World War II Honoree

Buck Lindley Crawford

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

McAllen, Texas

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

ENTERED THE NAVY AT AGE 16 AND SERVED IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER ABOARD THE LIGHT CRUISER USS DENVER (CL-58). HIS SHIP FOUGHT THE BATTLE OF EMPRESS AUGUSTA BAY THE NIGHT OF NOVEMBER 1-2, 1943 AND FOUGHT AN ENEMY FORCE ATTEMPTING TO DISRUPT THE LANDINGS ON BOUGAINVILLE. HIS SHIP WAS HIT BY 3 8-INCH SHELLS BUT CONTINUED THE FIGHT. SHIP'S COMPANY WAS AWARDED THE NAVY UNIT COMMENDATION FOR OUTSTANDING HEROISM DURING THIS ACTION. ON NOVEMBER 13, 1943, WHILE UNDER HEAVY AIR ATTACK, HIS SHIP WAS HIT AND TAKEN OUT OF ACTION BY AN AERIAL TORPEDO, KILLING 20 OF HIS SHIPMATES. TOOK PART IN OPERATIONS TO INVADE THE MARIANA ISLANDS; BOMBARDED IWO JIMA ON JULY 4, 1944; AND SUPPORTED THE INVASION OF THE PALAU ISLANDS. FOUGHT IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS SUPPORTING THE LANDINGS ON LEYTE, OPERATIONS IN THE SURIGAO STRAIT, AT THE BATTLE FOR LEYTE GULF, THE MINDORO AND LINGAYEN GULF LANDINGS, AND OPERATIONS AT PALAWAN AND MINDANAO ISLANDS. AWARDED THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, WWII VICTORY MEDAL AND THE PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.