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Taffy 3 was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation and Captain Ernest E. Evans of the sunk Johnston was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz wrote afterwards that the success of Taffy 3 was "nothing short of special dispensation from the Lord Almighty."[4] The Battle off Samar has been cited by historians as one of the greatest last stands in naval history.[5]
Battle off Samar - Wikipedia
Captain Ernest E. Evans and his crew on the little Johnston went straight in straight alongside the Jap heavy cruisers. The Johnston had lost her steering and they had to literally manually steer her into the Jap fleet. The Johnston was so close the Japs could not lower their heavy guns and had to use their smaller deck guns to sink the Johnston.
All the time Capt. Evans crew did NOT leave their stations and kept firing into the Jap ships causing heavy damage. Severely wounded Capt. Evans stood on the aft of his ship giving orders and when the ship went down that was the last anyone saw of him. -
The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors by Hornfischer is one fantastic read about this battle. I have the audiobook on audible, narrated by Whitener and it is also spectacular. One hell of a story. Even if you don't like war stories, this one really hits home.Comment
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Did the Japanese salute the USS Johnston?
"Yes, a Japanese destroyer saluted the USS Johnston as it sank, according to multiple survivor accounts. A Japanese officer was reportedly seen saluting the ship out of respect for the American crew's fierce and courageous fighting despite being heavily outgunned. The incident reportedly occurred after the Johnston was destroyed during the Battle off Samar."- Sign of respect:
The salute was seen as a sign of respect for the Johnston's crew's extraordinary bravery and fighting spirit against overwhelming odds. - Japanese destroyer:
The salute was reportedly rendered by a Japanese destroyer, the Yukikaze, which approached the sinking ship at close range.
"The U.S.S. Johnston was done just a pile of twisted metal but still afloat and unable to fire another round. Her crew was dead and dying and unable to do anything but await their death. The Japanese commander ordered his ship to sail past the sinking Johnston at very close range as he stood at attention and saluted the bravery of the Johnston's crew."
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I would say Commander Evans followed through on his promise at her commissioning ceremony.
At the commissioning ceremony for the USS Johnston on October 27, 1943, Commander Evans declared his ship would be a "fighting ship" and that any crewmen who didn't want to go "in harm's way" should leave.Comment
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