This week's prompt really had me stumped, probably because I'd already written about my grandfather, Sig Levy, for last year's prompt Quite The Character. So I felt like I should get a little more creative and interpret the prompt a little differently.
I wondered if my grandparents had written about any characters in the letters they wrote back and forth from 1916-1919. In checking Loraine's letters to Sig, the word was never mentioned. But when I opened Sig's letters to Loraine and searched on 'character', a new world opened up to me.
November 11, 1917
And what do you
think my dear. Dick did not pass his
examination. He came home last night
really sad and if he can't pass, I don't think I would have stood a
chance, as he is a young giant and one of the best athletes in this part of the
country. He has an excellent moral
character and is high class in every respect, but the physical examination was
too stiff for him. They don't give any
reasons, just "pass" or "don't pass". But I think I'll be happier now because if we
enlist, we will both go together or else wait for the draft. You know they are to classify on the 15th of
December, and call us out on February first.
I'm glad that
you appreciated Dick's phoning you and that answers your question: "Am I thinking of you?" Now do you love me a lot for that? Dick is a swell fellow - my closest friend and
the only one in the world whom I would have ring you. And I didn't want to miss the opportunity as
I thought you would enjoy it, and you did, didn't you my dear?
I've read a lot about Dick in my grandfather's things so decided this would be a good time to research my grandfather's closest friend.
Dick Crawford, Fresno High School, The Owl, June, 1908
Dick was born Edwin Dickey Crawford to Annie Lee (Dickey) and James Malcom Crawford on 2 June 1892 in Temple, Texas. I don't know the reason but somewhere between 1900 and 1910, the family moved to Fresno.
January 13, 1918 - letter from Sig to Loraine
I am enclosing a clipping of a
picture that I received from Dick. As
usual the paper got it all wrong and has him training for an aviator when in
fact he is in the non-flying branch, but he will be all swelled up to learn
that he is training for a flier. So your
friend is in the same camp. Yes my dear,
I think it would be great if he would meet Dick. According to your address they are in the
same camp but Dick is in the 10th squadron.
He most likely is registered as E.D. Crawford. He will surely like Dick as they don't come
any better.
Sig was probably referring to this picture (newspaper article) he had received from Dick.
Fresno Morning Republican, 13 Jan 1918, Page 14
Fresno has many proud sons in the service of Uncle Sam, but above is shown seven Fresnans who are in training for the aviation service at Camp Waco, Texas. The picture was received here yesterday by Sig Levy, who has been recommended for the officers' training school for aviators, from Dick Crawford, who recently enlisted in the aviation service. The boys report that they like the life. In the picture reading from left to right they are: (Upper row): Dick Crawford, Fritz Prather, Hollis Pierson, Heitzig, Bouden, Kellog, Owen, all of Fresno; and Wikarons of San Diego.
Then on January 27, Sig wrote:
Haven't heard from Dick for weeks
but saw his best girl this afternoon and she told me that he hasn't been at all
well and is a little discouraged. He is
making a big fight again to get in the officers camp for flying and I certainly
hope he makes it, because he would be a wonder.
Things didn't sound great in Sig's letter to Loraine on January 31, 1928:
I had a long letter from Dick and
he has been very sick - and really sick at heart. The poor fellow is certainly not in his
regular company, but he is so game that I think he will get hardened to it.
A few weeks went by and on February 10, 1918 Sig wrote:
Haven't heard from Dick lately and
I imagine he is about to depart for France as they are starting the aviation
officers eastward - those who have been training in Texas.
Finally, a week later, February 17, 1918, Sig mentioned Dick again:
At last had a letter from
Dick. He is feeling better but not any
too happy. He says he is glad that I
have a chance for a real job because his life is certainly tough and he said he
would give anything to be back home.
And the weeks went on. March 3, 1918:
Had a long letter from Dick last
night. He says for me to have all the
fun I can while the going is good and he says this army life is a regular monk’s
life. However, he is now feeling fine
and has gained ten pounds. But all his
Fresno comrades have left to parts unknown and he is very lonesome and has no
idea when he will leave. The weather
down there is now getting dreadfully hot, but that is better than cold.
March 19, 1918. Dick is still waiting to go - sounds like he and Sig were very close friends.
I heard from Dick today. He is feeling fine and says he was given
almost all his battle equipment which means France any day – and he can’t wait
to go but said he wished hard to be with me for a few days before leaving, but
of course that is impossible.
March 21, 1918.
Later tonight I’m going to write
Dick and it will most likely be the last he will get in U.S. as I think he will
be on his way any day. Poor kid, I hate
to see him start without a higher position.
March 28, 1918. Sounds like Dick was on his way during this past week.
Haven’t had a line from Dick so I
think he must have departed so I soon expect to hear from him “over there” –
you never can tell.
April 2, 1918. Apparently, Dick hasn't left yet. I'm glad to hear he had an opportunity to visit with friends - maybe friends from Texas?
I suppose you read where the yanks
were about to enter things head first in France. You know what that means – everybody all
aboard soon and a big shift for “over there”.
But we are going to beat them dear and beat them terrible. Heard from Dick yesterday. They are letting him have a glorious time
visiting friends as the time for leaving for France he says is any moment.
A few weeks before Sig mentioned Dick again. April 18, 1918.
