World War II Honoree

John Reeves Crain

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Daisetta, Texas

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Fireman First Class. Inducted into the United States Navy June 11, 1940 at Houston, Texas, with recruit training at the U.S. Naval Training Station San Diego, California. Upon his graduation from boot camp and Fire Training, he was transferred to the USS Utah Battleship, BB-31 for duty as a Fireman, and based at Pearl Harbor, Hawaiian Islands. On Sunday Morning, December 7, 1941 the Emperor of Japan and his Naval Aviators launched their well-planned attack on the U.S. Fleet at Pearl Harbor and other military installations on Oahu. The Utah along with her shipmates lay moored on Ford Island was hit by two torpedoes, which caused serious flooding; she quickly rolled over and sank. Reported missing in action, lost at sea succeeding the attack. In remembrance of the brave, his name is permanently inscribed in the tablets of the missing, memorialized at Honolulu Memorial Location: Honolulu, Hawaii. This American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, for his ultimate sacrifice in defense of his country.