TankDestroyer.net

SEEK * STRIKE * DESTROY

Croswhite, Donald C. (Unknown)

Donald C. Croswhite 1Donald C. Croswhite

Biography:  Donald Clayward Croswhite was born on December 21, 1922, in Lamar, Prowers County, Colorado. He was the son of Roy Lee Croswhite and Laila Estelle Stapleton.  The family moved to Centralia, Missouri, and on April 2, 1940,he joined the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps), Company 3758, in Fayette, MO.  He left the CCC to return to school on August 21, 1940, graduating from Hallsville High School in 1942. He went to work at the A. B. Chance Company as a tool and die machinist.

Service Time:  Donald entered the service on January 20, 1943, at the Jefferson Barracks in Lemay, Missouri. After his initial training, he received specialty training as an anti-tank gun crewman. He also successfully completed a two-month “Enlisted Weapons Course” designed by the Tank Destroyer School. The course went from December 13, 1943, to February 4, 1944, and at the time, he is listed at the rank of Corporal.

Weapons Course Certificate

Donald was assigned to a tank destroyer unit but it is unclear which one. He shipped out from the U.S. for service in the South Pacific on March 10, 1944. This date matches the date that the 815th Tank Destroyer Battalion shipped out from the San Francisco port. 

The 815th was equipped with 3″ towed guns and landed in New Guinea on March 30th. On September 27th of that same year, the unit was disbanded and its members were assigned to other units. At some point, Donald was transferred to Company H, 127th Infantry Regiment of the 32nd Infantry Division and on January 14, 1945, he received the Combat Infantryman Badge, denoting that he had been involved in active ground combat.

On February 10, 1945, Donald was wounded and received medical treatment at the 41st Field Hospital, which was located on the Island of Biak in New Guinea. He was eventually sent home on April 24, arriving back in the U.S. on April 26th. Donald received credit for participation in the campaigns of the Philippine Islands, the Southern Philippines, and Luzon. His discharge mentions that he received four campaign stars but does not list a fourth campaign. He may have participated in the New Guinea Campaign with the 815th and not received proper credit for it. He also received the American Theater, Asiatic-Pacific, the WWII Victory and the Good Conduct Medals. He left the service at the rank of Sergeant, on November 12, 1945, at the Camp Fannin, Texas, Separation Center.

Honorable Discharge

Donald C. Croswhite 2In 1945, Donald married the former Mary Anna Hicks who was born in Centralia, Boone County, MO, and was the daughter of Irl Robert Hicks and Lena Christine Moberg. He returned to his former job at A.B. Chance Co. until 1962, when he moved the family to Bentonville, Arkansas, where he worked for the Hoyte Company as a machinist in nearby Rogers, AR.  They had four sons, Donald Jr., born in 1946, Roy Irl in 1947, Charles Richard in 1949 and Timothy Lee in 1956.

The photo at left shows Donald and Mary.

Donald passed away on April 14, 2011, and was buried in the Bentonville Cemetery located in Bentonville, AR. We would like to thank Donald’s grandson, also named Donald, and his niece, Jackie, for providing the information and photos used in this tribute. The grave marker photo was provided courtesy of Anita Mays.

Donald C. Croswhite Grave Marker