World War II Honoree

Carlton R. Crothers

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Shirley, Massachusetts

Honored By

Charles B. Church III

ENTERED THE UNITED STATES ARMY FROM LITTLETON, MASSACHUSETTS IN 1943. BASIC TRAINING AT CAMP DAVIS, NORTH CAROLINA. HAD TRAINING IN ANTI-AIRCRAFT GUNNERY WITH 40MM CANNONS AND 50 CALIBER MACHINE GUNS AT FORT FISHER, NORTH CAROLINA. HAD TOWED-TARGET, LIVE-FIRE PRACTICE WITH ANTI-AIRCRAFT GUNS. SERVED WITH BATTERY B OF THE 776TH ANTI-AIRCRAFT AUTOMATIC WEAPONS BATTALION. ALSO SERVED AT BLACKSTONE ARMY AIRFIELD AT FORT PICKETT, VIRGINIA GUARDING THE BASE. SHIPPED OUT TO SCOTLAND AND PROCEEDED TO CARDIFF, WALES TO PICK UP WEAPONS. SETUP AND GUARDED LANDING CRAFT AND TROOPS IN THAT AREA. IN NORMANDY, FRANCE, UNIT GUARDED AIR STRIP USED BY P38 OBSERVATION PLANES AND RECONNAISSANCE AIRCRAFT. ALSO PROVIDED ANTI-AIRCRAFT PROTECTION ON THE BRITTANY PENINSULA NEAR A GERMAN SUBMARINE BASE. AFTER LIBERATION, WENT TO PARIS TO GUARD AN AIR STRIP OUTSIDE THE CITY. GUARDED ANOTHER AIR STRIP OUTSIDE VERDONE DURING THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE. ALSO SERVED IN ALSACE AND LORRAINE. MOVED ON INTO GERMANY; MUNICH AND BAVARIA. AWARDED THE WORLD WAR II VICTORY MEDAL, THE EUROPE-AFRICA-MIDDLE EAST CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 6 BATTLE STARS, AND THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL. AS A TECH 5 CORPORAL, RECEIVED AN HONORABLE DISCHARGE IN 1945.