My Coast Guard
Results:
Tag: Prisoner of War

A rare photograph of Allied POWs marching in formation at Cabanatuan Prison. Crotty was remembered by fellow prisoners for his sense optimism despite his dire surroundings in the prison camp. (Courtesy of the MacArthur Memorial Library, Norfolk, Virginia)

Jan. 27, 2025

Crotty — Joint Forces hero of the Pacific War

The story of the first Coast Guard prisoner of war (POW) since the War of 1812.

Lt. Thomas “Jimmy” Crotty was inurned at the Academy’s Columbarium, Oct. 15. A 1934 graduate from the Academy, Crotty went on to lead a prestigious military career including bravely aided in the defense of Corregidor amidst a Japanese bombardment of the island. For weeks U.S. troops, including some who were under Crotty’s command, persevered against the odds, though eventually the Japanese offensive overpowered the American troops and Corregidor fell. Crotty was taken prisoner by the Japanese and sent to Cabanatuan Prisoner of War Camp where he passed away on July 19, 1942. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Matthew Abban)

Oct. 27, 2021

Jimmy: A look into the man behind the uniform 

The story of Lt. Thomas J.E. “Jimmy” Crotty is one that continues to reverberate through the Coast Guard ranks today. Crotty, a 1934 graduate of the Academy, spent his first seven years in the fleet domestically, patrolling off the coasts of Seattle, New York City, and San Diego. As U.S. war efforts mounted prior to World War II, Crotty began