Specialist James Gregory Evans served in the U.S. Army as a combat medic and paratrooper with the 501st Infantry, 101st Airborne Division. After completing medic training at Fort Sam Houston, Texas and jump school at Fort Benning, Georgia, Evans was assigned to the 101st Screaming Eagle Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. He deployed to Vietnam on December 13, 1967.

“Evans was a quiet and respectful hero. Whatever he did, he did the best he could and with a smile on his face, even while risking his life in combat. Evans would be the first medic in our battalion killed in action,” recalled brother-in-arms Gary Symons.