Josef Hoffman "Joe" Crutchfield was the son of Jesse F. Crutchfield and Ethel M. Walker. He received his education in Desha County, graduating McGehee High School. He was employed as a sheet metal worker in Little Rock, Arkansas, prior to his induction into the military.
Joe reported for induction in to the United States Army Infantry on 11/5/1941, approximately one month before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. He received his basic training at Camp Wolters, Texas. Joe was assigned to Company "E", 105th Infantry Regiment (IR), 27th Infantry Division (ID).
The 27th ID was the first stateside division to be deployed in response to the attack on Pearl Harbor. They deployed from Fort McClellan 12/14/1941 for California to establish blocking positions against an anticipated seaborne invasion of the United States southwestern coast. Joe was a new unit member when the 27th ID was transferred to the Pacific Theater of Operations, arriving in Hawaii on 5/21/1942 to defend the outer islands from a possible amphibious attack.
Units of the 27th ID first saw action against the enemy during the attack and capture of Makin Atoll in the Gilbert Islands, 11/21-24/1943. Two battalions of the 105th IR, to include Joe, participated in the attack on Eniwetok Atoll, 2/19-26/1944, returning to Oahu in March. During this mission, one battalion landed unopposed on Majuro Island,2/1/1944, and completed its seizure by 2/3/1944. The division began preparations for the attack/invasion of the Marianas Islands on 3/15/1944. On D-day plus 1, 6/16/1944, elements of the 27th ID landed at night on Saipan to support the Second and Fourth Marine Divisions. A beachhead was established and Aslito Airfield captured,on 6/18. Fighting continued throughout June. The Operation Commander, Marine General Holland "Howling Mad" Smith, unsatisfied with the performance of the 27th Division, relieved its commander, Army General Ralph C. Smith., which led to angry recrimination from senior Army commanders, including General George C Marshall.
During an intense battle, on 7/7/1944, the Japanese forces overran elements of the 27th ID in a fierce banzai attack. However, the American forces reorganized their forces and the Japanese resistance was crushed the next day. During the months of July and August, the 27th cleaned out isolated pockets in the mountains and cliffs of Saipan. Joe however, had been killed in action on 7/9/1944. He was buried in a temporary grave on Saipan and was reburied at the Golden Gate National Cemetery, San Bruno, San Mateo County, California, on 6/2/1948.
Private First Class Josef Hoffman Crutchfield, Sn#37101166, Earned the following badges/decorations for his service during World War II:
- Combat Infantryman's Badge
- Purple Heart Medal
- Army Good Conduct Medal
- American Defense Service Medal
- American Campaign Service Medal (Not verified)
- Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations Campaign Medal with three battle/campaign stars
- World War II Victory Medal
- Expert Rifleman's Badge
- Army Qualification Badge with suspension bars
Reportedly, Joe was the inventor of an automatic gun-sight control.
Joe reported for induction in to the United States Army Infantry on 11/5/1941, approximately one month before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. He received his basic training at Camp Wolters, Texas. Joe was assigned to Company "E", 105th Infantry Regiment (IR), 27th Infantry Division (ID).
The 27th ID was the first stateside division to be deployed in response to the attack on Pearl Harbor. They deployed from Fort McClellan 12/14/1941 for California to establish blocking positions against an anticipated seaborne invasion of the United States southwestern coast. Joe was a new unit member when the 27th ID was transferred to the Pacific Theater of Operations, arriving in Hawaii on 5/21/1942 to defend the outer islands from a possible amphibious attack.
Units of the 27th ID first saw action against the enemy during the attack and capture of Makin Atoll in the Gilbert Islands, 11/21-24/1943. Two battalions of the 105th IR, to include Joe, participated in the attack on Eniwetok Atoll, 2/19-26/1944, returning to Oahu in March. During this mission, one battalion landed unopposed on Majuro Island,2/1/1944, and completed its seizure by 2/3/1944. The division began preparations for the attack/invasion of the Marianas Islands on 3/15/1944. On D-day plus 1, 6/16/1944, elements of the 27th ID landed at night on Saipan to support the Second and Fourth Marine Divisions. A beachhead was established and Aslito Airfield captured,on 6/18. Fighting continued throughout June. The Operation Commander, Marine General Holland "Howling Mad" Smith, unsatisfied with the performance of the 27th Division, relieved its commander, Army General Ralph C. Smith., which led to angry recrimination from senior Army commanders, including General George C Marshall.
During an intense battle, on 7/7/1944, the Japanese forces overran elements of the 27th ID in a fierce banzai attack. However, the American forces reorganized their forces and the Japanese resistance was crushed the next day. During the months of July and August, the 27th cleaned out isolated pockets in the mountains and cliffs of Saipan. Joe however, had been killed in action on 7/9/1944. He was buried in a temporary grave on Saipan and was reburied at the Golden Gate National Cemetery, San Bruno, San Mateo County, California, on 6/2/1948.
Private First Class Josef Hoffman Crutchfield, Sn#37101166, Earned the following badges/decorations for his service during World War II:
- Combat Infantryman's Badge
- Purple Heart Medal
- Army Good Conduct Medal
- American Defense Service Medal
- American Campaign Service Medal (Not verified)
- Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations Campaign Medal with three battle/campaign stars
- World War II Victory Medal
- Expert Rifleman's Badge
- Army Qualification Badge with suspension bars
Reportedly, Joe was the inventor of an automatic gun-sight control.
