Cadet Command, Fort Knox commander receives surprise Order of Saint Maurice infantry medal

By Eric PilgrimOctober 21, 2020

Cadet Command, Fort Knox commander receives surprise Order of Saint Maurice infantry medal
Maj. Gen. John Evans Jr., commanding general of U.S. Army Cadet Command and Fort Knox, receives an Order of Saint Maurice medal shortly before attending a video-teleconferenced energy award ceremony at Fort Knox’s Garrison Headquarters Oct. 21, 2020. (Photo Credit: Eric Pilgrim, Fort Knox News) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT KNOX, Ky. — Little did U.S. Army Cadet Command and Fort Knox Commander Maj. Gen. John Evans Jr. know that when he showed up at Garrison Headquarters Oct. 21 for a virtual award ceremony honoring his Directorate of Public Works team that he too would be receiving an award.

Shortly before the start of the video-teleconferenced Department of Army energy award ceremony, Mike Pesko from the National Infantry Association walked into the room wearing his distinctive Order of Saint Maurice medal with another one in his hand.

Cadet Command, Fort Knox commander receives surprise Order of Saint Maurice infantry medal
Mike Pesko, from the National Infantry Association, reads the infantry award citation to Evans and others, honoring Evans for contributions to the infantry community at Fort Knox. (Photo Credit: Eric Pilgrim, Fort Knox News) VIEW ORIGINAL

Evans looked surprised when Pesko then approached him and showed him the citation, with Evans’ name on it.

“Appearing before a most arduous and discriminatory committee of tried and proven Army Infantrymen and Infantry Patriots, be it known that John R. Evans, Jr was tested and found worthy of special recognition for outstanding contributions to the Army Infantry community and is hereby inducted into the Honorable order of Saint Maurice …” said Pesko, reading from the citation.

Evans, who served in the aviation branch, said he was humbled to receive the honor.