George Allen Crocker (born 1943) is a former United States ArmyLieutenant General. He was one of the army officers profiled in Rick Atkinson's book The Long Gray Line: The American Journey of West Point's Class of 1966, published in 1989.
In late January 1967 Crocker arrived at Bien Hoa Air Base, South Vietnam and then went by truck to Củ Chi Base Camp. Immediately on arrival at Củ Chi he was sent to join a company of the 27th Infantry Regiment for training in the field.[1]:217–27 During this time he assumed command of a platoon when the platoon leader he was shadowing was hit by shrapnel and earned his Combat Infantryman Badge.[1]:225–7
In June 1967 Crocker's 6-month field command came to an end and he then became staff officer responsible for air operations for the 3rd Battalion (S3-Air).[1]:243
On 19 June 1967 during Operation Concordia 6 companies from the 3rd and 4th Battalions, 47th Infantry Regiment engaged the Vietcong in Cần Giuộc District and the command & control UH-1 Crocker was flying in was shot down by small arms fire and crash-landed in a paddyfield, they were rescued shortly afterwards by another UH-1. Crocker was shot down and rescued again twice more that day. The 47th Regiment lost 46 dead and claimed 250 VC killed in the operation.[1]:244–7
In September 1970 Crocker, now a Captain began his second tour in Vietnam serving as an adviser to the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) 42nd Ranger Battalion based in Cần Thơ. During this tour he was superficially wounded by a sniper bullet to the head and later contracted Typhus which led to him being sent back to the U.S. for several weeks to recover. On his return to Vietnam he had been replaced as adviser to the ARVN Rangers and he became aide to Lieutenant General William J. McCaffrey, the deputy commander of United States Army Vietnam based at Long Binh Post.[1]:341–3
1970s to 1999
Vonda Crocker is presented with the decoration for Distinguished Civilian Service during George Crocker's retirement ceremony
On 15 May 1985 he was seriously injured during a night parachute drop near the Canoochee River when he was blown into trees, suffering 12 broken ribs and a collapsed lung.[1]:544–9
Crocker retired from active service in September 1999.[2]
Personal life
He married Vonda Jones, a graduate of the University of Arkansas on 29 June 1966.[1]:168 Their daughter Cheryl was born in December 1966[1]:223 and their son was born in 1974.[1]:439
After retiring from the U.S. Army in 1999, he returned to Arkansas.
United States Army
United States Army
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