Bob Evans was born in Springfield, Illinois in 1930 but grew up in Wales until his town was bombed by the Nazis in 1940. His parents sent him to live with a couple in Canada until the end of World War II, when he returned to Wales. He moved to Illinois in 1948 and was attending law school when he decided to enlist in the Army rather than be drafted. He was commissioned as an infantry lieutenant in June, 1950, and shipped to Korea, arriving in time to see action in the Pusan Perimeter in August, 1950 as an infantry platoon leader. Over the next several months he was in the thick of some of the most brutal combat ever experienced by the U.S. Army.
Interview Links
Feature Excerpt
Queen for a Day
Abstract
Interview Session 01 (Audio)
Early years in Wales, and as child refugee in Canada during WW II
Interview Session 02 (Audio)
Officer training in U.S., combat in Pusan Perimeter and during Chinese offensive
Interview Session 03 (Audio)
Battles of Twin Tunnels and Chipyong-Ni in spring of 1951
Interview Session 04 (Audio)
Convalescence in Japan, return to the U.S. and reflections on the war
Photos
Caption
Bob was stationed at Ft. Lewis Washington in 1949, and was on board the USS Bayfield that year as it sailed for the Aleutian Islands to conduct amphibious training, with several LCVPs strapped to the ship.
Where:
Aleutian Islands
When:
1949
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
Three generations of Evans gathered for this photo, including Bob’s daughter Kate (mid 20’s then and attending law school, 56 now), grandmother Mary Gasborro, in her mid-80’s, and Kate’s mother Jean Marie Gasborro-Evans, 58+, circa 1993.
Where:
Unknown
When:
Circa 1993
Ownership:
Narrator’s Photo
Caption
This is a picture of Jean Evans (Bob’s wife) with Noah, their grandson, and Santa Claus, circa 2001. Noah didn’t seem too interested in Santa at the time.
Where:
Unknown
When:
Circa 2001
Ownership:
Narrator’s Photo
Caption
This Chris Britt cartoon, which appeared in the Illinois Times in 2013, inspired Robert to write a letter to the editor recounting his own grisly experience with napalm.
Where:
Illinois Times
When:
2013
Ownership:
May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photo should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator.
Caption
The editorial that Robert Evans wrote in response to the Christ Britt political cartoon that appeared in the Illinois Times in September, 2013.
Where:
Illinois Times
When:
September, 2013
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo