Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Staff Sergeant

Unit:

Company F, 253rd Infantry Regiment, 63rd Infantry Division "Blood and Fire", U.S. Army

Awarded on:

August 16th, 1945

"For gallantry in action while serving with Company F, 2d Battalion, 253d Infantry Regiment, 63d Infantry Division, in action on 6 April 1945, in the vicinity of Buchhof, Germany. After the platoon leader and the other noncommissioned officers had been sounded, Sergeant Crews immediately took command of the disorganized platoon, appointing subordinate leaders, and reorganizing the platoon. Sergeant Crews established a defense which repelled repeated attacks by a numerically superior enemy which had forced the withdrawal of the rest of the company over a period of six hours. This gallant action and outstanding leadership of Sergeant Crews reflect the highest credit upon himself and upon the Armed Forces of the United States."

Headquarters, 63d Infantry Division, General Orders No. 537

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Staff Sergeant

Unit:

Company F, 253rd Infantry Regiment, 63rd Infantry Division "Blood and Fire", U.S. Army

Awarded on:

July 20th, 1948

"He displayed conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty on 8 April 1945 near Lobenbacherhof, Germany. As his company was advancing toward the village under heavy fire, an enemy machinegun and automatic rifle with rifle support opened upon it from a hill on the right flank. Seeing that his platoon leader had been wounded by their fire, S/Sgt. Crews, acting on his own initiative, rushed the strongpoint with 2 men of his platoon. Despite the fact that 1 of these men was killed and the other was badly wounded, he continued his advance up the hill in the face of terrific enemy fire. Storming the well-dug-in position single-handedly, he killed 2 of the crew of the machinegun at pointblank range with his M 1 rifle and wrested the gun from the hands of the German whom he had already wounded. He then with his rifle charged the strongly emplaced automatic rifle. Although badly wounded in the thigh by crossfire from the remaining enemy, he kept on and silenced the entire position with his accurate and deadly rifle fire. His actions so unnerved the remaining enemy soldiers that 7 of them surrendered and the others fled. His heroism caused the enemy to concentrate on him and permitted the company to move forward into the village."

Department of the Army, General Orders No. 51

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)