Destroyer Captain: The Life of Ernest E. Evans

“This is going to be a fighting ship. I intend to go in harm’s way,” declared newly commissioned Captain Ernest E. Evans, the first Native American to be awarded the Medal of Honor and the subject of this gripping biography from the late historian James D. Hornfischer (The Fleet at Flood Tide) and his son David. Born in 1908 in Pawnee, Okla., Evans enlisted in the Navy in 1926 and was quickly recommended to the Naval Academy. By the time the U.S. entered WWII, he had served on eight ships as an officer, and in 1943 he was assigned command of the USS Johnston. Off the coast of Guam in July 1944, the Johnston was tasked with bombarding the beachheads to soften the Japanese defenses; when the marines finally made their approach in August, Evans daringly brought the Johnston close to shore to draw fire. In October, the Johnston and other destroyers found themselves outgunned by a Japanese flotilla while escorting U.S. carriers in the Philippine Sea. The Johnston attacked; despite the ship sustaining several lethal hits, Evans repeatedly maneuvered the Johnston between the Japanese and the American carriers. The carriers slipped away as Evans went down with his ship. Graceful prose and heart-pounding action make this one for WWII buffs to relish. (Aug.)