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Rank and Organization:
Technical Sergeant, Company
E, 141st Infantry, 36th Infantry Division.
Place and Date:
Haguenau, France, 13 Mar. 1945.
Entered Service at:
Paducah, Ky.
Birth:
Bandana, Ky.
G. O. No.:
18, 13 Feb. 1946.
Citation:
He led his platoon against powerful German forces during the struggle to enlarge the
bridgehead across the Moder River. With great daring and aggressiveness he spearheaded the
platoon in killing 10 enemy soldiers, capturing 12 more and securing its objective near an
important road junction. Although heavy concentrations of artillery, mortar, and
self-propelled gunfire raked the area, he moved about among his men during the day,
exhorting them, to great efforts and encouraging them to stand firm. He carried ammunition
and maintained contact with the company command post, exposing himself to deadly enemy
fire. At nightfall the enemy barrage became more intense and tanks entered the fray to
cover foot troops while they bombarded our positions with grenades and rockets. As
buildings were blasted by the Germans, the Americans fell back from house to house.
Sergeant Crain deployed another platoon which had been sent to his support and then rushed
through murderous tank and small-arms fire to the foremost house, which was being defended
by five of his men. When the enemy attacking from an adjoining room and a tank firing
point-blank at the house, he ordered the men to withdraw while he remained in the face of
almost certain death to hold the position. Although shells were crashing through the walls
and bullets were hitting all around him, he held his ground and with accurate fire from
his sub-machine gun killed three Germans. He was killed when the building was destroyed by
the enemy. Sergeant Crain's outstanding valor and intrepid leadership enabled his platoon
to organize a new defense, repel the attack and preserve the hard-won bridgehead.
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