Benjamin F. Evans Jr.
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Benjamin Franklin Evans Jr. (September 3, 1912 – September 2, 1991) was a U.S. Army Major General. He served as the U.S. military's chief of the joint U.S. military aid mission in Turkey.[1]
Evans Jr was born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. He was the son of Brigadier General Benjamin F. Evans Sr.[2] Evans Sr., an artillery general officer, was appointed in 1939 by Pennsylvania Governor Arthur H. James as the Pennsylvania National Guard’s deputy adjutant general.[2] He later became the Pennsylvania National Guard’s adjutant general.[2] He also served as director of Pennsylvania's Selective Service.[2] Evans Sr. retired from the US Army in October 1960 after 40 years in the U.S. military.[2] Evans Jr attended West Point, graduating in 1936.[2]
Evans Jr married Marjorie Hughes Evans (August 19, 1912 - July 14, 1996), a native of Kingston, Pennsylvania.[2] They had five children. Their son, Lt. Benjamin F. Evans III (March 12, 1937 - October 26, 1983), graduated from West Point in 1960.[2]
During World War II, Evan Jr's family resided in Bronxville, New York. After World War II, the family lived in Springfield, Virginia.[2]
Military career
After graduating from West Point in 1936, Evans Jr earned his commission as a 2nd Lieutenant.[2] Evans Jr was stationed at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii during the Japanese's attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941.[1][2]
During World War II, Evans Jr commanded an infantry battalion at Guadalcanal.[2] He also commanded two battalions on New Guinea.[2]
Evans Jr. attended National War College, Harvard Business School's Advanced Management Program, the Armed Forces Staff College, and the Command and General Staff College.[1][2] He also attended Infantry School, later serving at the Continental Army Command, and as infantry forces commander in Iceland.[2]
In 1961, the US Army promoted Evans Jr to Brigadier General.[2]
From 1965 to 1967, Evans Jr led the U.S. military's aid mission in Turkey as chief of the joint U.S. military mission.[1] He also served as chairman of the US Army's War Plans Division in Washington, D.C.[2] He also served as the Commanding General of the XIII Corps at Fort Devens, Massachusetts.[3][2]