Lieutenant Crawford was a well-liked man. He grew up in a small town on the southern tip of Indiana, Owensville.
His friends called him ambitious, quiet, and well rounded. He didn't really show off, but when there was a task to complete, Crawford was the man!
His Senior class consisted of 17 students. He decided to become an officer in the United States Army. He graduated college with flying colors in 1942. His specialty was Airborne, so he volunteered for the 82nd Airborne. He passed and was granted the rank of 2nd Lieutenant, and made a platoon leader.
Being a platoon leader is hard work. It takes a certain kind of person and a certain kind of will to handle the task. With that, you always need a second guy, someone you can count on. Crawford found Wilcox.
Wilcox was a hard worker and a veteran of North Africa. He was Crawfords Executive Officer, always serious but sometimes he was laid back and fun. Crawford's company, Able, was tasked to hold the town. They put numerous foxholes and barbed wire down.
Around 10 minutes into the battle, War Correspondent Jeffery Lee took the following photo. Crawford is scouting out the enemy while Wilcox surveys the situation.
Around 30 seconds later, Wilcox was struck by a marksmen's bullet into the neck. He died instantly.