253rd Infantry Regiment- Page 3
The Medal of Honor is the highest honor the United States can bestow
on members of its armed forces. It is only presented by the President and
is awarded in the name of the Congress of the United States. It is
awarded " For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life,
above and beyond the call of duty, in action involving actual conflict with
an opposing armed force".
Medal of Honor recipient S/Sgt John R. Crews, F Company, 253rd
Infantry Regiment, 63rd Infantry Division.
Place and Date: Near Lobenbacherhof, Germany, 8 April 1945.
Entered Service: Bowlegs, Oklahoma
Birthplace: Golden, Oklahoma
Citation: He displayed conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk
of his life above and beyond the call of duty on 8 April 1945 near
Lobenbacherhof, Germany. As his company was advancing toward the
village under heavy fire, an enemy machine gun and automatic rifle with
rifle support opened fire upon it from a hill on the right flank. Seeing that
his platoon leader had been wounded by their fire, Sergeant Crews,
acting on his own initiative, rushed the strongpoint with two men of his
platoon. Despite the fact that one of these men was killed and the other
badly wounded, he continued his advance up the hill in the face of terrific
enemy fire. Storming the well-dug-in position single-handedly, he killed
two of the crew of the machine gun at point blank range with his M-l rifle
and wrested the gun from the hands of the German whom he had already
wounded. He then charged the strongly emplaced automatic rifle.
Although badly wounded in the thigh by crossfire from the remaining
enemy, he kept on and silenced the entire position with his accurate and
deadly rifle fire. His actions so unnerved the remaining enemy soldiers that
seven of them surrendered and the others fled. His heroism caused the
enemy to concentrate on him and permitted the company to move
forward into the village. (Webmaster's note: S/Sgt Crews passed away
on 25 September 1999)
Go to 253d Infantry- Page 4 (DSC Awards)
on members of its armed forces. It is only presented by the President and
is awarded in the name of the Congress of the United States. It is
awarded " For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life,
above and beyond the call of duty, in action involving actual conflict with
an opposing armed force".
Medal of Honor recipient S/Sgt John R. Crews, F Company, 253rd
Infantry Regiment, 63rd Infantry Division.
Place and Date: Near Lobenbacherhof, Germany, 8 April 1945.
Entered Service: Bowlegs, Oklahoma
Birthplace: Golden, Oklahoma
Citation: He displayed conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk
of his life above and beyond the call of duty on 8 April 1945 near
Lobenbacherhof, Germany. As his company was advancing toward the
village under heavy fire, an enemy machine gun and automatic rifle with
rifle support opened fire upon it from a hill on the right flank. Seeing that
his platoon leader had been wounded by their fire, Sergeant Crews,
acting on his own initiative, rushed the strongpoint with two men of his
platoon. Despite the fact that one of these men was killed and the other
badly wounded, he continued his advance up the hill in the face of terrific
enemy fire. Storming the well-dug-in position single-handedly, he killed
two of the crew of the machine gun at point blank range with his M-l rifle
and wrested the gun from the hands of the German whom he had already
wounded. He then charged the strongly emplaced automatic rifle.
Although badly wounded in the thigh by crossfire from the remaining
enemy, he kept on and silenced the entire position with his accurate and
deadly rifle fire. His actions so unnerved the remaining enemy soldiers that
seven of them surrendered and the others fled. His heroism caused the
enemy to concentrate on him and permitted the company to move
forward into the village. (Webmaster's note: S/Sgt Crews passed away
on 25 September 1999)
Go to 253d Infantry- Page 4 (DSC Awards)
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| Article submitted by Mrs Dolores Milhous, daughter of Sgt John Crews |