Capt. Warren E. Evans, 96, passed away July 6 at The Springs Senior Living Center in Hillsboro, Oregon.

Sergeant Major Evans was born in Aberdeen, South Dakota on December 29, 1918. He graduated from Central High School in 1938 with honors. To this day, an award being his name is given to the outstanding male student who excels in academics, athletics, and music.

While attending South Dakota State University, on an athletic scholarship, Sergeant Major Evens enlisted in the National Guard to earn spending money. He was federally inducted February 19, 1941 and shipped to Camp Claiborne, Louisiana where he was a private with Company B, 109th Engineers, 34th Division.

Less than a year later, when war was declared, Sergeant Major Evans, now wearing the rank of staff sergeant, was shipped to Northern Ireland. Sergeant Major Evans found his duty assignment un-challenging until he received a call for volunteers for a “commando type” unit, where he became First Sergeant of Echo Company, 1st Ranger Battalion. Shortly thereafter, he became Battalion Sergeant Major until November 10, 1942, when he became one of the first recipients of a battlefield commission under the European Theater.

Sergeant Major Evans became the Commander of Company F, 3d Ranger Battalion and was a participant in every raid, battle engagement, and invasion from the landing at Arsew in North Africa to Cisterna off the Ansio Beachhead in Italy where the 1st and 3d Ranger Battalions were wiped out January 30, 1945.
After his capture, Sergeant Major Evans spent the next 15 months as a German prisoner of war. After two failed escape attempts, Sergeant Major Evans successfully escaped and returned to American lines at the Elbe River near Liepzig, Germany, April 21, 1945.

After returning to the United States and marrying his college sweetheart, Frances, Sergeant Major Evans ended his career in the Army on January 6, 1946, having served his country honorably in war.

His awards and decorations include Presidential Unit Citations with Oakleaf Clusters, the Silver Star, and the Ranger Tab.

In October 1992, Sergeant Major Evans was selected as Honorary Sergeant Major of the 75th Ranger Regiment for extraordinary service during wartime.

Sergeant Major Evans was inducted into the Ranger Hall of Fame in 1996. He relinquished his role as the Honorary Sergeant Major of the 75th Ranger Regiment January 2008.

Book: "Heroes Cry Too": A WWII Ranger Tells His Story of Love and War by Marcia Moen..... a first-person dialogue, is the story of Captain Warren Evans - a WWII 1st Battalion Ranger......

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Warren E. Evans, 96, of Huntingburg, passed away July 6, 2015, at The Springs at Tanasbourne senior living center in Hillsboro, Oregon.

He was born December 29, 1918 in Aberdeen, South Dakota, to Earl Edward and Stella (Soliday) Evans. He married Frances A. “Fran” Wheeler on August 5, 1945 at the United Methodist Church in Brookings, South Dakota.

Warren was a salesman for Ralston Purina; after his retirement from Purina he was employed as an accountant at the Olinger Construction Company in Huntingburg for 10 years and then continued private accounting thereafter on a part-time basis.

He was a member of the Huntingburg United Methodist Church, Dubois County Masonic Lodge #520 F&AM, the 33rd degree of the Scottish Rite, and the Ranger Battalion Association.

He served as a Captain in the United States Army during World War II. He was a member of the original Army Rangers which spearheaded five landings and six campaigns during the war. Warren fought in every battle of every campaign that the Rangers participated in during World War II.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Frances A. “Fran” Evans, who died November 10, 2009; two sons, Brad Evans and Bruce Evans; one sister, Lorraine Theck; and two grandchildren.

He is survived by;
One son
Two daughter-in-laws
Four grandchildren.

A memorial service for Warren Evans was held on
October 10, 2015 at the Huntingburg United Methodist Church in Huntingburg, Indiana, with a reception to follow.

Pastor Lee Campbell will officiate at the service.

Interment of his cremains has taken place at the Greenwood Cemetery in Brookings, South Dakota.