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MEMORIAL ARTICLE
Published Assembly Jul '47
Evans Read Crowell, Jr., No. 15304, Class Of 1946
Died August 17, 1946, near Casa Grande, Arizona, Aged 21 Years.
Internment in the Arlington National Cemetery on August 24, 1946
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The Army Air Forces lost one of its most promising young officers
when Lieutenant Crowell unsuccessfully parachuted from his P-47,
which had been crippled in a midair collision near Casa Grande,
Arizona on August 17, 1946. Here was a man who in his brief span
of twenty-one years excelled at everything he did, be it as a
musician, student, pilot, or friend.
Evans was born July 24, 1925 at Hampton, Virginia, the son
of Colonel and Mrs. Evans R. Crowell. As is usual with Army children,
he received his primary education at a series of widely scattered
schools in the United States, Panama, Hawaii, and the Philippine
Islands. In the course of this education, he formed an unwavering
loyalty to and love for the Army, and this naturally led him
to seek an appointment to West Point. After preparatory school
at Sullivan's in Washington, D. C. he won his appointment by
placing second in the Presidential competitive examination for
appointments for 1943 entrance. He entered West Point on July
1, 1943 with the Class of 1946.
Almost immediately the scholarly attributes which carried
Evans to his stars in each of three successive years became apparent.
Not only did he distinguish himself, but he also did a fine job
of coaching many classmates and underclassmen who were experiencing
difficulties in their studies.
But mere books did not claim all of Evans' attention. His
skill at the piano frequently delighted his classmates. He was
perhaps most happy on the rocky trails above West Point, where
he loved to ski on winter afternoons and ride in the spring and
the fall. The natural beauty of the Hudson Highlands invited
many long walks during which he would expound his personal philosophy
and trade freely his valued opinions and advice for the sometimes
worthy observations of his friends.
In September of 1944, Evans decided to become an Air Cadet
and the following spring he began his primary training at Garner
Field near Uvalde, Texas. He took his basic flight training at
Stewart Field near Newburgh, New York, during the summer of 1945,
and completed his advanced training and won his wings at the
same station during the spring of 1946. A few days later, on
June 4, 1946, he graduated into the Army Air Forces.
Another big day for Evans was not then far off for, on June
8, 1946, Phyllis White of Washington became his bride. The wedding
was followed by an idyllic honeymoon at Lake Winnipesaukee, Washington,
D. C., and in California.
Evans reported to his new station, Williams Field, Arizona,
on July 20, 1946 for fighter transition training. Phyllis joined
him there several weeks later, and they made their home in nearby
Mesa, Arizona. It was while engaging in fighter transition training
at Williams Field that Evans was involved in the accident which
claimed his life.
Evans was laid to rest in the Arlington National Cemetery
on August 24, 1946. He is survived by his wife and his family.
In the few years that were granted to him, Evans lived a complete,
happy and inspiring life. Mourned and loved by his friends, he
has achieved immortality by his lasting good influence on our
lives and the memories we will forever carry of a fine soldier.
-A Classmate.
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