World War II Honoree

Graydon Crawford

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Renova, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Jon & Belind Crawford

Relationship

Son & Daughter-in-law

PEARL HARBOR SURVIVOR. HE WAS ON THE USS WHITNEY AD-4 WHEN JAPAN ATTACKED. SERVED ON THE USS LAMSON DD-367 IN THE FIJI ISLANDS. PARTICIPATED IN BATTLE AT LEYTE GULF, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. SERVED IN THE BATTLE STATION, STEERING AND ENGINE ROOM. KAMIKAZE FLEW PLANE INTO THE USS LAMSON AND DESTROYED THE STEAM STACKS, A BOILER EXPLODED AND KILLED SOME OF HIS SHIPMATES; HE ESCAPED INJURY. HAD TO ABANDON SHIP; LATER MADE REPAIRS TO THE USS LAMSON TO GET UNDERWAY. HE WAS DROPPED OFF IN SAIPAN WHERE HE HELPED TO BUILD ROADS.