World War II Honoree

Scott W. Crichton

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Watertown, South Dakota

HE WAS A NATIONAL GUARDSMAN WITH COMPANY 'B', 109TH ENGINEER REGIMENT OUT OF BROOKINGS, SOUTH DAKOTA. HE WAS A SERGEANT, AND RECEIVED HIS COMMISSION AS A 2ND LIEUTENANT WHEN THE UNIT WENT TO CAMP CLAIBORNE. HE WAS ASSIGNED TO COMPANY 'C' IN NORTHERN IRELAND ON APRIL 8, 1942. HE WAS PROMOTED TO 1ST LIEUTENANT. LATER WHILE IN NORTHERN IRELAND, HE TOOK PART IN THE ALGIERS LANDINGS ON NOVEMBER 8, 1942. HE ACCOMPANIED THE TROOPS OF THE 168TH INFANTRY ON NUMEROUS PATROLS IN TUNISIA. ON FEBRUARY 26, 1943, HE WAS LEADING A RECONNAISSANCE PATROL AND WAS FIRED UPON BY THE GERMANS. HE NARROWLY ESCAPED WITH HIS LIFE. HE WAS FORCED TO LAY MOTIONLESS IN A SLIT TRENCH FOR SIX HOURS UNTIL HE COULD ESCAPE. HE HAD ANOTHER CLOSE CALL AT HILL 609. 'S' PLATOON PREPARED A WADI CROSSING FOR THE TANKS TO CROSS OVER AT THE FOOT OF HILL 609. THE PLATOON WAS UNDER CONSTANT ARTILLERY FIRE DURING THIS TIME, AND ONE ARTILLERY ROUND IMPACTED ONLY A FEW FEET FROM HIM. AFTER THE FIGHTING IN TUNISIA ENDED, THE ENGINEERS CONDUCTED AN ENGINEER SCHOOL NEAR MATEUR, TUNISIA. ON OR ABOUT JUNE 5, 1943, THERE WAS A DEMONSTRATION ON DISARMING MINES. HE WAS CARRYING A GERMAN 'BUTTERFLY' BOMB WHEN IT EXPLODED.