Mr Alva Jackson Cremean

PFC Alva Jackson “Jack” Cremean
U.S. Marine Corps
November 8, 1920 – December 7, 1941

Jack was killed in action during the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.
Jack was the son Marguerite “Peggy” and William Paul Cremean. He had three sisters, Ruth, Billie Jean, and Joan. He was preceded in death by 10 year old Billie Jean in 1940. Jack was born and raised in Pueblo, Colorado and graduated from Rocky Ford High School in 1939. He enlisted in the Marine Corps on July 13, 1940 from Denver, Colorado. After completing his riffle training and sea school he was assigned to the U.S.S. Oklahoma and sailed for Hawaii. On December 7, 1941 he was aboard the U.S.S. Oklahoma when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. The ship suffered 8 torpedo hits and ultimately capsized. From December 9, 1941 through June 27, 1944 Navy Personnel received various remains of deceased crew members. Jack was among those who were unidentifiable. His remains along with about 400 others were buried as unknown. In 2001 Jack’s sisters Ruth Medill was contacted and she gave a DNA sample in hopes of finding her brother. It wasn’t until 2015 when the graves of the unknown were exhumed and the DNA work began. On August 14, 2018 Jack’s remains were identified.
He will be laid to rest where his parents and sister Joan are buried in Madera’s Arbor Vitae Cemetery on Friday, December 7, 2018, 77 years from the date of his death. Graveside services will be held at 2:00 P.M. with full military honors. The public is welcome to attend. Both of Jack’s parents and sisters have since passed away but he is survived by Willis Creamer his brother-in-law, three nieces Elaine Holiday, Esther Spradlin, Donna Moren, three nephews David Creamer, Tom Creamer, Bill Creamer and their families.
The family requests that remembrances be made to the Madera Historical Society, P.O. Box 150, Madera, CA 93639.