JOHN T. EVERSOLE, LTJG, USN

John Eversole '38

Date of birth: April 17, 1915

Date of death: June 4, 1942

Age: 27

Lucky Bag

From the 1938 Lucky Bag:

JOHN THOMAS EVERSOLE

Pocatello, Idaho

Tom

It took a brilliant pep talk by a commander to persuade Tom to leave the wilds of Idaho. He came not with bowed legs and Western drawl, but with a pleasing smile and attractive personality. While he claims to have denied this to the femmes back home, he is no novice snake. However, he manages to hold them off long enough to show his hand at sports. Buoyant of mind but not of body, his one plague was the sub squad. But nothing so small could stop Tom. For four years he's been a fine roommate and in life he'll make an excellent shipmate—on land, at sea, or in the air. His one ambition is to fly and already he is sprouting wings. May his flight through life be a smooth one.

Fencing 4, 3; Batt. Rifle 3; Batt. Football 2, 1; Boat Club 1; M.P.O.

JOHN THOMAS EVERSOLE

Pocatello, Idaho

Tom

It took a brilliant pep talk by a commander to persuade Tom to leave the wilds of Idaho. He came not with bowed legs and Western drawl, but with a pleasing smile and attractive personality. While he claims to have denied this to the femmes back home, he is no novice snake. However, he manages to hold them off long enough to show his hand at sports. Buoyant of mind but not of body, his one plague was the sub squad. But nothing so small could stop Tom. For four years he's been a fine roommate and in life he'll make an excellent shipmate—on land, at sea, or in the air. His one ambition is to fly and already he is sprouting wings. May his flight through life be a smooth one.

Fencing 4, 3; Batt. Rifle 3; Batt. Football 2, 1; Boat Club 1; M.P.O.

Biography

From Military Hall of Honor:

