Samuel W. Crowder

“The Navy Department deeply regrets to inform you that your son, Samuel Warwick Crowder, Fireman First Class, U.S. Navy is missing following action in the performance of his duty, and in the service of his country....”

World War II has been over for 76 years yet we are experiencing a singular wonder this year as we lay to rest the body of Samuel W. Crowder. He died aboard the USS Oklahoma, in the attack on Pearl Harbor, along with 429 other sailors and marines.

The loss was devastating for his parents, Charlotte Sullivan Cannon and William Maddock Crowder (Sudie) and his siblings, William, Allen, Darrell, and Elizabeth Crowder. His sister Dorothy preceded him in death. The announcement of his passing came to the family in the form of a Western Union telegram that they have kept in a book of memories that has passed down to his surviving nieces.

Initially, Samuel was buried as an “unknown” in a mass grave. Decades later his parents and siblings are all long gone, but he and his story were never forgotten. The remains of 388 sailors and marines were exhumed in 2015 for DNA analysis. Family members attended several of the informational meetings, held across the country, for those whose relatives lost in wartime were never returned. The Crowder family submitted their DNA in hopes of finding a match.

This precipitated a phone call from the Navy to the oldest surviving family member, indicating they had a match. The DNA match was found in Samuel’s 8 bones. His remains will be returned to his hometown, Louisville. Samuel is survived by his nieces and nephews;

Sharon Crowder Johnson(John)- Lexington ,Ky, Carolyn Crowder Wright (David)Lexington, Ky, Dotty Hay Hartman(Del)-Snohomish, Wa, Robert Hay Sr(Barbara) Grapeview, Wa, Pat Crowder Kern (Bud)Roseburg , Or, Fred Russell Crowder(Barbara)-Tigard, Or, William Allen Crowder-Aberdeen, Wa, John Darrell Crowder-Seattle, Wa, Ronald Dean Crowder(Deborah)-Puyallup , Wa, Deborah Lynn Crowder-Everett, Wa, Darleen Jean Crowder.

Samuel’s remains should arrive on Thursday, December 7th. Visitation will be held at Arch L. Heady at Resthaven Funeral Home, 4400 Bardstown Road, on Friday, December 8th from 5-8 pm and Saturday from 11am-1pm. His funeral service, with full military honors, will be held Saturday, December 9th at 1 pm. He will be buried in Resthaven Memorial Park, next to his mother.

Finally, closure for a family who has waited for 76 years for a word on their Uncle Sam ...