Illinois Bicentennial: Welby Nall Crang of Clinton

The Crang-Bennett American Legion Post 103 in Clinton, Illinois, is named for Welby Crang and Artie Bennett, two locals who died in France in World War I.

Welby Crang was a private in the Army and was with the Signal Corps of Camp Logan, Colorado, and then with Aviation at Kelley Field in Texas.  He landed in Liverpool, England, October 29, 1917 before moving to Indrie, France, by the end of the year.

He died of pneumonia December 28, 1917, in Issodun, France.  He was the first World War I death from DeWitt County.  His funeral was held in Clinton on November 7, 1920.