News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Fentress County looks to honor a local World War II hero by requesting the state to name a bridge in his honor.
This is the bridge located at the overpass of Highway 52 and Highway 127.
County Executive Jimmy Johnson said the bridge would be named the Sergeant Willie E. Crabtree Memorial Bridge after the Stockton community native. Johnson said Crabtree performed heroically in 1944 to earn the Silver Star Medal.
“He just maneuvered his way around on the right-flank side of the enemy, we were told,” Johnson said. “Opened fire that way he could clear a lot of the enemy combatants out of the way. He assumed control of a machine gun emplacement.”
Johnson said that Sergeant Crabtree was a well-known and respected member of the Fentress County community after returning from war. Johnson said the idea to name the bridge came from the county commission and has been sent on to the county’s state legislators.
“We will send it to Mr. Yager, our senator here for Fentress County,” Johnson said. “Mr. Kelly Keisling, one of our representatives and Mr. John Mark Windle. It will go before the legislature in both houses I’m sure to get this here taken care of.”
Johnson said this in part an important thing to memorialize for future generations in the county to understand their local heroes role on the world stage.
