Media invited to attend ceremonial transfer of WWII USCG POW remains

U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 10/28/2019 02:16 PM EDT

united states coast guard 

Media Advisory  Oct. 28, 2019

U.S. Coast Guard 9th District Great Lakes
Contact: 9th District Public Affairs
Office: (216) 902-6020
After Hours: (216) 310-2608
9th District online newsroom

Media invited to attend ceremonial transfer of WWII USCG POW remains

Who: Lt. Thomas Crotty, USCG WWII POW

What: Ceremonial transfer of remains

When: Friday, Nov.1, 2019, 10 a.m.

Where: Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, 10405 Lockport Rd., New York

BUFFALO, N.Y. — The U.S. Coast Guard is scheduled to receive the remains of a World War II service member from an Air Force Reserve air crew at Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, New York, Friday.

Lt. Thomas Crotty was the only Coast Guardsman to serve in the Defense of the Philippines. Crotty was the first Coast Guard prisoner of war since the War of 1812 and one of four USCG POWs during WWII. Crotty served in four different military branches while deployed to the Philippines. Crotty managed and coached Buffalo's 1929 American Legion Junior National Baseball Championship team and he was class president during his time at the Coast Guard Academy.

His remains were recently identified by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) and will be brought back to Crotty’s hometown of Buffalo, New York, for burial.

Interested media should report to the main gate on Lockport Road at 9 a.m. for escort. If media need help finding the main gate or escort assistance contact the 914th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs Office at (716) 236-2136.

-USCG-