Enoch John Evans

Enoch John Evans

S3c

I was born in Beverly, Randolph County, West Virginia on February 1, 1926. I enlisted in the Navy in January 1944 in Clarksburg, West Virginia. I graduated from Belington High School on May 25th, and received my call to report on May 26th, and reported on May 27, 1944 to be inducted. I was sent to Great Lakes Naval Training Station and spent about six weeks training to be a sailor. After a one week delay in travel at home, I rode the old W.W. I converted cattle cars to Camp Pendleton, California where I spent about one week in an outgoing unit.

I was sent to North Island Naval Air Station in San Diego, California where I volunteered to go aboard the U.S.S. Nassau around the first of September 1944. The Nassau immediately pulled out to the South Pacific. I was assigned to the Air Department as a Third Class Seaman. We handled the planes, doing whatever was needed.

The funniest thing that happened aboard the ship was when my friend, McGuire, who fancied himself an expert motor scooter rider (when in fact he was just learning) came by me on the Flight Deck at breakneck speed shouting, "Look, no hands." Immediately, thereafter, he soared over the five inch gun on the fantail, landed in the water and disappeared. When he came to the surface it was evident he had lost his pants. He was rescued by people on a small boat. This necessitated a walk down the dock and up the gangplank, sans pants. I would love to have heard his explanation to the Officer of the Day.

I will never forget the typhoon that caught us in port, Okinawa, I believe. We lost both anchors, as the chains broke from the weight of the wind and water. We put out to sea, riding out the storm which seemed interminable. I learned what kind of ship I was on — the way she rolled and tossed about and took everything the wind and waves could throw at her. I was on the aft flight deck, and as the propeller came completely out of the water it would seem she would never right herself, but she came through.

We made our way through the mine fields to Tsingtao, China, for food and all we were My rank, when I left the ship, was Aviation Boatswain Mate 3/C. My points were up in January 1946. The ship headed south,. passing Guam. I took the mail boat to Guam. The U.S.S. Laureline was in port shuttling servicemen back to the U.S. I was able to get a berth in the forward swimming pool, where they had set up bunks covered with canvas. Upon arriving in San Diego, they wanted me to go to Balboa Naval Hospital because I was covered with jungle rot. There were places on my head as large as my hand where I had lost hair. They felt I needed treatment. When I told them the only thing I wanted was to go home, they relented, and let me go. I bummed home on military planes, several short hops.

I was discharged on February 20, 1946 in Bainbridge, Maryland Naval Station.

I married Margie Jean Gillespie, on August 9, 1946, in Mountain Lake Park, Maryland. We have four sons, two grandsons and one granddaughter.

My wife and I presently reside at 921 West Pike Street, Clarksburg, West Virginia 26301.