James Richard Cratty

2021-03-30T10:54:22-05:00
Army Badge
  • Name: James Richard Cratty
  • Location of Birth: Coleraine, Minnesota
  • Date of Birth: November 16, 1924
  • Date of Death: March 20, 2004
  • Parents: Ralph Cratty & Lonetta (Latterell) Cratty
  • High School and Class: 1942 Greenway High School, Coleraine, Minnesota
  • College: 1947 Itasca Junior College, Coleraine, Minnesota
  • Highest Rank:
  • Branch: Army
  • Other Branch:
  • Date Sworn In: November 23, 1942
  • Place Sworn In:
  • Date of Discharge: November 15, 1945 (re-signed for draft November 19, 1945)
  • Place of Discharge:
  • Military Awards:

  • Military Highlights:
    WW II Draft Registration Cards – 10/16/1940 – 03/31/1947
    State: Minnesota
    Name: James Richard Cratty
    Race: White
    Age: 21
    Birth Date: November 16, 1924
    Birth Place: Coleraine, Minnesota, USA
    Residence Place: Coleraine, Itasca, Minnesota, USA
    Registration Date: November 19, 1945 (re-enlistment)
    Employer: Unemployed
    Weight: 140
    Height: 5-10
    Complexion: Ruddy
    Eye Color: Brown
    Hair Color: Brown
    Next of Kin: R. W. Cratty, father, Coleraine, Minnesota

    Newspaper article: No date – “Santa Ana, Calif. – Dear Folks: Just got back from one of the best weekends in a long time. I saw Inga (Nyman), Mrs. Miller, Dad and Mrs. Shumaker, Ed Nyman, Lee Wedl and Harry Selmser. I got here from El Centro Friday morning. We flew up so it only took us about an hour and I had all Friday afternoon and Saturday morning to get settled. Three other fellows and I are in a tent here and I hope they let us stay as it is right near the edge of camp and there’s no one to bother us here. Saturday afternoon at 4:30 we got liberty and didn’t have to be back until this morning at 7:00, so I got ready as soon as I could and headed for Los Angeles. Got up there about 8 o’clock and went right to Selmser’s place. He was expecting me and as soon as I got there we went over to where the Hawkinson girls from Grand Rapids are, and Ed Nyman and Lee Wedl were there waiting for us. We all got into Ed’s car and went over to Inga’s and had a swell visit. I stayed with Selmser that night and Sunday morning Inga invited us all over to the place she works for dinner. After we had eaten we waited for her to get off work and all went over and saw Sadie Miller. Ed and Inga took some pictures over there. After we had visited with her for a while, we went over to Dad Shumaker’s place and stayed about four hours. We had coffee and ice cream there and had a swell talk. Dad is working for Columbia Studios. He met Eddie Peterson out there. They both work on the same lot. Ed Nyman and Lee are going to try and get jobs there, too. After we were through visiting there it was time for me to start back so Selmser went down to the Pacific Electric station with me and on the way down there I met a kid with whom I went through boot camp, who came down from Minneapolis with Bud, Danny and me and who was the honor man in our platoon. I hadn’t seen him since the day we broke up. He’s a paratrooper and just come back from the island. * * * Inga hasn’t heard from Bud for two months. His division is on Saipan but in a case like that no news is good news and last night’s paper says the battle is over there, so I hope she hears from him soon and that he is still all in one piece. I guess I’ve already told you what the setup is here. I’ll be here for another three months, d—n it. I’m starting more schooling in a few days and will have to go to school about eight more weeks before I get to be a pilot. I’ll fly with him for about a month and we’ll both ship over as replacements. I surely hope nothing fouls this up as I would like to get overseas at least before my second year is up. Had a letter from Fritz that other day. Have more letters to write, so will close for now. Much love, Jim.” [*** indicates censored]

  • Wars Involved:
    World War II

  • MIA / POW:

  • Civilian Life:
    James Cratty died in Colorado.

  • Tribal Affiliation(s):

Privacy Policy Cookie Policy