JACK R. CRUTCHFIELD, LT, USN

Jack Crutchfield '36

Date of birth: July 24, 1915

Date of death: March 15, 1943

Age: 27

Lucky Bag

From the 1936 Lucky Bag:

Jack Randolph Crutchfield

Long Beach, California

"Jack"

Here, folks, the picture you see above is of none other than Jack Crutchfield—that tall, angular, enthusiastic chap with the permanent smile and engaging personality. Bairn of a Navy family, he found Annapolis the logical place to prove that "Jack of all trades and master of none" was a hasty statement. He played on the golf team, he edited this book, and he passed the academic courses with distinction—all with such capability as to leave time for bridge, cribbage, and some swimming. A letter every day in a blue envelope amply proves his way with the fair. Aside from being a Navy junior and a bit noisy at times, Crutch is all there. To meet him is to become his friend; we can predict nothing but success for him.

Track 4; Swimming 4, 3. sNAt; Golf 2, 1. gNf; Class Football 2, 1; N Club; Ring Dance Committee; Press Gang; Black N; Log 4, 3, 2, 1; Reef Points. Circulation Manager; Lucky Bag. Editor-in-Chief Star 4, 3, 2, 1; Four Stripes

Jack Randolph Crutchfield

Long Beach, California

"Jack"

Here, folks, the picture you see above is of none other than Jack Crutchfield—that tall, angular, enthusiastic chap with the permanent smile and engaging personality. Bairn of a Navy family, he found Annapolis the logical place to prove that "Jack of all trades and master of none" was a hasty statement. He played on the golf team, he edited this book, and he passed the academic courses with distinction—all with such capability as to leave time for bridge, cribbage, and some swimming. A letter every day in a blue envelope amply proves his way with the fair. Aside from being a Navy junior and a bit noisy at times, Crutch is all there. To meet him is to become his friend; we can predict nothing but success for him.

Track 4; Swimming 4, 3. sNAt; Golf 2, 1. gNf; Class Football 2, 1; N Club; Ring Dance Committee; Press Gang; Black N; Log 4, 3, 2, 1; Reef Points. Circulation Manager; Lucky Bag. Editor-in-Chief Star 4, 3, 2, 1; Four Stripes

Loss

Jack was lost when USS Triton (SS 201) was sunk by Japanese destroyers on March 15, 1943.

Other Information

From researcher Kathy Franz:

Jack graduated in 1931 from Woodrow Wilson High School in Long Beach as president of the senior class. Jewelled “W”; Scholarship Lamp; Council, 2 Sem.; Pres. Sr. A. Class; Capt. Debate ’31; Debate ’30; Pres. H. R.; Vice-pres., Sec.-Treas. Chess; Treas. El Rojoro; Jr. Exchange; 2nd Place Extemporaneous Contest ’31; Fireman; Oratorical Contest ’31; Stymie.
At his wedding on June 4, 1938, his father Commander James A. Crutchfield was best man. Forming the crossed swords arch were Ensigns Porter Maxwell '36, James O’Grady (’36), David Richardson (’36), Edward Thomas and Robert Northwood (’37).
His father was former head of the Navy’s Long Beach-Los Angeles Harbor hydrographic office. He died two weeks after Jack was listed as missing.
At the birth of his son Richard, the newspaper reported that Jack was a good golfer. His wife was also a graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School. In June 1943, she christened a convoy escort ship, the U.S.S. Coronado at Consolidated Steel Company’s Wilmington yard.

His wife was listed as next of kin.

Jack is remembered at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial.

Photographs

From his high school yearbook

Silver Star

From Hall of Valor:

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant Jack Randolph Crutchfield (NSN: 0-77067), United States Navy, for gallantry and intrepidity in action in the line of his profession as Diving Officer of the U.S.S. TRITON (SS-201), during the highly successful THIRD War Patrol of that Submarine from 13 April to 14 June 1942. Through his painstaking efforts and effective indoctrination and training of all personnel connected with the submerged ship control party he was enabled to maintain depth and trim control under most adverse and difficult conditions during three separate severe depth charge attacks. His courage and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
General Orders: Commander in Chief Pacific: Serial 26 (November 27, 1942)
Action Date: April 13 - June 14, 1942
Service: Navy
Rank: Lieutenant
Company: Diving Officer
Division: U.S.S. Triton (SS-201)

From Hall of Valor:

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star to Lieutenant Jack Randolph Crutchfield (NSN: 0-77067), United States Navy, for gallantry and intrepidity in action in the performance of his duties as Diving Officer of the U.S.S. TRITON (SS-201), during the FOURTH, FIFTH, and SIXTH War Patrols of that Submarine from 24 June 1942 until March 1943. As engineer and Electrical Officer during these War Patrols, his efficient maintenance of the equipment in his department maintained that department in an excellent state of material readiness and reliability, and able to meet the demands placed upon it throughout all patrols, and attacks made against enemy shipping. As Diving Officer, his painstaking efforts and most effective indoctrination and training of all personnel connected with the submerged ship's control party, enabled him to maintain depth and trim control of his vessel under the most adverse and difficult conditions during severe depth-charge attacks, thereby permitting successful evasion of enemy anti-submarine measures. His courage and high degree of skill, directly contributed to his ship's successful attacks upon enemy ships which resulted in the sinking of seven enemy ships, including two destroyers, totaling 20,408 tons and damaging two enemy ships totaling 14,200 tons. His conduct and devotion to duty during these war patrols were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
General Orders: Commander in Chief Pacific: Serial 04780 (September 21, 1944)
Action Date: June 24, 1942 - March 1943
Service: Navy
Rank: Lieutenant
Company: Diving Officer
Division: U.S.S. Triton (SS-201)

Navy Directories & Officer Registers

The "Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps" was published annually from 1815 through at least the 1970s; it provided rank, command or station, and occasionally billet until the beginning of World War II when command/station was no longer included. Scanned copies were reviewed and data entered from the mid-1840s through 1922, when more-frequent Navy Directories were available.

The Navy Directory was a publication that provided information on the command, billet, and rank of every active and retired naval officer. Single editions have been found online from January 1915 and March 1918, and then from three to six editions per year from 1923 through 1940; the final edition is from April 1941.

The entries in both series of documents are sometimes cryptic and confusing. They are often inconsistent, even within an edition, with the name of commands; this is especially true for aviation squadrons in the 1920s and early 1930s.

Alumni listed at the same command may or may not have had significant interactions; they could have shared a stateroom or workspace, stood many hours of watch together… or, especially at the larger commands, they might not have known each other at all. The information provides the opportunity to draw connections that are otherwise invisible, though, and gives a fuller view of the professional experiences of these alumni in Memorial Hall.