Graveside services with full military honors for Corporal Dudley Lewis Evans will be held at 11:00 a.m,, Saturday, April 23 at Greenville Cemetery, Greenville, MS. Arrangements are under the direction of Boone Funeral Home, Greenville.
Cpl. Evans was born on January 26, 1927 in Greenville, MS the son of James W. and Nora Evans. After high school Cpl. Evans joined the U. S. Army serving during the Korean War. On February 15, 1951 Cpl. Evans was reported Missing in Action after his unit was attacked in Korea. It was later established that he had become a Prisoner of War. In 1953 during a POW exchange between the U. S. and the Communist Forces, a repatriated American prisoner reported witnessing Cpl. Evans dying at the hands of a Chinese guard during a march to the Suan Bean POW Camp. The Army supported this finding and declared Cpl. Evans, aged 24, deceased effective March 31, 1951. In 1992 remains believed to be American servicemen were recovered from the Korean War and from the area Cpl. Evans was reported killed. Eventually after DNA comparisons were done, the Armed Forced Medical examiner was able to make a positive identification of Cpl. Evans on July 31, 2015.
In May 2006, Cpl. Evans was posthumously awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge for satisfactory performance of duty under hostile fire, the Army Good Conduct Medal for exemplary conduct, efficiency, and fidelity during period of service and the Purple Heart for wounds received as a result of hostile actions.
When Cpl. Evans was killed, he was survived by his parents James and Nora; brothers, Cliff and Bud; and sisters, Elsie and Jean. They have all since then died, except his brother Cliff Evans and wife Elva of Baton Rouge, LA. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.
The family would like to offer a special thanks to all those involved in bringing their loved one home, Sgt. 1st Class Darryl Harley, Jeanette Boyles, Paul Thurman and the team who found and returned his remains.
The family will receive visitors at Boone Funeral Home on Friday, April 22 from 3:00-5:00 p.m., or you may stop by anytime (8:00-5:00) on Friday, April 22 to pay your respects and/or sign the register book.