Josef Hoffman "Joe" Crutchfield was the son of Jesse F. Crutchfield and Ethel M. Walker. He received his education in Desha County, graduating McGehee High School. He was employed as a sheet metal worker in Little Rock, Arkansas, prior to his induction into the military.
Joe reported for induction in to the United States Army Infantry on 11/5/1941, approximately one month before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. He received his basic training at Camp Wolters, Texas. Joe was assigned to Company "E", 105th Infantry Regiment (IR), 27th Infantry Division (ID).
The 27th ID was the first stateside division to be deployed in response to the attack on Pearl Harbor. They deployed from Fort McClellan 12/14/1941 for California to establish blocking positions against an anticipated seaborne invasion of the United States southwestern coast. Joe was a new unit member when the 27th ID was transferred to the Pacific Theater of Operations, arriving in Hawaii on 5/21/1942 to defend the outer islands from a possible amphibious attack.
Units of the 27th ID first saw action against the enemy during the attack and capture of Makin Atoll in the Gilbert Islands, 11/21-24/1943. Two battalions of the 105th IR, to include Joe, participated in the attack on Eniwetok Atoll, 2/19-26/1944, returning to Oahu in March. During this mission, one battalion landed unopposed on Majuro Island,2/1/1944, and completed its seizure by 2/3/1944. The division began preparations for the attack/invasion of the Marianas Islands on 3/15/1944. On D-day plus 1, 6/16/1944, elements of the 27th ID landed at night on Saipan to support the Second and Fourth Marine Divisions. A beachhead was established and Aslito Airfield captured,on 6/18. Fighting continued throughout June. The Operation Commander, Marine General Holland "Howling Mad" Smith, unsatisfied with the performance of the 27th Division, relieved its commander, Army General Ralph C. Smith., which led to angry recrimination from senior Army commanders, including General George C Marshall.
During an intense battle, on 7/7/1944, the Japanese forces overran elements of the 27th ID in a fierce banzai attack. However, the American forces reorganized their forces and the Japanese resistance was crushed the next day. During the months of July and August, the 27th cleaned out isolated pockets in the mountains and cliffs of Saipan. Joe however, had been killed in action on 7/9/1944. He was buried in a temporary grave on Saipan and was reburied at the Golden Gate National Cemetery, San Bruno, San Mateo County, California, on 6/2/1948.
Private First Class Josef Hoffman Crutchfield, Sn#37101166, Earned the following badges/decorations for his service during World War II:
- Combat Infantryman's Badge
- Purple Heart Medal
- Army Good Conduct Medal
- American Defense Service Medal
- American Campaign Service Medal (Not verified)
- Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations Campaign Medal with three battle/campaign stars
- World War II Victory Medal
- Expert Rifleman's Badge
- Army Qualification Badge with suspension bars
Reportedly, Joe was the inventor of an automatic gun-sight control.
Joe reported for induction in to the United States Army Infantry on 11/5/1941, approximately one month before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. He received his basic training at Camp Wolters, Texas. Joe was assigned to Company "E", 105th Infantry Regiment (IR), 27th Infantry Division (ID).
The 27th ID was the first stateside division to be deployed in response to the attack on Pearl Harbor. They deployed from Fort McClellan 12/14/1941 for California to establish blocking positions against an anticipated seaborne invasion of the United States southwestern coast. Joe was a new unit member when the 27th ID was transferred to the Pacific Theater of Operations, arriving in Hawaii on 5/21/1942 to defend the outer islands from a possible amphibious attack.
Units of the 27th ID first saw action against the enemy during the attack and capture of Makin Atoll in the Gilbert Islands, 11/21-24/1943. Two battalions of the 105th IR, to include Joe, participated in the attack on Eniwetok Atoll, 2/19-26/1944, returning to Oahu in March. During this mission, one battalion landed unopposed on Majuro Island,2/1/1944, and completed its seizure by 2/3/1944. The division began preparations for the attack/invasion of the Marianas Islands on 3/15/1944. On D-day plus 1, 6/16/1944, elements of the 27th ID landed at night on Saipan to support the Second and Fourth Marine Divisions. A beachhead was established and Aslito Airfield captured,on 6/18. Fighting continued throughout June. The Operation Commander, Marine General Holland "Howling Mad" Smith, unsatisfied with the performance of the 27th Division, relieved its commander, Army General Ralph C. Smith., which led to angry recrimination from senior Army commanders, including General George C Marshall.
During an intense battle, on 7/7/1944, the Japanese forces overran elements of the 27th ID in a fierce banzai attack. However, the American forces reorganized their forces and the Japanese resistance was crushed the next day. During the months of July and August, the 27th cleaned out isolated pockets in the mountains and cliffs of Saipan. Joe however, had been killed in action on 7/9/1944. He was buried in a temporary grave on Saipan and was reburied at the Golden Gate National Cemetery, San Bruno, San Mateo County, California, on 6/2/1948.
Private First Class Josef Hoffman Crutchfield, Sn#37101166, Earned the following badges/decorations for his service during World War II:
- Combat Infantryman's Badge
- Purple Heart Medal
- Army Good Conduct Medal
- American Defense Service Medal
- American Campaign Service Medal (Not verified)
- Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations Campaign Medal with three battle/campaign stars
- World War II Victory Medal
- Expert Rifleman's Badge
- Army Qualification Badge with suspension bars
Reportedly, Joe was the inventor of an automatic gun-sight control.
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