Steven Vincent Crum

Steven Crum was born and raised in the Ida Grove area and attended Schaller High School. In 1966 he joined the Iowa National Guard and served with the 2nd Mechanized, 133rd Infantry. His unit was one of the few National Guard units activated during the Vietnam War. Activated in May 1968, the 133rd became part of the 1st Infantry Division, the “Big Red One”, and deployed to Vietnam in May 1969. SGT Crum commanded his platoon during the battle of The Michelon, leading his men with great courage. He was killed on August 13, 1969 in Tay Ninh Province by a mine explosion, one of twelve men from the 2nd Mechanized who died during the twenty month deployment. Survived by his widow, he was buried in the Schaller Cemetery.