The Rossville Reporter (Rossville, KS) - 29 April 1915, Thu - p.5, The home of Mr. and Mrs. John Eversole of Pocatello, Idaho, was brightened by the birth of a 8lb boy 17 April, according to word received by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J.H. Eversole of this city.
John Thomas was the son of John Jacob Eversole and Sarah Willmetta Ralston who married on 26 Jun 1912 in Benton county, AR. John's only sibling was Patricia Gladys Eversole. John Jacob died on 10 May 1943 and his wife Sarah died 42 years later in 1985. Sarah raised her only grandchild, Thomas Young (Aikers) Eversole, who graduated from the Naval Academy in June 1965 and became a navy pilot like his uncle. Gladys married several times during her life. First to Walter William Akers on 20 Nov 1938 in Bingham county, ID. They had a son, Tommy (Aikers) Eversole. She then married a Mr Whitehead, then Otis H. Beavers.
John Thomas or Thomas as he was known in Pocatello High School, was active in Hai Sin, 3, 4; New Brooms, 4; "Y" Noon Club, 4; and Debate, 3, 4. His senior yearbook caption said this about him; "You know not what a real debate is till you have argued for a maiden's heart." Thomas graduated from Pocatello in June 1932. In September 1932 Thomas entered the University of Idaho in Moscow, ID. After completing two years of study at the University of Idaho in May 1934, he received a Congressional appointment from Idaho to the US Naval Academy. He entered the Academy on 12 Jun 1934. …
Tom graduated from the USNA on 02 Jun 1938 with a commission as an Ensign, USN. After graduation Ensign Eversole reported on board the light cruiser USS Cincinnati (CL-6) on 29 Jun 1938 to begin his required sea duty tour. After several years on board the Cincinnati, during which he attended a course in torpedo operation, Ensign Eversole was detached from the Cincinnati and transferred to the USS Crowninshield (DD-134). That tour was brief as Crowninshield was transferred to the British navy on 09 Sept 1940 and renamed the HMS Chelsea (I35) and subsequently to the Soviet Navy where she was renamed Derzkiy. Eversole was detached from the Crowninshield in August 1940. Shortly thereafter on 16 Sep 1940 Ens. Eversole reported to NAS Pensacola to commence aviation training under instruction. He completed his aviation training and received his naval aviator wings on 21 Feb 1941 (NA#7173). He reported to Torpedo Squadron Six (VT-6) embarked on board the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CV-6) on 7 May 1941. He was promoted to Lieutenant Junior Grade (Ltjg) on 02 Jun 1941.
The Enterprise was commissioned on 12 May 1938. Torpedo Squadron Six (VT-6) was commissioned on 01 July 1938. During 1939, Enterprise and her embarked squadrons conducted shake down cruises and workup exercises at various times. While the ship was inport the squadrons were temporarily based ashore at their assigned airfields. In Sep 1939, Enterprise became part of the Hawaiian Detachment of the U.S. Fleet whose homeport was Pearl Harbor. In Jan 1940 Enterprise was engaged in exercises in Hawaiian waters. In early Feb, she steamed for Puget Sound Navy Shipyard for an overhaul after making a brief port call in San Diego. In late May, Enterprise, her overhaul completed, returned to San Diego for about a month. She returned to Pearl Harbor on 2 July 1940. Enterprise conducted exercises from August to early Nov in the Hawaiian area. Then on 09 Nov she steamed to San Diego until 2 Dec when she got underway for the Puget Sound Navy Shipyard in Bremerton, WA.
Enterprise returned to Pearl Harbor on 21 Jan 1941. During 1941 Enterprise made 13 round trips between Hawaii and San Diego from April - Nov conducting exercise cycles and squadron work-ups. During those months she also shuttled Army Air Force P-39s and P-40s, as well as, Navy aircraft from US West Coast ports to Pearl Harbor and beyond. On 28 Nov 1941, Enterprise, now operating in a war-time steaming condition, left San Diego with a cargo of Marine Fighting Squadron 211 (VMF-211) aircraft and pilots destined for Wake Island. The Marine pilots and their planes flew from Enterprise to Wake Island on 02 Dec 1941. Enterprise was scheduled to arrive back in Pearl Harbor on 06 Dec, but was delayed due to inclement weather. Fortunately, she wasn't inport on the morning of 07 Dec, but arrived later that evening.
In the first five months of 1942, Enterprise and her Air Group participated in the attack on Gilbert and Marshall Islands on 01 Feb 1942. During this action VT-6 attacked Japanese forces on Kwajalein; Wake Island raid 24 Feb 1942; On 4 March, Enterprise’s Air Group attacked enemy installations on the Marcus Islands; and on 18 April, she supported the Doolittle raid. In early May, Enterprise and the aircraft carrier USS Hornet (CV-8) were dispatched to the South Pacific to assist the aircraft carriers USS Lexington (CV-2) and USS Yorktown (CV-5) who were engaged in the battle of the Coral Sea. However, before the ships arrived on-scene the battle of the Coral Sea was over. After participating in additional operations in the Central Pacific, Enterprise returned to Pearl Harbor on 26 May and began intensive preparations to meet an expected Japanese thrust at Midway Island. Enterprise got underway from Pearl Harbor on 28 May 1942, and with USS Hornet (CV-8), steamed toward a point Northeast of Midway called "Point Luck." USS Yorktown (CV-5) followed a short time later.
Early on the morning of 4 Jun 1942, Ltjg Eversole and his radioman-gunner RM2 John Udell Lane launched their torpedo plane from Enterprise along with other crews of VT-6 and Air Group Six to attack the Japanese striking force that was approaching Midway. Separated from their covering fighter protection, VT-6, comprised of 14 torpedo planes, had to thread their way through a gauntlet of swarming enemy fighters and a hail of anti-aircraft fire. One by one the planes of VT-6 were shot down. Of the fourteen torpedo planes that took off from the Enterprise that morning only four survived the attack. Ens Eversole and Petty Officer Lane did not return. Their remains were unrecoverable. They were listed as missing in action on 04 Jun 1942. On 05 Jun 1943 they were reported as "presumed dead."
Ltjg Eversole was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross, the Purple Heart Medal, the Presidential Unit Citation ribbon, The American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with a bronze battle star, and the World War II Victory Medal.
The Post-Register (Idaho Falls, Idaho) - 6 July 1942:

Navy Announces Casualty List
Washington, July 6. (AP) -- The U.S. navy department released Monday its sixth casualty list of the war: It included: Officers: Missing: John Thomas Eversole, Lt., (junior grade) U.S. navy; mother, Mrs J.J. Eversole, 137 Roosevelt avenue, Pocatello.

