Crawford, David Hodges
Deceased

Name: David Hodges Crawford
Branch/Rank: US Army
Unit:
Date of Birth:
Home City of Record:
Date of Loss: 17 August 1969
Country of Loss: North Korea
Loss Coordinates:
Status (in 1973): Returnee
Category:
Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground: Helicopter
Missions:
Other Personnel in Incident: David Crawford, Malcom Loepke and Herman Hofstatter
Refno:

Source: Compiled by P.O.W. NETWORK from one or more of the following: raw
data from U.S. Government agency sources, correspondence with POW/MIA
families, published sources, interviews and CACCF = Combined Action
Combat Casualty File. Dept of Defense information 10/25/2007.

REMARKS: Held 180 days - Not noted PMSEA - Released December 3, 1969

On August 17, 1969, the helicopter with Crawford, Loepke and Hofstatter
on board was shot down were all captured by the North Korean
military. During their imprisonment they were tortured and beaten almost
every day. As with many other individuals held captive by the Koreans
in the post Korean War era, these men did not immediately receive
POW status. Mr. Hodges finally received authorization for his POW medal
on a DD215 14 Sept 1992. He left the service in 1987.

 

David Hodges Crawford

When this obituary was received in October, David Hodges name could not  be located anywhere as a POW during the Vietnam War. After receiving a note from a V.A. representative stating we had made a grave error, we turned to the Department of Defense for confirmation. On October 25, 2007, after providing documents to DoD, we received this note:

quote:

It's confirmed.
 
David Crawford, Malcom Loepke and Herman Hofstatter shot down in Helicopter over DPRK on 17 Aug 1969.  Held 108 days in DPRK. 

end quote

We are grateful for Mr. Law notifying us of the error in posting, and apologize for any additional grief we caused Mr. Crawford's family. If anyone has further information on this incident, we would appreciate having that information for this bio, and our files.
Crawford, David Hodges

Savannah (Georgia) Morning News.

Crawford, David Hodges

David Hodges Crawford - EUFAULA, AL- David Hodges Crawford, 65, died Saturday, September 29, 2007 at Medical Center Barbour in Eufaula. Born May 19, 1942 in Savannah, Georgia, Mr. Crawford was the son of the late Thomas Franklin and Evelyn Hogdes Crawford, Mr. Crawford was a veteran of the U.S. Army, having served as a Master Aviator during Vietnam. He piloted chinook helicopters. He was a paratrooper and P.O.W. and he received numerous awards for valor. He also received the Purple Heart. He was the Eufaula High School ROTC Senior Army Instructor from 1987 until 1992. Mr. Crawford was a former resident of Pooler, Georgia. ... Funeral services will be held Tuesday, October 2, 2007 at 3 p.m. EDT at Shellman Bluff Baptist Church. Dr. Ken Bush will officiate and burial will follow in the church cemetery with full military honors . Pallbearers will be the military honor guard. Chapman Funeral Home 334-687-3514 Savannah Morning News October 2, 2007 Please sign our Obituary Guest Book at www.savannahnow.com