Medal of Honor: Donald W. Evans Jr. – Vietnam War, January 27, 1967
Though weakened by blood loss and in extreme pain, he pressed on with his life-saving efforts, ultimately sacrificing his life while tending to another wounded comrade.
January 27, 2025
Donald Ward Evans Jr.
Specialist Fourth Class, U.S. Army
Conflict: Vietnam War
Unit: Company A, 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division
Date of Action: January 27, 1967
Location: Tri Tam, Republic of Vietnam
Summary of Action:
He could have stayed in cover. He had every reason to wait. But when cries for help pierced the air, Specialist 4 Donald W. Evans Jr. ran headlong into hell — not once, not twice, but again and again.
On January 27, 1967, Evans’ platoon was not yet engaged when enemy forces unleashed a brutal ambush on another American element. Hearing desperate calls for a medic, Evans sprinted across 100 meters of open terrain — through a storm of enemy gunfire and grenades — to reach a wounded man. There, under fire, he stabilized the soldier, offered encouragement, and moved on to the next casualty.
When he encountered a soldier too injured to move, Evans dragged him through the deadly gauntlet back toward safety, dodging rounds the entire way. Incredibly, he remained untouched. Then he turned around and went back.
Grenade shrapnel tore into him — but he kept going. He pulled another man to safety. Then, as his own platoon joined the fight, Evans rejoined them — injured but undeterred — to keep treating the wounded under fire.
During his final act of heroism, while evacuating yet another wounded comrade, Evans was critically wounded. Refusing care for himself, he pushed forward, dragging a soldier to cover. Bloodied, weakening, and nearly spent, he turned to save one more. He died giving aid to that man.
Donald Evans saved lives with his hands, his heart, and ultimately his life. His final moments were marked not by fear, but by compassion, courage, and unwavering devotion to his brothers-in-arms.
Medal of Honor Citation:
*"For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sp4c. Evans, U.S. Army, distinguished himself while serving as a medical aidman with Company A. Although his unit had not yet become engaged, he heard a call for aid from a platoon which had moved out ahead and was receiving heavy casualties. Sp4c. Evans unhesitatingly left the relative safety of his platoon position and ran across 100 meters of open area through a withering hail of enemy fire to reach the wounded.
After treating one man, he continued to brave enemy fire to treat others. Finding a man too seriously wounded to be moved, he carried him to safety despite the heavy fire. Returning across the same fire-swept area, he was struck by fragments from an enemy grenade. Although painfully wounded, he treated another casualty and continued to search for and evacuate the wounded.
Refusing aid for himself, he again rejoined his platoon as it moved forward. As he was treating another wounded man, he was seriously wounded. Undaunted, he began to treat another wounded comrade until he lost consciousness and succumbed.
Sp4c. Evans’ extraordinary heroism and devotion to his comrades were in the highest traditions of the U.S. Army and reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of his country."*
