Vernon Evans

Major General Vernon Evans (21 August 1893 – 4 November 1987) was an officer in the United States Army who had a long and distinguished military career spanning almost four decades, from 1915 to 1954. A 1915 graduate of the United States Military Academy (USMA), he served in combat in France during World War I, advanced through the ranks and attended the required professional schools between the wars and served in staff and command positions during World War II, including command of the lesser known China Burma India Theater (CBI). After the war he served as the inspector general of United States European Command and headed the military mission that supported the Shah of Iran. He retired as a major general in January 1953. Evans died on 4 November 1987, aged 94, of kidney failure in Bethesda, Maryland.

Early life and education Vernon Evans was born on 21 August 1893, in Michigan to William Pierce Evans (an 1878 graduate of the United States Military Academy). On 14 June 1911, at the age of 17, he began his studies at the United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point, New York, having received an at-large appointment as a resident of Washington, D.C. He graduated on 12 June 1915, as a member of the class the stars fell on; his rank in his class is 55 of 164 and his Cullum number is 5367. Evans was assigned to the 1st Machine Gun battalion in November 1917.

Interwar years Evans rank was reduced to captain on 15 March 1920, at approximately the same time he was reassigned to company duty in the U.S. with the 26th Infantry Regiment at Camp Taylor, Kentucky; Camp Perry, Ohio; and Fort Dix, New Jersey until October 1920. He was added to the General Staff Corps Eligible List. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel of infantry on 1 July 1936. He attended the tank course at the Infantry School from September 1938 to June 1939. Evans was assigned as chief of a section of the Infantry School until September 1941; during this assignment, he was promoted to colonel in the Army of the United States (AUS) on 1 July 1941. In November 1952, Evans was assigned to the Army Personnel Board, Office of the Secretary of the Army. He retired in January 1953. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Summary of service

Dates of rank

Awards Army Distinguished Service Medal World War I Victory Medal (United States)Army of Occupation of Germany MedalWorld War II Victory MedalAsiatic-Pacific Campaign MedalWorld War II Victory Medal