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.
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List of
Porter County World War II Casualties
Information abstracted and transcribed by Steven R. Shook