Bus and Alice Crowley

Clement Ignatious Crowley nicknamed "Bus" was born on July 21, 1921 in Ferndale, Humboldt, California to parents Charles Joseph Crowley (1892-1948) and Mary "Minnie" Flaherty (1890-1975). He had a sister, Mary E Crowley (1922-1930). He lived in Scotia, Humboldt, California. He attended California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo where he earned a B.S. in agricultural science. In a twist of fate during the onset of World War II, Bus crossed paths with his future wife Alice Mae McGarraghy (1919-1999) when she volunteered to correspond with a serviceman. Selecting her name from a list compiled by her bowling team, Bus and Alice's connection began to bloom. Though they only had a brief meeting before his deployment, their love persevered through heartfelt letters exchanged over three years. On September 4, 1942 he enlisted in Sacramento, California and held the rank of Private. He miraculously survived some of the most intense and challenging battles of World War II, including the Battle of the Bulge and the Invasion of Normandy. For his remarkable contributions and bravery in these battles, he was awarded five Battle Stars. After his return from Europe, their bond solidified, culminating in marriage just one month later on November 17, 1945 in Rochester, New York, USA.