Pvt John P. Crouch

JOHN P. CROUCH WOUNDED AND CAPTURED
Pvt John P. Crouch was wounded on D-Day shortly after landing in the area of Etienville, France. The origin of the form shown at left is unknown. The copy apparently came from the War Department and was loaned to the Veterans Administration for purposes of classifying John's service connected disability. Stated on the form is "W.I.A. GSW (Rifle) Pen W, left shoulder, Lac W, Rt Scapular [sic] Area, 6 June 0430 near Etienville," Translated, John suffered a penetrating gunshot wound from a rifle on his left shoulder. He also had a lacerating wound on his right shoulder in the scapula (shoulder blade) area. He was hit at 0430 on the morning of D-Day, perhaps no more than 2 hours after landing. The form also states that he was taken prisoner on 12 June '44 near St. Lo. but this is in contradiction to National Archive records that show he was first reported as a POW on 6 June.	Following his release as a POW and return to civilian life, John was evaluated at a VA facility. The examiner recorded that John had a problem in the area of his ankles caused by ill-fitting wooden shoes. His paratrooper boots had been confiscated and the wooden shoes were substituted. His ankles were rubbed causing ulcerations. More importantly, the anxieties of being a prisoner of war remained on his mind causing him to act unusually. Also of interest is the fact that John left high school and enlisted at the age of 16. He was still only 19 at the time of his wounding and subsequent capture.
(Both documents were submitted by Greg Cummings, nephew of John Crouch.)