The U.S. Coast Guard is scheduled to conduct a graveside ceremony as part of a full honors military burial of the remains of a World War II service member in Lackawanna, New York, Saturday.
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.
The ceremony is scheduled to occur at Holy Cross Cemetery, 2900 South Park Avenue, Lackawanna, New York, immediately after a noon chapel service.