World War II Honoree

Sam T. Crews

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Crowell, Texas

Honored By

Judy Crews Chaffee

Relationship

Daughter

ENTERED MILITARY SERVICE IN JUNE, 1941 AT CAMP WALLACE, TEXAS AS A 2ND LIEUTENANT. ARRIVED IN HAWAII OCTOBER OF 1941, ASSIGNED TO THE COAST ARTILLERY CORPS AT FORT KAMEHAMEHA ON THE ISLAND OF OAHU. ASSIGNED AS OFFICER OF THE DAY FOR A 24-HOUR PERIOD THAT BEGAN AT NOON SUNDAY, DECEMBER 7,1941. PROMOTED TO 1ST LIEUTENANT AND CONTINUED TO SERVE IN THE COAST ARTILLERY CORPS AFTER THE ATTACK. TRANSFERRED BACK TO THE MAINLAND IN LATE OCTOBER, 1942. LATER TRANSFERRED TO THE ARMY AIR CORPS AND BEGAN TRAINING TO BE A PILOT. BECAME A B-17 PILOT AND TOTALED 700 FLYING HOURS IN THE UNITED STATES AND THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS. STATIONED IN ENGLAND, FLEW IN BOMBING RAIDS OVER GERMANY NEAR THE CLOSE OF THE WAR.