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MSU graduate Evans dies in Iraq
Kristen Sims
Issue date: 1/19/07 Section: News
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The Hollandale native, one of four soldiers killed, drowned when passengers from the U.S. Marine Corps CH-46 helicopter were evacuated on a lake in western Al Anbar Province. There were 12 survivors, a press release from the U.S. Department of Defense said.
Family and friends gathered in the Simmons High School Gym in Hollandale on Dec. 9 for a memorial service to a man described by his brother as a "fun-loving guy who just enjoyed life and enjoyed people."
Among those at the memorial were Evans' wife Perneatha Evans and the couple's 13-month-old son, Kermit Jr., of Las Vegas, and Evans' parents, Charles and Margaret Evans of Hollandale.
Lt. Col. Steve Woods presented the Evans family with the Bronze Star as part of the service. Evans Sr. was head of the bomb squad for the 27th Civil Engineer Squadron, Cannon Air Force Base, N.M., and was deployed with the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing, Balad Air Base, Iraq, while on his second tour in Iraq.
Kervin Evans said his brother joined the Air Force after graduating from MSU in 2000 with a degree in chemical engineering.
"He was coming up to graduation and looking for a job. He thought he would find fulfillment in the military," Kervin Evans said.
Being in the Air Force was always a dream of Kermit Sr.'s, his brother continued.
"He believed that everyone should pursue their dreams, and he would encourage everyone he encountered to pursue those dreams. He also believed that despite where you began life, you could always end life in a better place, but you must always find a way to give back, which was something he did as often as possible," Kervin said.
Evans' son is a great deal like his father, Kervin said. Kermit Jr. looks like his father and has the same "energy and fearlessness."
Kervin said sometimes he sees the 13-month-old balancing on the seat of his tricycle, and it reminds him of when Kermit Sr. would do the same things, balancing and doing tricks off the back of his tricycle.
Viewing Comments 1 - 5 of 5
Shardendu Singh
posted 1/19/07 @ 12:00 AM CST
This is greatly difficult time, the service and sacrifice done by Evan is unparallel. Be glad but sorry!!. He added an unforgettable chapter in MSU history. (Continued…)
John Summerlot
posted 1/19/07 @ 7:27 AM CST
Kermit was also an RA at Suttle Hall back when it wasn't a popular place to be an RA.
Myesha Davis
posted 1/21/07 @ 2:10 PM CST
Kermit and I go wayyyyy back. He was a great person and friend to me. I can only imagine the love that he had for his wife, Perneatha and his son. He left this world doing something that he believed in and he was prepared for his homegoing. (Continued…)
April Martin
posted 3/15/07 @ 7:36 AM CST
I'm just finding out through my MSU Alumni publication about Kermit. I am so devastated. Kermit and I came into MSU together starting with the IMAGE Summer Bridge program. (Continued…)
Chisa Talley
posted 5/21/08 @ 7:50 PM CST
I knew Kermit when he was a manager at Radioshack in Columbus, MS. I was working across the hall at Kirkland's. He was a very good friend of mine. He always had a smile on his face. (Continued…)
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