Military Records: Sgt. John Gregory Crooks, 1968, Winn Parish, LA.
Submitted by Greggory E. Davies, 120 Ted Price Lane, Winnfield, LA 71483
**********************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm
**********************************************


 


From: September 18, 1968 Winn Parish Enterprise News-American

Local Air Force Man Aids People of Vietnam, In His Off Hours

Sgt. John G. Crooks is helping the people of South Vietnam in two ways during
his tour of duty at Cam Rahn Bay, as an enlisted man in the U. S. Air Force
and as a friend to the backward people of the small Asian country.

Crooks, a resident of Winnfield and graduate of Winnfield Senior High School,
spends much of his spare time helping to educate the people and building barns
and facilities for livestock.  According to his wife, Diane McCarty Crooks,
he says it is frustrating, but he enjoys it.

The 22 year old son of Mrs. J. G. Crooks, John has been using his background
of four years in agriculture classes in Winnfield schools to aid the villagers
with their building.  His wife said his main problem with the work is the
ignorance of the people.

She related the story about how the Vietnamese have been throwing away their
rice stalks instead of feeding them to the undernourished pigs.  John and his
fellow workers from the armed forces, have been working to advance the
conditions of the people they are fighting for.

Mrs. Crooks said her husband has expressed great concern over the conditions
in which the people live.  They desperately need clothing and Mrs. Crooks has
sent all her old and unwanted clothes, plus collected some from friends and
relatives.

But more is needed, she said, so she is asking that anyone with clothing to
donate contact her at work or at home.  She has been mailing whatever clothes
she collected to her husband for distribution to the villagers.

Her husband has been in Vietnam for eight months and his tour of duty is set
to end four months from now.  He has been in the Air Force three years with
another six months left.

Before enlisting, he graduated from an automobile-diesel school in Nashville,
Tenn.

Mrs. Crooks also graduated from Winnfield Senior High and completed beauty
school in Bossier City while her husband was stationed in Shreveport.  She
said they will meet early next month in Hawaii, when he has leave.

Mrs. Crooks said her husband has appreciated the supplies sent to Vietnam by
organizations in Winnfield.  Articles like spray deodorant can't be bought at
Cam Rahn Bay and the men are glad to get the gifts from local residents.