LTC (Ret) Letcher Crawford

Funeral Services will be held 11:00 am Monday, June 4th in Edgewood Hall at Striffler-Hamby Mortuary Columbus, with Reverend Charles R. Hasty, Jr. officiating. Interment will follow in Parkhill Cemetery. A reception will follow the interment service in the Mill Room at Striffler-Hamby.

The family will receive friends on Sunday June 3rd from 4:00 until 6:00 pm in Edgewood Hall.at Striffler-Hamby.

LTC Crawford was born January 4, 1919 in Savannah, Georgia the son of Allen Crawford and Nita Letcher Crawford. He was preceded in death by his wife Oneita Moore Crawford. The couple was married for over 57 years. He graduated Savannah High School, two years attendance at the University of North Carolina and remaining two years at the Citadel, Charleston, South Carolina.

He was a dedicated and loyal military officer, husband, and father. He retired from the U.S. Army in 1963. LTC Crawford is in the U.S. OCS Hall of Fame, Infantry Museum at Fort Benning, Georgia and National WWII Memorial in Washington, D.C.

LTC Crawford served his first tour as an Infantry officer Instructor teaching leadership subjects, map reading and rifle marksmanship to Quartermaster, Signal and Ordnance units stationed at Fort Screven, Ga. He served as a Garrison Company Commander of Headquarter and Headquarters Company at Fort Benning, Ga. LTC Crawford served as a company commander in the 325th Infantry Glider Unit and later as company commander in the 3rd Infantry Division.

LTC Crawford served in World War II with the 442nd Infantry Regimental Combat Team. The 442nd (Go For Broke) Infantry retains the distinction of being the most decorated unit in WWII for its size receiving 21 Congrssional Medals of Honor and 8 Presidential Unit Citations. LTC Crawford fought with 442nd throughout Italy as a Heavy Weapons Platoon Leader and later as Commander, Heavy Weapons Company M. His next assignment overseas was with the Third Infantry Division as Battalion S4 in the 7th Infantry Regiment throughout Korea. After seeing action with both units overseas for three and a half years, LTC Crawford was assigned as Commander, 2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division in Hawaii. He also served as the G3 Air, Headquarters 25th Infantry Division, Fort DeRussy, Hawaii.

LTC Crawford's last assignment was served with the Ranger Department, Fort Benning, GA, where he served as Chief of the Patrolling Committee. He retired March 31, 1963 following twenty-one years of distinguished military service fighting in World War II and the Korean Conflict.

His awards include unit armed forces decorations, campaign and service medals including the Soldiers Medlal, the highest peacetime award; the Bronze Star Medal with Valor Device including two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Ranger Tab, Army Commendation Medal with Medal Pendant; Good Conduct Medal, American Defense Medal, American Campaign Medal; European - African Middle Eastern Medal with one Battle Star; World War II Victory Medal; Army of Occupation Medal; National Defense Medal; the Korean Service Medal with four Battle Stars; Armed Forces Reserve Medal with X Device twice awarded for twenty-one years service.

Unit awards include the Army Presidential Unit Citation with two Oak Leaf Clusters awarded two times and the Republic of Korea Unit Citation.

Survivors include his children, Melissia Crawford Payton (Terry) of Dacula, Merrimoore Crawford McDonald (Bradley) of Pine Mountain, Ga., Letcher Crawford, Jr. of Warner Robins and Thomas Allen Crawford (Lisa) of Warner Robins; all seven grandchildren referred to their grandfather as "PopPop" they include Lyndsey McDonald Barnhardt (Andrew), Lauren McDonald Hightower (Brandon), Caleb Crawford, Camryn Crawford, Conner Crawford, Letcher Crawford III, and Kyndal Crawford.

LTC (Ret) Crawford's hobbies include golf (hole on one), flying (solo) fishing, bowling, boating, and puzzle solving.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project.

Pallbearers will be Russ Pearson, Scott Pearson, Brent Parker, Ron Parker, Timmy Butterfield, Mickey Mann, David Adkins, and Tracey Eubanks.