Richard Ernest EvansRichard Ernest Evans was born in Knoxville, TN, in 1919, where he spent his childhood participating in the Boy Scouts of America, drilling in the Knoxville High School ROTC, learning to fly with the Tennessee Air National Guard, and visiting the Smok Mountains with his three brothers, "Pug", Tom and John, and his parents, William and Helen.In his third year at the University of Tennessee, Richard was accepted to Flying Cadet School and enlisted in the U.S. Army in December, 1939. It was during this training that he earned the nickname "Richard Eager". In January, 1943, Captain Evans entered combat in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations, as a pilot in the 99th Bomb Group. Over the next two years, Captain Evans flew 54 missions in North Africa, Italy and other German-held territories in Europe, and one mission in Japan. He piloted various planes, most notably the Theresa Leta B-17E "Flying Fortress", which was "won" by General Montgomery in a bet and in which the famous Field Marshal was flown by Captain Evans on many occasions. Major Evans witnessed the end of the war in Okinawa, working alongside General LeMay.Richard married JoAnn Nelson in San Antonio, TX, in 1944. After WWII, Richard left active duty, joined the California Air National Guard, and began a career in life insurance, working with the Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company. However, at the start of the Korean War, Lt. Colonel Evans was recalled to active duty as a Deputy Director of Operations for the USAF Strategic Air Command (SAC). During the Cold War, he was promoted to Colonel and commanded the B-58 test squadron. Upon leaving active duty in 1959, Richard worked with North American Aircraft Company and later consulted on the development of the B-1 and C-54. Over the course of his military career, Colonel Evans piloted a range of planes including the B-17 "Flying Fortress", B-24 "Liberator", B-25 "Mitchell", B-29 "Superfortress", B-47 "Stratojet", B-52 "Stratofortress", and B-58 "Hustler".Richard, or "Dick" as he was lovingly called by friends and family, wrote poignant letters, clever poems and personal reflections all his life. With the encouragement of his children, Dick began writing down his boyhood memories and war stories in the last decades of his life. In a letter that is now included in the preface of this book, Dick described his intentions: "Conceived as the Twentieth Century is coming to an end, this book is written for interested and concerned young people, anxious to understand and reflect upon the kind of world they are inheriting. It is also for older folks: those who, though they may be fading, find joy and pride in recalling the young people they once were."Richard "Eager" Evans passed away in June, 2006, and was buried with full military honors in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA. He is survived by his daughter, Barbara, and his son, Donald.Colonel Evans was always grateful throughout his career to the ground-crew who diligently supported the pilots and their planes under often very difficult conditions. Thus the family is donating all book proceeds to endow The Colonel Richard Ernest Evans Memorial Fund, which provides essential education grants for Air Force families. Organized and distributed through the Air Force Aid Society (AFAS), endowments such as this provide thousands of college students with education support each year. The Colonel Richard Ernest Evans Memorial Fund has been established through book proceeds and the generous donations of family, friends and so many more who would like to find a way to give back to our brave Airmen and Guardians. Read More Read Less