Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Sergeant

Unit:

Company K, 275th Infantry Regiment, 70th Infantry Division "Trailblazers", U.S. Army

Awarded on:

August 3rd, 1945

39 468 456, Sergeant, Infantry, Company K, 275th Infantry Regiment, for extraordinary heroism in action on 22-23 February 1945, in the Pfaffenwald Forest, France. During an attack, his company was pinned down by a heavy enemy artillery barrage and small arms fire. When two approaching enemy tanks seriously threatened the company's right flank, Sergeant Crain, under direct enemy fire, moved to a vantage point from which he fearlessly fired two well placed bazooka shells and forced the tanks to withdraw. On the following day, when his company was harassed by sniper fire, he heroically exposed himself to observe enemy fire and personally eliminated eleven snipers. When he had almost completely wiped out the harassing element, Sergeant Crain was mortally wounded by the fire of one of the few survivors of his heroic attack. Next of kin: Mr. Richard M Crain (Father), Box 213, Salmon, Idaho.

Awarded posthumously.
Headquarters, Seventh U.S. Army, General Orders No. 362 (August 3, 1945).