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Clemon Coolidge "Coolie" Crain, 93, of Cape Girardeau passed away Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016, at the Lutheran Home.
He was born Aug. 5, 1923, on a farm near Oak Ridge to Ellis O. and Irene Hopkins Crain. Coolie and Naomi Hahs were married Nov. 9, 1943, in Oak Ridge.
He was drafted into the Army on Jan. 11, 1943. He was in the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, D Company, 3rd Platoon, 82nd Air Bourne
[sic] Division, and received the following awards: Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Good Conduct, Presidential Unit Emblem (European Theater of Operations), European Campaign Medal with four bronze stars (Normandy, Central Europe, Ardennes and Rhineland), two Invasion arrow heads (Normandy and Holland), World War II Victory Medal, Army of Occupation Medal with German Clasp, Combat Infantryman Badge, French
Fourragére, Belgian Fourragere, Netherlands Orange Lanyard, Honorable Service Lapel Button World War II and Parachute Wings with two combat stars in wings.
He was a member of Veterans of Foreign War Post 3838, the American Legion, Excelsior Lodge 441 AF&AM and was a Moolah Shriner.
He retired from Shell Oil Co. on May 1, 1983, with more than 30 years of service. He worked for the city of Jackson for seven years and was a member of Centenary United Methodist Church. Coolie loved spending time with his family and friends and will be dearly missed.
He is survived by his wife of nearly 73 years, Naomi Crain of Cape Girardeau; daughter, Carolyn Crain of Cape Girardeau; special cousin, Julie (the Rev. Richard) Combs of Jackson; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Carlton Crain; and a son, Vaughn Crain.
Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until noon Saturday at Ford and Sons Funeral Home-Jackson.
The funeral service will be at noon Saturday at the funeral home, with the Revs. Dave Conley and Richard Combs officiating and American Legion and Masonic services. Burial will be at Cape County Memorial Park cemetery with military honors.
Memorial donations may be given to Centenary United Methodist Church or a charity of choice.
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Clemon C Crain
Born: 05 August 1923
Enlistment date: 11 January 1943 Jefferson Barracks, Missouri
Deployments: Europe
Units: D Co. 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division.
Rank: Staff Sergeant Specialisations:[sic]
Qualifications: Combat Infantryman Badge
Decorations: Bronze Star, Europe Africa Middle East Campaign Medal, WWII Victory Medal, Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, Army Occupation Medal, French
Fourragére, Belgian Fourragére, Netherlands Orange Lanyard.
Discharge Date: 27 December 1945
Other Information: Clemon originally from Cape Girardeau, Missouri enlisted at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri where he completed his induction to the US Army Infantry. Volunteering for the Paratroopers, he completed his jump School and was immediately transferred to the European Theater with the 508th Parachute Infantry, where he remained for the duration of the war.
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[courtesy of Brenda Johnson] Temporary grave marker for
Clemon C. Crain in Cape County Memorial Park Cemetery, Cape
Girardeau (Cape Girardeau county), Missouri.
Clemon enlisted in the Army at Jefferson
Barracks, MO on 11 January 1943.
The date of Pvt Crain's arrival in co D is unknown
as it when he was elevated to Pfc. However, Pfc Crain became
Cpl Crain on 23 August 1944. He sewed on a third stripe on 1
November 1944.
Crain made it through Normandy unscathed but was
wounded in Holland on 28 September 1944.
In Belgium, Sgt Crain was evacuated to a field
hospital on 22 December 1944 classed as a non-battle casualty.
On 17 Janury 1945 he rejoined the company when he
was transferred from the 3rd Replacement Depot
Sgt Crain's military decorations include the
Purple Heart and the Bronze Service Arrowhead device awarded for
participation in Normandy assault |
