Commander Raymond Joseph Evans, A Coast Guardsman's Story
Commander Raymond Joseph Evans, A Coast Guardsman's Story
Raymond Joseph Evans was born on February 22, 1921, in Bellingham, Washington. After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the United States Coast Guard, beginning a career defined by quiet competence and extraordinary courage.
During Coast Guard orientation, Evans met Douglas Munro, a Signalman First Class. The two became close friends and were soon nicknamed the “Gold Dust Twins,” a reflection of their inseparable partnership. They served together through the early years of World War II, forming a bond that would be tested under fire.
Evans trained as a coxswain and was deployed to Lunga Point on Guadalcanal during one of the Pacific Theater’s most brutal campaigns. In September 1942, during the Second Battle of the Matanikau, Marine units were in danger of being overrun by Japanese forces. Small-boat evacuations under direct enemy fire became the only means of rescue.
Despite being wounded, Evans remained at his post, repeatedly piloting his landing craft through hostile waters to extract stranded Marines. At one point, he steered his boat with one hand while returning enemy fire with the other. His calm determination and refusal to abandon his duty helped save numerous lives under relentless combat conditions.
During this operation, Douglas Munro was mortally wounded while shielding others. Evans survived, but the loss of his closest friend marked the cost of the mission. For his extraordinary heroism, Raymond Joseph Evans was awarded the Naval Cross, one of the nation’s highest decorations for valor in combat.
After World War II, Evans continued his service with the United States Coast Guard. He earned a commission, rose through the ranks, and retired in 1962 after more than two decades of service to his country.
Commander Raymond Joseph Evans died on May 20, 2013. He is buried at Mountain View Memorial Park in Lakewood, Washington. His legacy endures alongside those he served with and for, a reminder that the Coast Guard’s quiet motto is often lived out under fire: we do what we’re asked to do.
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About the Author
a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller traveling through life
She shares her journeys at Take the Back Roads, explores new reads at Rite of Fancy, and highlights U.S. military biographies at Everyday Patriot.
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