One day a Navy veteran named Michael Newberry, who does volunteer work for the Van Zandt County Veterans Memorial in Canton, Texas as the gift shop/museum manager, came across a collection in one of the museum’s display cases that was not particularly visible. It was comprised of some photos, flat boxes, certificates and a folded 48-star American flag.
Upon further examination, Mike found the medals, air crew wings, pictures, high school diploma, and aircraft mechanic certification of Staff Sergeant Robert Doyle Crumpton of the 384th Bomb Group’s Brodie Crew. Robert was the top turret gunner/engineer for the Brodie crew and was aboard Lazy Daisy on September 28, 1944 and died in the mid-air collision with Lead Banana. Robert’s half-brother, Claude, had kept the items all of his life and upon his death, Claude’s wife donated them to the museum.
Mike set up a nice exhibit of Robert’s items in the museum. He even intends to replicate a model of the Lazy Daisy, the B-17 on which Robert lost his life, to add to the collection.
Robert Crumpton exhibit at the Van Zandt County Veterans Memorial in Canton, Texas
I would like to thank Mike Newberry for honoring Robert Doyle Crumpton with this wonderful exhibit. For anyone in the area near Canton, Texas, please stop by the Van Zandt County Veterans Memorial museum to see it. In addition to the Robert Doyle Crumpton exhibit, you can tour the memorial plaza with an Air Force F-4 Phantom, a Huey helicopter, a 105mm howitzer and more. And please tell Mike I sent you!
Van Zandt County Veterans Memorial is located at 1200 S Trade Days Blvd, Suite 600, Canton, TX 75103, phone (903) 567-0657, web address: http://vzcm.org/
© Cindy Farrar Bryan and The Arrowhead Club, 2015
The Arrowhead Club 