Mr. Virginia May Crowninshield

Mr. Crowninshield was born in North Dighton and attended Coyle High School in Taunton.After graduation he joined the Coast Guard at the beginning of the Korean War in 1950.He served as a hospital corpsman on the USCGC Eastwind during polar operations, in which the ship came within 400 miles of the North Pole, a record for an icebreaker at that time.He also flew over the South Pole during his military service.He served as a Coast Guard lighthouse keeper in Rhode Island, Maine and Massachusetts and on the USCGC Frederick Lee.After service in the Coast Guard, Mr. Crowninshield joined the Air Force, serving in the Strategic Air Command for three tours in Taiwan and Thailand during the Vietnam War.Later, he had several stateside postings before retiring in 1972.Upon retirement, he returned with his family to Taunton and worked as a jeweler at Homer's Jewelry.He also served as executive director for the Attleboro Area Council on Alcoholism.In 1978 he became a postal service mail handler and Local 301 shop steward.He retired in 1999 after 21 years of service, with a combined 44 years of service to his country.He was a decorated member of the Disabled Veterans of America and a direct descendant member of the Mayflower Society.He was also a published author, voracious reader, amateur photographer and global Internet correspondent.

Mr. Crowninshield was born in North Dighton and attended Coyle High School in Taunton.After graduation he joined the Coast Guard at the beginning of the Korean War in 1950.He served as a hospital corpsman on the USCGC Eastwind during polar operations, in which the ship came within 400 miles of the North Pole, a record for an icebreaker at that time.He also flew over the South Pole during his military service.He served as a Coast Guard lighthouse keeper in Rhode Island, Maine and Massachusetts and on the USCGC Frederick Lee.After service in the Coast Guard, Mr. Crowninshield joined the Air Force, serving in the Strategic Air Command for three tours in Taiwan and Thailand during the Vietnam War.Later, he had several stateside postings before retiring in 1972.Upon retirement, he returned with his family to Taunton and worked as a jeweler at Homer's Jewelry.He also served as executive director for the Attleboro Area Council on Alcoholism.In 1978 he became a postal service mail handler and Local 301 shop steward.He retired in 1999 after 21 years of service, with a combined 44 years of service to his country.He was a decorated member of the Disabled Veterans of America and a direct descendant member of the Mayflower Society.He was also a published author, voracious reader, amateur photographer and global Internet correspondent.