Private William Henry Crawford Jr. was born on October 28, 1908 in Brewton, Alabama, the son of William Henry Sr. (1865-1950) and Elizabeth "Lizzie" Gertrude Mayo (1870-1958). His parents were married in Brewton in 1889 and supported his family his whole life as a farmer outside Brewton.
William Jr. would finish three years of high school before going to work as a meat cutter. When he reached manhood, he married Ella Catherine Jordan on April 21, 1930 in Brewton. He would enlist in the US Army on April 7, 1944 and was sent to the recruitment depot at Ft. McPherson Atlanta, Georgia. Finally, he was assigned to an infantry regiment and sent to the European theater. And by this time, he and Catherine were living at 255 East Intendencia Street with their children, Joseph Carl and Patricia Ann.
However, there is no information as to what unit he was assigned to or what part of the war front he was in. The article only said a "major engagement" in the European theater and that he was killed in action on December 25, 1944. This could only mean the "Battle of the Bulge," which was being fought at that particular time. But perhaps family members could provide information at a later date.
Regardless, his remains were transferred from a military cemetery in Europe and brought home per the request of his family and reburied in Barrancas Cemetery on June 4, 1948.
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