Evans, Melvin Wallace
First Name
Melvin
Middle Name
Wallace
Last Name
Evans
Serial Number
0-355953
Service Branch
Army
Highest Rank
CAPT
War or Action
World War II
Place Of Birth
Golden
County
Jefferson
Biography

Only son of Mr. and Mrs. Wallace Evans. Attended grade school in Englewood and Pueblo and graduated Centennial High School in Pueblo. Graduated Colorado School of Mines in 1937. While at Mines served on staff and as editor of Oredigger student newspaper, was prominent in campus activities , member of the Blue Key Club, Press Club, A.I.M.E. and A.S.M.E. Also was member of Mines tennis team and was an officer in the ROTC. Married to Bonnie Howlett of Golden on November 19, 1937 and had child Marca. Worked with Phillips Oil Comapny in Oklahoma. Volunteered for Army in fall 1940 and trained at Fort Sam Houston. Sent with family to Philippines in January 1941, family returned June 1941. Fought in Battle of Corregidor and was taken prisoner in May 1942. Survived Bataan Death March, Cabanatuan POW Camp 1 and sinking of Oryoku Maru prison ship before killed in sinking of Enoura Maru prison ship at Takao harbor in Formosa. Awarded Purple Heart. Brother of Marion Evans of Pueblo and Eleanor Evans of Army Nurses Corps at Fitzsimons Hospital at Aurora. Grandson of William H. Gay of Golden and Englewood and nephew of Mr. and Mrs. Oscar A. Goetze of Golden.

Place Of Burial
Walls of the Missing in the Manila American Cemetery
Place Of Death
Formosa (China Sea)
Circumstances
Survived The Bataan Death March. Died Evacuating US POWs From A Japanese Ship After It Was Bombed By Us Planes.
Row Number
1
Column Number
4
Panel Number
10

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