Today has been a rather peculiar
one. I heard from Dick last night – he
is in Omaha and he is in training for a master truck driver and is very
enthusiastic but working awfully hard.
But what do you think sweet – his mother died last evening. It was very sudden and the cause was
apoplexy. It will surely wreck Dick as
he was so fond of her. She was a very
fine woman and very young. I suppose
Dick will come home for the funeral.
Sure enough. Annie Crawford died on 17 April 1918 at the young age of just 46.
Sadly, Dick was unable to return home for the funeral. The 'little girl' mentioned was, apparently, his girlfriend.
Dick’s mother’s funeral was
yesterday and he could not come. Isn’t
that tough. I guess he feels pretty blue
and his little girl is still in the sanitarium improving rather slowly.
After a few brief mentions of Dick, Sig wrote on May 14, 1918.
Haven’t heard from Dick for an
age. Several balloons exploded in his
camp but his folks tell me that he didn’t happen to be in the midst. He most likely will write me all about it.
Just a few days later - May 19, 1918. I can't get enough of the loving words Sig and Loraine wrote to each other.
Heard from Dick and the poor
fellow is certainly working hard. He is
driving a truck all day long and says he works until he is “all in”. He will be one boy who will be happy when the
war is over. The girls out there treat
the soldiers very nice but he says he craves for the company of the real
western girl – and then he would be happy.
I supposed when I am on my way I will be worse in that regard than is
he. Saw a Red Cross picture last night
of a girl in love with a soldier boy.
Sweetheart it reminded me of you so much because she loved him so much,
and I really thought deeply of you all night.
June 2, 1918
Had
a letter from Dick yesterday. He likes
Omaha better every minute. He says the
girls out there are just showering the boys with attention. It won’t be long before Fresno will not have
any young men left. Every day bunches
are leaving.
Not much news about Dick until November 22, 1918.
Read in the paper that Dick
Crawford is home on a furlough. Isn’t that
great.
November 29, 1918 - SPECIAL DELIVERY
And I first just left Dick and
Helen - poor kid leaves at 3 a.m. for Virginia.
He is on a furlough and tried to get discharged while here but nothing
doing. They wouldn't allow him an
extension or anything - wired him to come right back.
December 11, 1918. Was Dick heading home now?
Had
a card from Dick en route and he said his train was crowded with aviators
homeward bound.
December 12, 1918. Sounds like he was on his way home.
Just
had a letter from Dick – he has arrived safely and expects his discharge before
the 15th. He says he is crazy
to get back into God’s country.
December 26, 1918. Just in time for Christmas. I wonder what "quite natural" looks like.
Dick arrived home last night and
is back for good. He changed his clothes
at once and looks quite natural.
January 5, 1919.
I’ve
only been with Dick once or twice since he is back as I have spent most of my
evenings writing to you and then home to bed and then thinking of you.
January 14, 1919. Sounds like Dick is busy catching up.
Don’t
hardly see Dick at all – I fear he is too busy with dates.
January 17, 1919. Now Dick is planning to catch up with Sig.
Don’t see any of the fellows
anymore, even at night. They say they
are all too busy, but I have a date with Dick tomorrow night. I even sold his home this week – can you beat
that.
January 18, 1919. And they did!
I am up to the club with Dick and
we are having a nice visit. Just before
dinner tonight I made a deal netting $200.00 commission. Pretty good finish for the week.
January 19, 1919. And now Dick is back to catching up with Helen.
It is a beautiful sunshiny day but
I am too lazy even to go riding. Dick
just came in and he is half asleep and left to go out and see Helen. He will have to wake up or she won’t enjoy
his company.
January 29, 1919. Lots of changes in Dick's life.
I had a glimpse of Dick today –
never get a visit with him as he is too busy with his women. And tomorrow he is moving away out to their new
place which I leased them so I guess he won’t get down town much at
nights. With all my deals I am changing
many homes on the first of the month.
February 14, 1919.
Dick & I are going to visit a little
while tonight. There is a soldiers night
at the armory but I’ll not go.
February 15, 1919. I'm glad Sig and Dick are still 'hanging out' and I'm sure they looked dapper in their uniforms - where are the photos of that?
What do you think? I went out last night to the soldiers and
sailor ball. They requested me to come
so Dick & I went in uniform. It was
simply packed and quite a sight. The
music and life was quite a change for me after all my strenuous grind of hard
work.
And as my grandmother would say, that was that. Sig and Loraine were married just 4 days later so that was all I read about Dick. It sounds like he was a special friend of Sig's but I don't know if their friendship continued after Sig was married.
I did learn that Dick followed in his father's footsteps and became an optometrist. He went on to marry Estelle Kuster and together they had two sons, Stanly Francis Crawford (1920-2009) and Edwin Dickey Crawford (1926-2013).
Edwin Dickey Crawford died on 13 Dec 1954, coincidentally the day before I was born.
Fresno Bee, December 14, 1954, page 1
I've contacted a few people on Ancestry who might have some knowledge of Dick but since it looks like he only had one grandchild, I'm not sure I'll hit pay dirt with those contacts.
I never heard Dick's name mentioned but since he died before I was born, I guess that's to be expected. But I'm happy to learn what a great friend he was to my grandfather during a very difficult time for both of them.
