CRANE, Ernie (Sgt.)

CRANE

Posted By: Don Blake
Date: 10/29/2006 at 09:32:27

CHEROKEE ARCHIVES
PARENTS ARE INFORMED SON DIED IN NORTH AFRICA March 1, 1943.
Sgt. Ernie Crane, Jr, son of Mr.and Mrs. Ernest Crane ,Sr, has died in the battle to bring freedon to oppressed people of the world---The 1st. Cherokean to so give his life.
The popular Cherokee boy, who enlisted in the National Guard 2-4 1938 and who entered the regular army 2-10-1941 with the National Guard Unit, died of wounds Mar. 1 he received in action Feb. 1 in N. Africa

The tragic news came to his parents Sat. afternoon from the war department.

Word that Sgt. Crane had been"seriously wounded" in action in the North African area Feb. 1 was recieved by Mr. and Mrs. Crane Mar. 1. Another telegram recieved here Mar. 2, reported his condition " very unsatifactory ". An official letter, dated Mar. 8 reported that Sgt. Crane was making normal improvement.

His parents were hopful that Ernie would get along all right because he was " Pretty husky " and in good health . They were more optimistic after they recieved the official letter that he was making normal improvement.

"Young Ernie" who was known and liked by everone was a strong booster of the National Guard. He enlisted Feb. 4 , 1938 and saw service at Newton during the Maytag washing machine plant.
strike. Early in 1941, he enlisted 30 boys from this territory in the unit and with that group went into the Regular Army Feb. 10, 1941.

But Sgt. Cranes enthusiasm fro army life came naturally. He was carrying on a fine tradition. His father was one of the youngest soldiers in WWI, enlisting when he was only 14 and serving through the major battles in France, ---Lorrain, Chamoaigne, Baccarat second battle of Marne, Argonne Forest and with the Muese Argonne army of occupatio. He was wounded in action while in the service . Since then was he has been enpecially active in servicemens organizations , serving as State Commander of the Veteran Of Foreign Wars.

Sgt. Crane was home on furlough just before he sailed for Ireland with the First American Contingment. While here he addressed studeants at Wilson High School telling them of the advantages of Army life and declaring that the soldier could get out of it in the way of advancement just what he put in.

The first Cherokee soldier to die in action, Sgt. Crane was born June 16, 1923 at Cherokee. He attended Washington Irving school in Des Moines and enroled in Wilson High School Sept. 5, 1938. On Jan. 20, 1942 he left school at the end of the 1st semester in his junior year to go with the National Guard into acyive sercice.

He trained at Camp Claiborne La. where he soecialized in chemnical warfare. From csmp Claiborne he went to Fort Dix N.J. and latter to Northern Ireland. He was with the original invasion force that landed in N. Africa.

Besides his parents he is survived by 1 brother, Lyle.