Friday, December 15, 2006
Capt Kermit Evans... A Husband, Father, Son, Brother, and Outstanding Airman
I wrote a few days ago about Capt Kermit Evans, a young 31 year old EOD Commander who was killed along with 3 others on 3 December after the Marine Corps helicopter they were in made an emergency landing in a lake the Al Anbar province of Iraq.
His memorial fund is taking donations to help his wife, Perneatha, and 13-month old son Kermit Evans Jr.
(AF Times) Captain Evans was born April 15, 1975, in Hollandale, Miss. After graduating from Mississippi State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in chemical engineering, he entered Officer Training School in 2001 at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., and received his commission as a second lieutenant in November of 2001.
Captain Evans began his Air Force career as a general engineer, but after meeting (now retired) Master Sgt. John (J.J.) Holland at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Explosive Ordnance Disposal team, he decided to make a career field switch to EOD.
Sergeant Holland described Evans as "a very motivated, gung-ho civil engineer officer who was not satisfied with the status-quo."
Captain Evans questioned Sergeant Holland about EOD when the two men met after a staff meeting. Sergeant Holland said he believes it was after a tour of the EOD squadron at Nellis that Evans wanted to "go blow some stuff up." It was on a follow-up experience on the explosives range where Evans told Holland that this was what he wanted to do.
Retired Capt. Roger Christiansen also saw the motivation in Captain Evans, but tried to dissuade him by stressing the difficulties of being an EOD officer, the challenges of school and the dangers associated with the work.
"He wasn't phased by any of it," Captain Christiansen said. "Once I realized he was serious and that this was his true desire, I strongly encouraged him to do so. His attitude, humor and energy made him a natural."
It was this attitude, humor and energy that made Captain Evans a leader to be respected among not only fellow officers, but the men and women he led as the EOD flight commander.
"Every time we ran into a major obstacle or pitfall, he loved to say, 'Bring it on!'" said Tech. Sgt. Garet Vannes, 27th FW EOD. If there were problems, Sergeant Vannes said Captain Evans let his folks know, "I'll take the heat on that."
"(That was) just another example on how he felt that we were his team, and nobody was going to mess with his EOD folks," the sergeant said.
This attitude and determination led Captain Evans to be decorated with awards including the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal and the Commendation Medal. He led his unit to the 2005 Senior Master Sergeant Stryzak Award as the "Best Explosives Ordnance Disposal Flight in Air Combat Command."
posted by El Capitan at 10:01 AM
5 Comments:
said...
May one of America's brightest and best rest in peace. Our sympathys go out to the family and we will make a donation to his family.
Ray Wood
said...
Job well done warrior! Great post-Semper Fi
12:50 AM said...
Rest in Peace my AF Brother
2:17 PM
Unknown said...
Thank you for the wonderful posting about my wonderful brave husband. Rest in Peace My Love!
Da Wifey
said...
Today I saw a veteran as a nurse practitioner that told me about Capt Evans... I wanted to come here to say he is not forgotten. I know he was an amazing man and so very brave. May the Lord bless you today...
4:55 PM