CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) - James R. Evans, now 91, served during the Korean War as an Aerographer’s Mate from 1950 to 1953.

As an Aerographer’s Mate, Evans was one of the Navy’s own weather forecasters, a meteorological and oceanographic expert.

Evans joined the U.S. Navy in 1950 when he was nineteen. After bootcamp training in San Diego, he was assigned to the USS Mount McKinley (AGC-7/LCC-7), the lead ship of the Mount McKinley class of amphibious force command ships. According to Wikipedia, “she was an amphibious force flagship, a floating command post with advanced communications equipment and extensive combat information spaces to be used by the amphibious force’s commander and landing force commander during large-scale operations.”

During the war Korea’s Port of Inchon had the highest tides in the world, reaching 33 feet then receding within hours to leave ships stuck in the mud.

Evan’s job was critical in assuring safe amphibious landings by keeping track of and reporting the tides. AMs also plotted and tracked the weather at sea, forecasting typhoons and other weather to assure the safe landing of aircraft on ships at sea.

In 1952 Evans was sent to the USS Logan (APA 196) a Navy amphibious attack transport/assault ship designed to transport troops and their landing and combat equipment.

Following his service in the Navy, Evans worked with the California Division of Mines in Washington DC, and other government entities evaluating and mapping mining properties among other tasks. Known as the Rock Doctor, he is a certified Mineralogist. His entire career was land management and mining for 50 years, retiring at age 75.

Evans was born and raised in Whittier, California, and was married to Dolores who passed away in 2013, just short of their 59th anniversary. They had eight children, 20 grandchildren and 24 great grandchildren. He has been a resident of Citrus Heights for 42 years.

We thank him for his service.