Maj Gen Andrew J. Evans, Jr., USAF

Class of 1940

Hometown: Charleston, SC

Distinguished Alumnus Photo

  • Evans attended The Citadel for during freshman year before accepting an appointment and graduating from the USMA in 1941.  He became a World War II "Ace" with 8 confirmed aerial victories (4 on one mission) while piloting the P-51 Mustang.
  • Evans served in World War II, Korea and Vietnam.  During the Korean War he was shot down by anti-aircraft fire while on his 67th combat mission in the F-84. He was captured and spent the remainder of that conflict as a POW in solitary confinement, with the dubious honor of being the highest-ranking Air Force POW.  His final combat tour was in Southeast Asia, where he flew numerous combat missions in the F-4 over North Vietnam.  During his service in Korea, Evans received the Silver Star for gallantry in action on 14 March 1951, when as Group Leader of sixteen F-84 type aircraft of the 49th Fighter Bomber Group, 5th Air Force, he led a successful attack destroying heavily defended railroad bridges.
  • Note: Evans son Richard Evans '69 graduated from The Citadel and commissioned into the US Air Force, flying combat missions in Vietnam as an F-4 aviator.