World War II Honoree
Killed in World War II
William G. Crawley
Branch of Service
U.S. Army
Hometown
Hamilton County, Tennessee
Honored By
Orville L. Kline
RANK: PRIVATE. INDUCTED INTO THE ARMY JUNE 23, 1943 AT FORT OGLETHORPE, GEORGIA. SERVED AS A MEMBER OF THE VAST ARMADA THAT PARTICIPATED IN THE INVASION OF GERMANY’S FORTRESS EUROPE, D-DAY TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 1944, CODE NAME: OPERATION OVERLORD. SERVED WITH THE 116TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 29TH INFANTRY ‘BLUE AND GRAY’ DIVISION ATTACHED TO THE U.S. 1ST ARMY. HE WENT ASHORE ON OMAHA BEACH, BATTLE OF NORMANDY WITH THE 1ST WAVE OF TROOPS AT 0630 HOURS. KILLED IN ACTION DURING THE INITIAL ASSAULT ON THE BEACHHEAD AND IS BURIED IN THE NORMANDY AMERICAN CEMETERY LOCATED AT COLLEVILLE-SUR-MER, FRANCE. DECORATIONS AND MEDALS. AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART. HIS REGIMENT WAS AWARDED A PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION FOR EXCEPTIONAL VALOR AND HEROISM IN ACTION AGAINST THE GERMAN ARMED FORCES ON OMAHA BEACH.