World War II Honoree

Thomas Floyd Crittenden

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Kenbridge, Virginia

Honored By

Robert N. Crittenden

Relationship

Son

VOLUNTARILY ENTERED THE SERVICE IN MARCH 1943 AS A LIEUTENANT AND REPORTED TO FORT EUSTIS, VIRGINIA FOR TRAINING IN THE COAST ARTILLERY. WAS LATER ASSIGNED FOR ADDITIONAL TRAINING TO CAMP DAVIS/FORT FISHER, NORTH CAROLINA IN THE ANTI-AIRCRAFT ARTILLERY. DEPLOYED OVERSEAS IN NOVEMBER 1943 FROM FORT MEADE, MARYLAND. ARRIVED IN AFRICA IN DECEMBER 1943. LEFT AFRICA FOR ITALY IN EARLY MARCH 1944. IN THE ITALIAN CAMPAIGN, SERVED IN 688TH ANTI AIRCRAFT ARTILLERY, MACHINE GUN BATTERY. PARTICIPATED IN THE LIRI VALLEY OFFENSIVE. ARRIVED IN ROME WITH THE INITIAL FORCES. FROM ROME, MOVED NORTH WITH HIS UNIT TO PISA. IN DECEMBER OF 1944, HE CROSSED THE MEDITERRANEAN TO SOUTHERN FRANCE. AT THIS TIME HE WAS PROMOTED TO CAPTAIN IN THE 46TH FIELD ARTILLERY GROUP. SERVED IN THE FIELD ARTILLERY AS AN ARTILLERY FORWARD OBSERVER PERFORMING OBSERVATION FROM L-19 LIGHT AIRCRAFT. AWARDED THE AIR MEDAL FOR THIS ROLE. HIS UNIT MOVED NORTH THROUGH FRANCE AND EAST INTO GERMANY, THROUGH THE SIEGFRIED LINE, ACROSS THE RHINE RIVER, THROUGH THE BLACK FOREST AND INTO BAVARIA, ARRIVING IN AUSTRIA IN MAY 1945. AFTER THE CLOSE OF THE WAR AND TIME WITH THE OCCUPATION FORCES HE RETURNED HOME TO RICHMOND, VIRGINIA.