Reporting to Post Everlasting

LEO CRAWFORD, 75, best known for his longstanding involvement with the American Legion's citizen of the Year Adward, died on August 5, 2001 at the VA Hospital in Palo ALto as a result of Diabetes and vascular complications. Crawford was born in Portland, Oregon, one of nine children, and grew up during the depression years. After the Pearl Harbor attack in 1941, he left school in his sophomore year and enlisted in the U.S. Navy, attending boot camp in San Diego. He was then transferred to Pearl harbor for fleet assignment. Crawford was assigned to the battleship USS Colorado, joining a crew in what was to become famous as the 5th Amphibious Battleship Division. He and his crew participated in seven invasions and naval engagements from Tarawa to the Mariana Islands. During the invasion of Tinnian Island in July 1944, Crawford's ship was hit 23 times by enemy shore guns, injuring him and causing his return to the states, where he was hospitalized for the next five months. In January 1945, Crawford returned to Redwood City to start civilian life. In 1947, feeling the need for better education, Crawford entered the College of San Mateo and in the next three and one-half years, he completed his high school education. In an interesting side event, he was awarded his college diploma, just prior to being awarded his high school diploma. That same year, he became interested in the many problems that veterans were being confronted with, and he was asked to help in the project of organizing a new Legion Post for the friendly Acres section of Redwood City. Crawford became a charter member of the new American Legion Adobe Post 828, where he was a dedicated officer and served as its Commander in 1950. In 1952, due in large part to his work, effort and leadership, Crawford was elected 2nd Vice Commander of the 26th District (the 17 posts of San Mateo County.) and in 1953, he was elected 1st Vice Commander of the 26th District. That same year, he participated in the National American Legion Institute Leadership course and placed in the top five participants in the United States. He was then selected to represent California at the summer session of the session. In 1954, Crawford served as District Commander of the 26th District and his record of attaining Legion members kept the District in first place for the year. His leadership was now recognized at the state level and, at the age of 29, Crawford was elected to the office of State Commander of California, at that time the youngest Legion member ever elected to head the 150,000 member organization in California and the only Legion member from San Mateo County to hold the position. In 1969, he was elected to a two-year term as National Executive Committeeman to the National organization and, that same year, was awarded a Gold Card Life Membership in Redwood City's Post 105. His many community involvements cover a wide area, including serving as Institutional representative between the Boy Scouts and the American Legion in the Friendly Acres area of Redwood City; vice chairman of Adobe Post 828 Veterans Hospital Christmas Party; chairman of the Legion's polio vaccination drive in the Friendly Acres area; member of the Atherton Lions Club six years, being named the Lions Club "Tri-County Man of the Year" in 1975. Crawford assisted in the dedication of the Red Cross building on Middlefield Road in the 1950s and headed the annual residential Red Cross fund drive for two years and participating in drives for the next six years. He was very active in the Red Cross Home Service Committee which directed its attention to active servicemen Committe which directed its attention to active servicemen and also veterans and their families. He was also a member of the Board of Directors of the Redwood City Hunger Fund for 10 years. Crawford served actively for 14 years as a member of the Redwood City/San Mateo County Chamber of Commerce. He was on the Board of Directors for nine years; a member of the Ambassador's Club seven years; and Chief Ambassador of the Chamber in 1975. Crawford's teenage dream of becoming a pilot was finally realilzed when, after months of battling the Federal Aviation Administration because of his disability he received a certificate of demonstrated ability and a Private Pilot's Lincense. Not stopping there Crawford went back to school and passed his written test for an instrument rating and passed his flight test. He also received a multi-engine rating and flew for some 30 years, during which time, he served on the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association Air Safety Committee. Crawford served as Chairman of the American Legion's Citizen of the Year in conjunction with the Chamber for 11 years, then as General Chairman for seven years. In February of 1996, the Redwood City Alamanac, as sponsor, awarded him a plaque for his many years of community service. When asked some time ago about his many years of community service, Crawford said the one thing he would miss the most was the joy he got seeing the happiness on faces of winners of the Legion award. He also expressed sadness for the "many wonderful qualified nominees who would not be winners, as only one could be winner".