Since the War

And Through the Years

Images and Videos of John and his life after the war. Be sure to watch the video of John and his son, David, when they visited the WWII Memorial in Washington, DC!

John in 2011 at 85 years young

Like many other veterans of WWII, John used the G.I. Bill to get a college education. He graduated from the University of Oklahoma School of Pharmacy and, in 1960, moved to the West Texas city of Odessa to pursue his American Dream of owning his own drug store.

At one time, he and his partner owned and operated five different "Town & Country Drug" stores and pharmacies in Odessa and nearby towns.

John was also a Bank Director for a while in Odessa.

Jo and John at their house on
Lake LBJ – early 1990's

He and Jo raised three children, and their family includes five grandchildren and quite a few great-grandchildren, too!

In 1978, a store fire prompted John to sell out to his partner and move to Lake LBJ, in the Texas Hill Country, where John continued to work part time as a pharmacist when not boating, playing snooker and ping pong, or riding his big Honda Gold Wing motorcycle.

They enjoyed their lake house until the mid-1990's, when they moved to Georgetown, just north of Austin.

John's Drug Store
Odessa, Texas – 1971

John marched in his old uniform in the Parade and Dedication of the new 12th A.D. Museum in Abilene Texas - October, 2001

Click on the image or HERE for a short video of him marching in the parade!

Jo and John at their house in
Georgetown, Texas – April, 2009

In September, 2007, John's son, David, took him on a two day trip to Washington, D.C. so that he could visit the World War II Memorial.

John truly enjoyed seeing the Memorial and visiting with many veterans and others who were there at that time.

David made a six-minute video of this visit, titled "Once In a Lifetime –A Combat Veteran Visits his WWII Memorial"

Click the image or HERE to view this touching program and hear John talk about his war experiences!

John at his WWII Memorial in Washington, DC

September, 2007

John with his son, David at the Memorial

John loved meeting other veterans and sharing his stories.

They were pleased to see a bronze of a radio operator – the job John had during the war.

John contemplating the Freedom Wall and Pool

Each of the 4,048 gold stars represents 100 American military deaths in WWII – more than 400,000 in all.

A personal observation from David:

We also visited the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. There were two veterans stationed at the entry point. As we approached, one of them saw Dad wearing his WWII Veteran cap with the reproduction pins of his medals and Combat Infantry Badge. He jumped up from his chair and offered his handshake to Dad. He said, "Two Bronze Stars! Outstanding!!"

I'll always remember and treasure that acknowledgment for him.

For the last several years of his life, John's family helped him as he battled a new and daunting enemy:
Alzheimer's disease.

He remained a happy and caring person even through his travails with it, but he lost the final unwinnable fight on August 2nd, 2012.

We salute him and lovingly cherish his memory.

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This site was originally published for John's 75th birthday in September, 2000.
It was revised and updated in 2011 and again in this responsive form in 2020.
© Copyright 2020 David P. Crews–CrewsCreative, Austin, Texas All rights reserved. ––– Contact: david@crewscreative.com
Contact us for information about the use of photos or content from this site.

Photo credits: Unless otherwise indicated, all photos on this site
are from the private collection of John C. Crews.

Certain photos are reproduced courtesy of the Franklin Roosevelt Library.
Official Army photos by the U.S. Army Signal Corps. are reproduced
from the original booklets and materials.

The photo of the "Marine Devil" ship is courtesy of Bruce T. Doll, www.imagesofvision.com.

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