World War II Honoree

Warren Harding Crim

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Bristol, Tennessee

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Fireman Third Class. Inducted into the United States Navy July 10, 1940 at Nashville, Tennessee, with recruit training at the U.S. Naval Training Station Norfolk, Virginia. Upon his graduation from boot camp and Fire Training, he was transferred to the USS Oklahoma Battleship, BB-37 for duty as a Fireman, and based at Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii. 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 Oklahoma along with her shipmates lay moored on Ford Island came under attack and sustained three torpedo hits, and as she capsized six more torpedoes struck home. Reported missing in action or buried at sea succeeding the attack and the Battle-of-Pearl Harbor took his life. In remembrance of the brave, his name is permanently inscribed in the tablets of the missing, memorialized at Honolulu Memorial Location: Honolulu, Hawaii. In his Memory and Honor, a cenotaph memorial has been placed at the Garden of Memory Cemetery Manchester, Tennessee. This American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, for his ultimate sacrifice in defense of his country.