World War II Honoree
World War II Veteran
Rawson M. Crothers
Branch of Service
U.S. Army
Hometown
Shirley, Massachusetts
Honored By
Charles B. Church, III
ENTERED FROM LITTLETON, MASSACHUSETTS IN 1943. TOOK BASIC TRAINING AT CAMP BLANDON NEAR JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA. SENT TO FORT MEADE, ENROUTE TO NORTH AFRICA. SHIPPED OUT TO NAPLES, ITALY AND SERVED WITH THE 88TH INFANTRY DIVISION, BLUE DEVILS. FOUGHT IN BATTLES AS A MORTAR/MACHINE GUN PLATOON LEADER FOR 22 MONTHS FROM NAPLES UP THE PO RIVER VALLEY TO THE NORTH INCLUDING THE BATTLE OF MONTE CASSINO. AWARDS INCLUDE THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL, THE PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION MEDAL, THE EUROPE-AFRICA-MIDDLE EAST CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AS A SERGEANT, RECEIVED AN HONORABLE DISCHARGE IN 1945, AFTER TURNING DOWN A BATTLE FIELD PROMOTION TO SECOND LIEUTENANT IN ORDER TO REMAIN WITH THE MEN IN HIS PLATOON IN BATTLE.