THOMAS J. EVANS, CAPT, USMC
Thomas Evans '74
Lucky Bag
From the 1974 Lucky Bag:
Thomas Joseph Evans
Ramsey, New Jersey
Becoming a member of Mother B’s Mickey Mouse Club after spending most of his life in Ramsey, N.J., T.J. had hopes of playing ball for Navy. After trying out for basketball and baseball and becoming an instant success in neither of them, his interests quickly changed to that of survival, as he sweated through plebe year. This attitude was soon changed due mainly to two months spent on an LPD and his love for the parties and card games. Life became bearable at good ol’ USNA, thanks given mainly to a close knit group of friends and a long string of luck at the Friday night get togethers that paid for those long distance phone calls to his OAO in Florida. Forsaking Navy Air to become a member of the men in green, T has hopes that this will better his chances for flying the plane of his choice.
Thomas Joseph Evans
Ramsey, New Jersey
Becoming a member of Mother B’s Mickey Mouse Club after spending most of his life in Ramsey, N.J., T.J. had hopes of playing ball for Navy. After trying out for basketball and baseball and becoming an instant success in neither of them, his interests quickly changed to that of survival, as he sweated through plebe year. This attitude was soon changed due mainly to two months spent on an LPD and his love for the parties and card games. Life became bearable at good ol’ USNA, thanks given mainly to a close knit group of friends and a long string of luck at the Friday night get togethers that paid for those long distance phone calls to his OAO in Florida. Forsaking Navy Air to become a member of the men in green, T has hopes that this will better his chances for flying the plane of his choice.
Loss
Thomas was lost on April 6, 1977 when the AV-8 Harrier "jump jet" he was piloting crashed at Beaufort, South Carolina.
Other Information
From The Los Angeles Times on December 17, 2002; the article is a compilation of deaths while flying in the AV-8 Harrier.
Died: April 6, 1977
Heavy crosswinds battered the runway as Evans set out to practice a vertical takeoff in his AV-8A in Beaufort, S.C.
A novice Harrier pilot, Evans, 25, had a hard time controlling the plane in previous attempts. Now, with the wind whipping around him, he lifted his plane off the runway, hovered and lost control as he tried to accelerate into conventional flight. The plane rolled to the left, dropped nose down and bounced so hard on the ground that it detonated Evans' ejection seat. He died of a skull fracture and internal injuries.
The investigation described Evans as "an inexperienced first-tour aviator" and suggested that pilot error caused the crash. But the report also found fault with the decision to let Evans take off in heavy winds.
He was married and had a 2-year-old son. A scholarship was named for Evans at his New Jersey high school, where he was an athlete who made top grades, said his brother, David Evans.
Thomas was one of 600 midshipmen participating in training exercises with the 2nd Fleet in Northern Europe during the summer of 1971.
He also assisted in training incoming midshipmen during Plebe summer, 1973.
Thomas received a Bachelor of Science degree from the Naval Academy in 1974 and was married at the Naval Academy chapel.
From researcher Kathy Franz:
Born in Brighton, New Jersey, Thomas graduated from Ramsey High School in 1971. “Tom” … dislikes girls with curlers, physics … likes steak, “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly”, Then Came Bronson, Clint Eastwood, Paul Newman, basketball, “Eli’s Coming”, Mr. Thomas (science teacher,) Mr. Ufferfilge (math teacher) … secretly desires to plan the perfect robbery … ambition is to have a good time and enjoy life … remembers card game at Lynch’s … college … Navy. “Brightly for him the future shines.” Co-captain of the baseball and basketball teams his senior year, member of National Honor Society.
Thomas received his pilot wings in 1975 and was sent to Cherry Point, North Carolina.
Survivors are his wife Deborah, son Thomas, parents David and Janet, brother David, his paternal grandmother Mary Evans and maternal grandmother Ella Howell.
From The Record (Hackensack, NJ) on April 10, 1977:
Born in Bridgeton, Lt. Evans lived most of his life in Ramsey. He was a 1970 graduate of Ramsey High School and was co-captain of the baseball and basketball teams in his senior year. He was a member of the National Honor Society.
He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1974 and was commissioned in the Marine Corps. Lt. Evans received his pilot wings in 1975 and was sent to Cherry Point.
Surviving are his wife, Deborah; a son, Thomas; his parents, David and Janet Evans; a brother, David; his paternal grandmother, Mary Evans of Camp Hill, Pa.; and his maternal grandmother, Ella Howell of Bridgeton.
Thomas is buried at Redeemer Cemetery in Mahwah, NJ.
Note
Thomas' headstone has "1LT", as does the LA Times. In the book "Camp Lejune Command: Commander's Notes 1992-1995" he is listed as a Captain; this is what is in Memorial Hall.
Thomas is one of 8 members of the Class of 1974 on Virtual Memorial Hall.
The "category" links below lead to lists of related Honorees; use them to explore further the service and sacrifice of alumni in Memorial Hall.
