World War II Honoree

Harold L. Crackel

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Clay City, Illinois

Honored By

Robert Medley Gatewood

SERVED AS AN ENLISTED MAN PRIOR TO DECEMBER 7, 1941. VOLUNTEERED FOR FLIGHT TRAINING IN MID-1943. UPON GRADUATION AS A RATED PILOT, PROMOTED TO FLIGHT OFFICER AND ENTERED ACTIVE SERVICE IN THAT CAPACITY ON SEPTEMBER 8, 1944. TRAINED AS A TWIN ENGINE TRANSPORT PILOT (MOS 1051). DEPARTED THE CONTINENTAL U.S. ON MARCH 9, 1945 BOUND FOR THE CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER OF OPERATIONS. ASSIGNED TO COMBAT SUPPORT MISSIONS WITH THE C-47. EQUIPPED 333RD TROOP CARRIER SQUADRON, 513TH TROOP CARRIER GROUP THROUGH THE CENTRAL BURMA AND CHINA OFFENSIVE CAMPAIGNS. MISSIONS INCLUDED EVACUATION OF WOUNDED TO INDIA. EARNED THE DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS, THE AIR MEDAL WITH OAK LEAF CLUSTER, AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 2 BRONZE BATTLE STARS AND THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY SEPARATED FROM THE SERVICE AS A FLIGHT OFFICER ON JANUARY 27, 1946 AT JEFFERSON BARRACKS, MISSOURI.