His family received a commemoration from President Franklin D. Roosevelt. It reads:

In grateful memory of John Thomas Eversole, who died in the service of his country, SEA, Pacific Area, ATTACHED U.S.S. ENTERPRISE, 5 JUNE 1943 (Presumed). He stands in the unbroken line of patriots who have dared to die that freedom might live and grow and increase its blessings. Freedom lives, and through it, he lives -- in a way that humbles the undertakings of most men.
(Signed) Franklin D. Roosevelt,
President of the United States of America

John is listed at the Courts of the Missing in Hawaii.

Career

From naval aviation historian Richard Leonard via email on February 9, 2018:

NAS Pensacola attached for HTA flight training, 9/16/1940

NAS Pensacola designated NA # 7173, 2/21/1941

Date of rank LTJG from 1 Jul 1941 USN Register, 6/2/1941

VT-6 USS Enterprise (CV-6), 5/7/1941

VT-6 USS Enterprise (CV-6) NX PH KIA BNR, 6/4/1942

From TBD Devastator Units of the US Navy by Barrett Tillman,

Torpedo Six lost an aircraft on 18 February [1942] when LT(jg) John T Eversole became disoriented in high winds and made a water landing about 60 miles from the task force. Happily, the crew of "Tare 18" was rescued by a destroyer the next day and returned to Enterprise.

Photographs

From his high school yearbook
From his sophomore class University of Idaho 1934 yearbook
Pictured with his mother, Sarah. Via Hampton Roads Naval Museum on June 2, 2022.

Navy Cross

From Hall of Valor:

The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Lieutenant, Junior Grade John Thomas Eversole (NSN: 0-81215), United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Torpedo Plane of Torpedo Squadron SIX (VT-6), attached to the U.S.S. ENTERPRISE (CV-6), during the "Air Battle of Midway," against enemy Japanese forces on 4 June 1942. Participating in a vigorous and intensive assault against the Japanese invasion fleet, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Eversole pressed home his attack with relentless determination in the face of a terrific barrage of anti-aircraft fire. The unprecedented conditions under which his squadron launched its offensive were so exceptional that it is highly improbably the occasion may ever recur where other pilots of the service will be called upon to demonstrate an equal degree of gallantry and fortitude. His extreme disregard of personal safety contributed materially to the success of our forces and his loyal conduct was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
General Orders: Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 309 (December 1942)
Action Date: June 4, 1942
Service: Navy
Rank: Lieutenant Junior Grade
Company: Torpedo Squadron 6 (VT-6)
Division: U.S.S. Enterprise (CV-6)

Namesake

USS Eversole (DE 404) was the first ship named for John; the ship was sponsored by his mother, Sarah. USS Eversole (DE 404) was sunk on March 21, 1944 during the Battle of Leyte Gulf.

USS Eversole (DD 789) was also named for John; she, too, was sponsored by his mother. Following decades of service with the US Navy, the ship was transferred to the Turkish Navy, where she served for another 22 years. She is now preserved as a museum ship.

Navy Directories & Officer Registers

The "Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps" was published annually from 1815 through at least the 1970s; it provided rank, command or station, and occasionally billet until the beginning of World War II when command/station was no longer included. Scanned copies were reviewed and data entered from the mid-1840s through 1922, when more-frequent Navy Directories were available.

The Navy Directory was a publication that provided information on the command, billet, and rank of every active and retired naval officer. Single editions have been found online from January 1915 and March 1918, and then from three to six editions per year from 1923 through 1940; the final edition is from April 1941.

The entries in both series of documents are sometimes cryptic and confusing. They are often inconsistent, even within an edition, with the name of commands; this is especially true for aviation squadrons in the 1920s and early 1930s.

Alumni listed at the same command may or may not have had significant interactions; they could have shared a stateroom or workspace, stood many hours of watch together… or, especially at the larger commands, they might not have known each other at all. The information provides the opportunity to draw connections that are otherwise invisible, though, and gives a fuller view of the professional experiences of these alumni in Memorial Hall.