARRANT OFFICER WO1 THOMAS JOHN EVANS JR
28 FEBRUARY 1967
AIR CAVALRY TROOP
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
Warrant Officer Evans distinguished himself for heroism while participating in aerial flight on 28 February 1967 while serving as a pilot assigned to the Air Cavalry Troop, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date, Warrant Officer Evans was pilot of an armed helicopter engaged in action against the Viet Cong north of the village of Tay Ninh. Returning from a mission, his aircraft began receiving heavy ground fire from enemy automatic weapons. Despite the immense danger involved, Warrant Officer Evans piloted his helicopter at an extremely low level in order to mark the enemy’s position with smoke bombs. During the second low level pass, Warrant Officer Evans, with complete disregard for his own personal safety, fearlessly maneuvered his aircraft in such a manner as to enable the door gunners to bring deadly fire on the insurgent force. It was at this time, when he was completely exposed to the enemy fire, that Warrant Officer Evans was mortally wounded. His rare courage, superior piloting and perseverance throughout this encounter were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.
Headquarters, II Field Force Vietnam, General Orders No. 381 (March 15, 1967)