John R. Crews
Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army
Medal of Honor Recipient
World War II

Staff Sergeant John R. Crews (8 March 1923 - 25 September 1999) was a U.S. Army soldier and a recipient of the U.S. military's highest award for valor, the Medal of Honor, for his actions during World War II.

John R. Crews was born on 8 March 1923 in Golden, OK. He joined the Army from Bowlegs, OK. On 8 April 1945, he was serving as a Staff Sergeant in Company F, 253rd Infantry Regiment, 63rd Infantry Division. On that day, near Lobenbacherhof, Germany, Crews single-handedly destroyed two German emplacements.

Medal of Honor

Rank and organization: Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company F, 253rd Infantry, 63rd Infantry Division.

Place and date: Near Lobenbacherhof, Germany, 8 April 1945.

Citation: 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.

Medals and Awards

Medal of Honor
Silver Star Medal
Bronze Star Medal (2)

Combat Infantryman's Badge  

Death and Burial

Staff Sergeant John R. Crews died on 25 September 1999, at age 76. He is buried at Resthaven Gardens Cemetery in Oklahoma City, OK.