World War II Honoree

B. Hayden Crawford

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Tulsa, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

SERVED AS A MEMBER OF THE NAVY RESERVE OFFICER TRAINING CORPS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN FROM 1940 TO 1944. UPON GRADUATION, COMMISSIONED AN ENSIGN IN THE NAVY AND THEN CALLED TO ACTIVE DUTY. SERVED IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER AS TORPEDO AND GUNNERY OFFICER ABOARD THE SUBMARINE USS SPOT (SS-413). PARTICIPATED AS PART OF HUNTER-KILLER GROUPS AND INDEPENDENTLY IN THE YELLOW SEA, OFF SHANGHAI, CHINA, IN THE ELLIOTT ISLANDS, OFF THE KOREAN COAST, IN THE EAST CHINA SEA AND IN WATERS OFF HONSHU, JAPAN. IN MARCH 1945 DURING A PATROL IN THE EAST CHINA SEA, HIS BOAT ATTACKED A JAPANESE CONVOY AND SANK 1 SHIP AND DAMAGED ANOTHER DURING HEAVY WEATHER AND IN SHALLOW WATERS. WHILE SURFACED AND MAKING FOR DEEPER WATERS, HIS BOAT CAME UNDER ATTACK BY ONE OF THE CONVOY ESCORT SHIPS. HIS BOAT WAS FORCED TO MAN HER DECK GUNS AS ALL TORPEDOES HAD BEEN EXPENDED. DURING THE FIGHT, A HIT BY HIS 5-INCH DECK GUN KNOCKED OUT THE JAPANESE FORWARD GUN AND SAVED HIS BOAT FROM ALMOST CERTAIN DISASTER. HIS BOAT THEN SUBMERGED AND SURVIVED AN ENSUING DEPTH CHARGE ATTACK BEFORE ESCAPING. WOUNDED IN ACTION AND AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART. RECEIVED A COMMENDATION FOR HIS COURAGE UNDER FIRE AND FOR HIS LEADERSHIP WHICH SERVED AS AN INSPIRATION TO THE MEN PLACED IN HIS CHARGE. ON MARCH 31, 1945 HIS BOAT NARROWLY ESCAPED AN ATTACK BY A U.S. NAVY DESTROYER THAT MISTAKENLY ENGAGED HER. THAT 'FRIENDLY FIRE' INCIDENT COULD HAVE EASILY ENDED IN DISASTER. AT PEARL HARBOR, HAWAII WHEN HOSTILITIES IN THE PACIFIC ENDED AND 'V-J' DAY WAS DECLARED. CONTINUED IN RESERVE SERVICE AFTER THE WAR UNTIL HIS RETIREMENT WITH THE RANK OF REAR ADMIRAL.