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MEMORIAL ARTICLE
Published Assembly May '90
Benjamin Crabbs Evans Jr. No. 15980 Class of 1946
Died 23 September 1987 in Middleburg, Virginia, aged 63 years.
Interment: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia
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Benjamin C Evans, Jr. was born 14 March l924 in
Crawfordsville. Indiana. He graduated from Crawfordsville High
School. While in high school, Ben attended the Culver Military
Academy Summer Camp and was a member of the famed Black Horse
Troop. His final summer, he was selected as troop commander.
Following graduation from high school. Ben attended Wabash College
for a year. His summers at Culver undoubtedly influenced Ben's
decision to go to West Point, and so he joined the Class of 1946
on the banks of the Hudson on 1 July 1943.
His roommates recall Ben as a model cadet, receiving
few demerits. Academically, he was brilliant in the non-math
areas, but something of a "goat" in math. He was a
leading member of the riding team and an outstanding jumper.
He had a beautiful tenor voice and was a most important member
of both the Glee Club and the Cadet Chapel Choir. His classmates
in the 1st Regiment well remember the serenades by Ben, Tom Campbell
and Henry Bolz around the Clock Tower on those warm spring and
summer evenings. As a cadet, Ben demonstrated the characteristics
that were to distinguish him throughout his career. He was easy
going and calm and unflappable under stress. He was such a nice
guy that sometimes his roommates picked on him, as roommates
will. On one occasion, Ben was out of the room just a few minutes
before an expected room inspection. So, his two roommates braced
themselves against the door to hold Ben in the hallway, expecting
Ben to panic when he couldn't budge the door. Across the hall
lived Hank Foldberg, All American end on the Army team. Ben enlisted
his aid. His roommate can to this day hear Hank say. "Mr.
Evans, please stand out of the way!" With a rush, Hank took
out the top of the door; and Ben calmly entered the room leaving
his roommate, who was room orderly, to explain to the Tac how
the door got smashed.
Going into the Infantry after graduation, Ben went
to Japan after the Basic Course at Fort Benning, Georgia. After
a year as company commander and battalion level staff he was
selected as aide de camp to Brigadier General Eugene L. Harrison
(USMA '23), the Chief of Staff, I Corps. It was during this assignment
that he met Jan King, the general's step- daughter. He and Jan
were married in 1952. Ben always said that he married into the
Army. Jan had attended kindergarten and the first three grades
at West Point. Her lather was USMA '28 and she had a brother
and two uncles who were graduates. From Japan, Ben went to Washington,
DC, where he was aide de camp to the commanding general, Military
District of Washington and White House military aide. He again
traveled to Japan where he became chief, Plans and Policy, Psychological
Warfare, for Eighth Army (Japan). This was followed by an assignment
as Chief, Political Intelligence, Eighth Army (Korea). At that
time, there was an offer broadcast to North Korea of $250.000
for any pilot who would fly a MIG into UN hands. This was Ben's
brainchild. He was thoroughly intrigued by intelligence work
and decided that it was the field he wanted to pursue. He was
selected to attend Columbia University where he received his
master's in public administration with a concentration in foreign
affairs. In 1956, Ben came out on the "outstanding list"
for early promotion to major. By this time however, he had made
up his mind that he wanted to spend all his time in intelligence
work, an option not available to him on active duty. So in 1957,
Ben resigned his commission to join the Central Intelligence
Agency. He hoped that through this avenue he could prevent wars
so others would not have to fight them.
Ben's first five years with the Agency were spent
in staff and line positions including two years in Cuba where
he helped close the embassy. His specialties were political and
paramilitary operations. This was followed by an assignment as
deputy director and then director of an annual multi-million
dollar program with resident managers and programs in several
foreign countries.
In 1981, Ben retired from the Agency having completed
twelve consecutive years as executive secretary to the director
and deputy director, Central Intelligence Agency, as well as
executive secretary, Central Intelligence Agency. The length
of time Ben spent in this key position is remarkable. He provided
expert continuity as Schlesinger replaced Helms as director,
then as Colby replaced Schlesinger, Bush-Colby and Turner-Bush.
He was there for the first three months of Casey's tenure. Richard
Helms said of Ben, "He always had his eye on the ball."
To say that Ben's position was critical is an understatement.
In addition to acting as chief of staff for the director and
deputy director, Ben carried the chief administrative responsibility
for CIA's interaction with the White House, Cabinet and other
departments and agencies. His position called for skill, experience,
judgment, diplomacy, firmness and discretion. These were all
characteristics that Ben had in abundance. He garnered immense
respect from his superiors, peers and subordinates. The chances
for errors with grievous consequences were very real, but Ben
never faltered. His calmness under pressure was never more of
an asset than in his position at the Agency. That he served six
successive directors and deputies under four administrations
is ample testimony to his effectiveness. When Ben retired in
May 1981, the Director of Central Intelligence presented him
with the CIA's highest award for service, the Distinguished Intelligence
Medal.
Ben was the quintessential family man. The three
most important women in his life were his beloved wife, Jan and
their two daughters, Karla and Louise. All their vacations were
family vacations with the two girls. At the CIA, his secretary
was always instructed that if either of his two daughters called
he was to be interrupted. Ben was happiest to he on his farm
in Middleburg, Virginia, with his wife and daughters. He was
content to be alone with his "three gals." Ben's enjoyment
of the country and nature at his farm represented the culmination
of a lifelong dream. When he applied to Wabash College in 1942,
before entering West Point, he wrote, "The fact that I was
surely born with an ardent love for the out-of-doors and for
animals has been a means for personal satisfaction. This increasing
love of the out-of-doors is responsible for a great part of the
happiness in my life. I regularly feel the need of it. I find
it both stimulating and soothing." That he was able to be
in the country with his loving family after his retirement was
greatly satisfying to Ben.
Those who knew Ben appreciated his terrific sense
of humor. In December 1986, one month before his illness, Ben
was dressed in "black tie" en route to Washington to
meet Jan to go to the Symphony Ball. Knowing he wouldn't get
dinner until very late, he stopped at a McDonald's fast food
outlet on the way. Another patron, an attractive woman, was overwhelmed
by this handsome gentleman all dressed up at McDonald's and came
over to tell him how elegant he looked, With a twinkle in his
eye, Ben replied in a friendly but serious manner "I always
dress for dinner."
In October 1986, Ben discovered that his liver
function tests were elevated during a routine checkup. The doctor
didn't know why, but Ben restricted his diet and was relieved
when there was am improvement in December. In January of 1987,
Ben became jaundiced and follow-up examinations showed a malignant
tumor. An operation in February disclosed additional cancer of
the pancreas for which there was no operation nor treatment that
would save his life. Ben died early in the morning of 23 September
1987 at home with his beloved family. Services for Ben were held
at the Washington Cathedral with his classmates serving as honorary
pallbearers. On Ben's grave at Arlington is inscribed his credo
"Duty, Honor, Family, Country"'
Each person who contributed input to this aside
had one common phrase with which they described Ben Evans. "He
was a true gentle man." After that universal description,
his friends and family remembered Ben in many ways. He was completely
honest in all his dealings. He was modest and unassuming, never
envying anyone. Ben was quietly and pleasantly his own man. He
had no big ego; he was always a real team player. When needed,
he could be firm and a great leader. No one disliked him. He
was a great conciliator. He was everything that can be described
in a genuinely good human being.
As Benjamin C. Evans, Jr. joins "The Long
Gray Line" his family and classmates can remember that he
was a wonderful, concerned and caring husband, father and friend.
We will miss him very much.
'46 Memorial Article Project and his wife, Jan
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