Ellis Bernard Crowley

These awards are based on the information below and per applicable DoD Directives and Awards Manuals:
U.S. Army Good Conduct Medal Awarded for exemplary behavior, efficiency, and fidelity in active Federal military service. It is awarded on a selective basis to each Soldier who distinguishes himself or herself from among his or her fellow Soldiers by their exemplary conduct, efficiency, and fidelity throughout a specified period of continuous enlisted active Federal military service.
American Campaign Service Medal Awarded for military service within the American Theater between December 7, 1941 and March 2, 1946.
World War II Victory Medal Awarded for military service between December 7, 1941 and December 31, 1946, both dates inclusive.
 Note that this list may not include all awarded medals, devices, unit citations or qualification badges.
 **It is likely but unconfirmed that PFC Crowley was posthumously awarded the Army Good Conduct Medal.

Documents, Forms and Resources Found or Not Found:
Yes Application For Headstone or Marker, OQMG Form 623
Yes Eyewitness Statement or Report, See Find A Grave Bio
Yes Grave Marker Photo(s), Find A Grave
Yes National Archives Database, Enlistment Records
No  Photo of veteran
Yes Sioux Falls, South Dakota Newspaper Obit, Notice, or Report
No  Washington Newspaper Obit, Notice, or Report
Yes WWII Draft Card Data
Yes WWII Hospital Admission Records

WWII Draft Card Data
Ellis Bernard Crowley
Race, Gender: White Male  -  Age: 22
Birth Date: December 17, 1917  -  Birth Place: Stowers, North Dakota
Residence Place: Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon
Registration Date: October 16, 1940  -  Registration Place: Oregon State
Employer: Dugan Hammond Construction Company
Weight: 140, Height: 5' 8"
Complexion: Light, Eye Color: Hazel, Hair Color: Black
Next of Kin: Bert Crowley
Members of Household: Ellis Bernard Crowley, Self

WWII Hospital Admission Records
Name: Ellis B. Crowley
Race: White, includes Mexican
Rank: Enlisted Man
Admission Age: 26
Birth Date: abt 1918
Admission Date: August 1944
Discharge Date: August 1944
Military Branch: Air Force, Ground Crew/Other Service, Support Units
Diagnosis: First Location: Body, generally;
Type of Injury: Injury, non-battle
Injured in Line of Duty: In line of duty
Type of Discharge: Died
Length of Service: 1 Year - 0 Months
Service Number: 39212398

Note 1: The death location, "Furnace Creek, California" is based on the best information available at this time. In the case of PFC Crowley, this location was verified on:

A. His Application For Headstone or Marker, OQMG Form 623, identifies his assigned unit as the 421st Army Air Force Base Unit, 4th Air Force.

B. His Find-A-Grave listing states that "...two military planes collided over Death Valley, California."

C. The Accident Report identifies that he was a crew member (assigned as gunner) on a B24D SN: 42-72862, piloted by 2nd Lt. Samuel B Johnson. The other military plane was a B24J, SN: 42-78522, piloted by 2nd Lt. Ernest Jack Chapman. The specific location listed in the accident report was Furnace Creek, California.

D. Further information on the 421st Army Air Force Base Unit can be found at the Wikipedia website California World War II Army Airfields: 421st Army Air Force Base Unit, Combat Crew Training Station, Heavy Bombardment.

Anyone with additional information or a more specific location is welcomed and encouraged to submit an email to: ww2updates@withmilitaryhonors.com.

The following information on this casualty is sourced from The National Archives Database:
 Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, ca. 1938 - 1946 (Enlistment Records)

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