Thomas Hardy Crews		[No Photo]
September 20th, 1924 - August 6th, 2009
From:	Alton, MO
Visitation:
Funeral:	2pm, Thursday, April 15, 2010 Memorial Service - Shiloh Cemetery Alton, MO
Burial:	Shiloh Cemetery - Alton, MO
Thomas Hardy Crews, age 84 of Alton, MO, was born September 20, 1924, and passed away August 6, 2009. Survivors include: his wife, Viola, of the home; 3 daughters, Diane Vickers and husband Maurice of Bunnelle, FL, Linda Piepers and husband David of St. Charles, MO, and Elizabeth Loper and husband Marvin of Edgewater, FL; 1 son, Mike Crews of House Springs, MO; 11 grandchildren; 7 great-grandchildren; and numerous other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Eva (Ledbetter) Crews. Hardy was drafted November 1st, 1943, and served in the Army during WW2 for 3 years, 11 months, and 8 days. Basic training was at Starke, FL, and from there he was sent to Fort Benning, GA, to the paratrooper’s “Panther” division. On his 2nd jump his chute tangled and he broke his leg. Upon recovery he was sent to Ft. Meade, MD. He was shipped over seas on the Queen Mary, where he landed at Rickland, Germany, where he joined the Third Armored Division, Company 136. He was transferred to Armored Infantry, S.V. Bty. 39th FABN, and served at Camp Roosevelt, France. While on guard duty, he spotted an enemy soldier just before being hit with machine gun fire, where he was hit in the left hand and his ammunition belt was shot off of his rifle. Three weeks before the war ended he was at the Battle of the Bulge, where he was shot in the leg. He was reported “Missing In Action”, but he had been sent to a field hospital where they lost track of him and was reported “MIA” for the second time. Fifty years later he was awarded the bronze double cluster star and 2 purple hearts, 10 medals and ribbons, and a cortavair braid from France. Gov. Robert Graham helped him to receive his medals, and he was given a full retreat with 700 Army and National Guardsmen in attendance. Hardy was presented his medals at St. Augustine, FL, by a 3 star General. His words at receiving his medals was “I was just being a soldier and following orders”. In order to be discharged, he had to re-enlist, and was sent back to France. A memorial service will be held at 2pm, April 15, 2010, at the Shiloh Cemetery in Alton, MO. Arrangements are under the direction of the Clary Funeral Home in Alton, MO.
Back to This Obituary   |   Back to List of Obituaries