John Denver Crum, World War II CasualtyPorter County Data on World War II Casualties . . . .

John Denver Crum
Private First Class, 2nd Battalion, 2 Platoon, 22nd Regiment, US Marine Corps Reserve
Date of Birth: February 1, 1922
Date of Death: February 22, 1944
Burial: Chesterton Cemetery, Chesterton, Porter County, Indiana
Cause of Death: Killed in Action (Marshall Islands)
Awards: Purple Hearts, Asiatic-Pacific Medal
Hometown: Chesterton

Newspaper Notices:

John D. Crum of Chesterton Dies In So. Pacific

John D. Crum, 22, a member of the U. S. Marine Corps and son of Mrs. M. Whitecraft of Chesterton has been killed in action in the South Pacific, according to a message received by his mother Thursday from the War Department.

Young Crum was known among his friends as "John" and "Denver." He had been a member of the Marine Corps two years.
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Source: The Vidette-Messenger, Valparaiso, Porter County, Indiana; March 20, 1944; Volume 17, Page 1, Column 6


THE HOME FRONT

P.F.C. John Denver Crum, young marine, killed in action in the Marshall islands invasion, was awarded the prized decoration of the Purple Heart. According to a letter recently received by his mother, Mrs. Ray Whitecraft, of Chesterton, from the headquarters of the U. S. Marine Corps, Washington, D. C. The letter reads: "My dear Mrs. Whitecraft: I am directed by the commandant of the Marine Corps to inform you that you are entitled to the Purple Heart, and the enclosed certificate, which were posthumously awarded your son, the late Private First Class John D. Crum, U. S. M. C. Reserve, in the name of the President of the United States and by direction of the Secretary of the Navy. The Purple Heart is being forwarded to you under separate cover of this date. You are also entitled to the Asiatic-Pacific campaign metal [sic] for your son's service in the Asiatic-Pacific area. Sincerely yours, W. W. Orr, Colonel, U. S. Marine Corps."

In Robert Ripley's column of a few months ago appeared this strange bit of fact about our marine, the lage John Denver Crum, accompanied by his picture as shown above: "P. F. C. John D. Crum, Chesterton, Ind., was born the 2nd month of 1922, was in 2nd Bn., 2 Platoon, 22nd Marines -- and was killed in action the 22nd day of the 2nd month at the age of 22 years, 22 days while the Marines were taking 2 Marshall Islands!"
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Source: The Vidette-Messenger, Valparaiso, Porter County, Indiana; August 8, 1944; Volume 18, Page 2, Columns 2 and 3

 

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Source: Honolulu Star-Bulletin, Honolulu, Porter County, Hawaii; July 29, 1944; Volume 51, Volume 16184, Page 22, Columns 1 and 2.

Return to List of Porter County World War II Casualties

Information abstracted and transcribed by Steven R. Shook

 

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