He was the last Coast Guard POW of WWII. Now his remains are finally coming home

[rangerrebew]

He was the last Coast Guard POW of WWII. Now his remains are finally coming home
Sean Kirst, The Buffalo News
October 31, 2019 at 08:50 AM
 

The commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard intends to be in Buffalo, New York for Saturday's funeral Mass and burial of Lt. Thomas "Jimmy" Crotty, a World War II legend whose remains are expected to return this week to his hometown.

Admiral Karl Schultz, the 26th commandant of the Coast Guard, plans to attend the services, Lt. Paul Rhynard confirmed Wednesday. Gov. Andrew Cuomo also announced that flags on all state buildings in New York will be lowered Saturday as a statement of honor for Crotty, a Coast Guard figure of historic magnitude.

"We all owe a debt of gratitude to Lt. Crotty for his service and making the ultimate sacrifice while defending our country to ensure freedom for future generations of New Yorkers," Cuomo said in a statement.

https://taskandpurpose.com/coast-guard-crotty-remains-buffalo

[sneakypete]

I read the link,and fail to see where he did anything other than his duty. He was the XO on a minesweeper,period. Was never involved in combat,and died of a disease while in a POW camp.

He wasn't even one of the guys that refused to surrender,and ran for the jungles to set up a guerilla movement against the Japanese.

What am I missing?

[PeteS in CA]

Re USS Quail's operations in WW2: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Quail_(AM-15)#World_War_II_Pacific_operations

During the Battle of Corregidor (1942), Lieutenant Thomas James Eugene “Jimmy” Crotty, Coast Guard Academy 1934, served as the executive officer of the Quail, which shot down enemy aircraft and swept American mine fields so U.S. submarines could surface at night to deliver goods and remove critical personnel on Corregidor. After the Quail was gutted of arms, he commanded a force of Marines and Army personnel manning 75mm beach guns firing down on enemy forces landing on Corregidor’s beaches. With Corregidor’s capitulation on 6 May 1942, Crotty became the first Coast Guard prisoner of war since the War of 1812, when the British captured U.S. Revenue Cutter Service cuttermen. He died in late September 1942 in the Cabanatuan POW Camp of diphtheria.

According to DANFS, USS Quail was scuttled on May 5th, the day before Corregidor surrendered. USS Quail was one of a WW1 vintage class of minesweepers. The IJN was known to repair and make use of captured boats and ships (e.g. an Asiatic Fleet 4-piper that had been abandoned in drydock). Quail was not fast, but would have been useful in convoy escort. Hence the scuttling.

[Gefn]

Bless you guys for posting this