The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Coxswain John Stanley Evans, Jr. (NSN: 4104392), United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty while serving as a Landing Boat Coxswain embarked off the Transport Ship U.S.S. PRESIDENT JACKSON (AP-37), in action against enemy Japanese forces in the Solomon Islands on 7 – 8 August 1942. As coxswain of one of the landing boats containing the assault troops of the 1st Parachute Battalion, he conducted his boat to the landing beach on Tanambogo Island, Solomon Islands, on 7 August 1942, under constant hostile fire. He landed the assault troops and remained with his boat thereafter although two other landing boats turned back due to intense hostile fire. The assault troops having been pinned down to the beach by the hostile fire, he then under orders evacuated the wounded and the majority of the assault troops to Gavutu Island, Solomon Islands. He again took his boat with reinforcements to troops of Company A, First Battalion, Second Marines, to the landing beach on Tanambogo Island on 8 August 1942, and again due to intense enemy fire evacuated wounded and others of the assaulting troops. He successfully evacuated the wounded from Gavutu Island to the U.S.S. NEVILLE under heavy fire from enemy machine guns and mortars. He again with his boat led the assault wave of boats containing the Third Battalion, Second Marines against Tanambogo Island. His courage and devotion to duty was considered most courageous and by his example assisted in the successful landing on Tanambogo and capture of that Island. His outstanding courage and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.