Coweta County GaArchives News.....Community remembers a gritty, tough soldier May 29 2001 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Phil Tidwell ptidwell2@mail.newnanutilities.org February 9, 2004, 9:35 am The Times-Herald By W. WINSTON SKINNER Assistant News Editor William Franklin Crawford, who was buried at Oak Hill Cemetery after being killed in Korea in 1953, was remembered at Memorial Day ceremonies in Newnan on Monday morning. Commander John Skinner of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2667 said this year was the fifth that the VFW honored a specific veteran to recall the memory of all Cowetans who have died in military service. Local veteran Dick Stender gave an account of Crawford's life and his sister, Barbara Duncan, spoke about her loss. "Billy was my friend, my playmate and my brother. I still ache for him. Even after he's been gone all these years, the hurt is still there," Duncan said. Crawford's widow, Sarah Duffey Crawford Barnes, was also recognized during the ceremonies, and about a dozen other relatives of Crawford were present, including Duncan's grandson, U. S. Marine Thaddeus Moore. Ceremonies were held at the city park at Jackson Street and Temple Avenue. "He was a helluva guy -- gritty, tough, loved his country loved his family. His family loved him," Stender said of Crawford. His broad smile and his curly black hair are strong memories for family and friends almost half a century after the young man died halfway around the world. "He was a generous and kind person. He always tried to help others," Duncan said. Crawford was born in the autumn of 1930. "Billy's father worked around the Turin-Senoia area as a sharecropper," Stender said. The Crawford family eventually included 10 children. Billy Crawford "made the forests and fields his playground," Stender said. He and his father enjoyed fishing together. He attended Senoia Grammar School and Starr High School, but left school before graduating. He has always had difficulty reading. "Billy was dyslexic before we knew what dyslexia was," Stender said. About the time he quit school, his family moved to Newnan. His sister, Elsie Stubbs lived on Second Avenue in Newnan, and the Crawfords made their home with her. Her husband, George Stubbs, had been killed in the Battle of the Bulge in World War II. Crawford's brothers, James and L. R., had also served in World War II. "This family has paid the price for our freedom," Stender said. Billy Crawford went to work at Pike Transfer when the family moved to Newnan. He bought his first car -- a 1936 blue, two-door Ford coupe. Family members have memories of his arrival in the car. He was wearing blue jeans and a white T-shirt with a pack of cigarettes rolled up in the sleeve. "He was so proud of that '36 Ford," Stender said. "Uncle Billy always took time for us. He always did," his nephew, Jimmy Stubbs, told Stender. Billy Crawford taught his nieces and nephews to throw mule shoes - - there being mules but no horses around -- and how to make slingshots. In 1950, Billy Crawford decided to enlist in the Army, but he was rejected because he had perforated eardrums, the result of childhood ear problems. He turned his attention to work and to his courtship of Sarah Duffey, whom he married in August 1951 in Newnan. The following January, he got his draft notice. His brothers suggested Billy tell the draft board about his ear problems, but he refused. He was drafted and sent to Fort Riley, Kansas for infantryman training. While home on leave, he and Sarah took his nieces and nephews to Lake Raymond for a day of swimming. "I won't forget the last time I saw him enter that plane that took him away from us," Duncan said. Though Crawford was smiling, she said there was something about his face that made her believe he knew he would never return. She spoke of "the wide smile and the big wave" he gave his family before getting into the plane. He went to Japan for more advanced training. Crawford arrived in Korea on Nov. 1, 1952 where he was assigned to the 40th Division "in what is now North Korea," Stender said. Frequently he and his comrades were in heated battles with the Chinese Communist Army in a region known as the punchbowl. At Christmas, his family sent presents and sweets. A display of treasured mementos of Crawford's life -- displayed at the city park on Monday -- included a "thank you" letter he wrote for presents that Christmas. On Jan. 4, 1953, Crawford was killed. "Enemy mortar made a direct hit on a bunker in which he was taking shelter," Stender said. His body was brought back to Newnan and buried at Oak Hill Cemetery was full military honors. His wife was presented with a flag at his funeral, and another flag was ceremoniously folded and presented to his sister Monday. Duncan asked for a moment of silent prayer to remember "all the veterans who sought to save this country." She stated, "I know Billy is looking down on us today." Additional Comments: I have no memory of Uncle Luke Crawford as I was only six years old when he died; but, I have a very clear memory of his son Billy Crawford. Just before Billy went into the army, the Luke Crawford family visited my grandmother one Sunday afternoon while my Crawford cousins and families were all there. There were more Crawfords than I was acustomed to seeing in one place; the front porch was full of Crawford kin. I still can see Billy in my mind, he was dresssed in white tee shirt and jeans, with a pack of cigarettes tucked in the rolled shirt sleeve. My childhood heroes were my Crawford cousins Albert, Aubrey and Carl Junior; they were the major constellations in my childhood universe; I thought they hung the stars. On this day they were looking at Billy, like I looked at them. I figured he must be better than superman. I remember he was kind enough not to ignore me because I was a little kid and he included me in the conversation and asked me about school. That day ended all too soon and we did not see Billy again before he shipped out to Korea. While in combat the hill his unit was assigned to hold was shelled and Billy's dugout was hit. He and several other soldiers were killed. The coffin was closed at the funeral, the church was so crowded that my family drove to Oak Hill Cemetery and waited for the graveside service. My sister Kathy and I remained in the car because the crowd at the graveside service were large also. I remember hearing for the first time the clear sad sound of taps as they lowered Billy in the ground. It all made a big impression on a young boy and I never forgot that shining young man who sacrificed all for his country. Billy still defines what a hero is in my mind. Private First Class Crawford was a member of the 223rd Infantry Regiment, 40th Infantry Division. He was Killed in Action while fighting the enemy in North Korea on January 4, 1953. Private First Class Crawford was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously. Phil Tidwell This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/gafiles/ File size: 7.3 Kb