Henry Lee Crawford was born August 20, 1901 in Steve,
Arkansas. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy on February 11, 1919, and died
in the S-51 submarine accident on September 25,
1925. His body was not
recovered from the wreckage until November 2 or 3, 1925. The following
obituary was sent to his fiancé, Thelma Guthrie of Harkers Island, NC,
by his sister, Effie, of Ardmore, OK. Jerry is buried in Rose Hill Cemetery in Ardmore,
Oklahoma.
Pay Respects to Sub Victim Drowned at Sea
Legion Sounds Taps for Henry L. Crawford
While Body Is Lowered
During Drizzling Rain.
In the drizzling rain which fell during the afternoon Friday the body
of Henry L. Crawford, victim of the ocean tragedy in which the submarine
S-51 was sunk while he was on duty as radio operator, was buried from
the Broadway Baptist church.
The body, which was expected to arrive last evening, did not reach
Ardmore until early Friday morning over the southbound Santa Fe.
Rev. R. L. Davidson of the Broadway Baptist church, conducted the
services which were followed by burial in Rose Hill. Pallbearers were
chosen from members of George R. Anderson post of the American Legion and
included Mark Davis, Leo Atkins, Buddy Moorehead, Rudolph Ploense, Ira
Armstrong and Dr. G. E. Johnson.
Sound Taps
Taps were sounded at the grave by David Dawson, legionnaire.
Crawford was the son of Mr. and Mrs. H. L. Crawford of Ardmore. He
enlisted for submarine service only a short time before the accident in
which the S-51 was rammed by the City of Rome, a commercial ship, and
sank in 127 feet of water.
His body was not recovered until last Sunday, several weeks following
the disaster. A telegram from the navy department reached here Monday
announced that the body was being sent home.
It is a coincidence that on the date of Crawford's burial the boat
which caused his death sprang a leak and lies beyond breakwater where
tugs are rushing to her rescue.
