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LeRoy Hindes "Tim" KRUSI^{1, 2}

Born 10 January 1921 in Alameda County, California, USA^{3, 4} to Ellen HINDES and LeRoy Farnham KRUSI3, 4.  Died 16 November 1979 in San Francisco, San Francisco County, California.^{3, 4, 8}

Photograph of the young man.⁷

-Was known as "Tim" because of a picture of Tiny Tim that hung over his crib. ¹

-Served in the American Field Service¹: "24 volunteers in World War II are sons of AFS men who served in World War I"⁵  At some point in the war years served in India and Southeast Asia, which prompted him to become a dealer of Asian Art.²

-There is a statue in the Asian section of the De Young Museum which was donated by Tim.²

-Because of Tim's friendship with the San Francisco columnist Herb Caen, Mr. Caen visited Lone Pine Ranch from time to time and mentioned it in his column, specifically mentioning the kite flying that was done at the ranch.  This was mentioned separately by Tim's brother and his sister, and Harriet Hume's first cousin.  This historian has not located these column(s).

-Was a homosexual.  In the 1970s was involved in a long-term relationship with a gentleman named Allen who was accepted into the family by LeRoy and Harriet.²  This historian does not have the full name of this person.

*Uncle of the Cactus.

"On April 13, 1942, Stanislas Kulak and Tim Krusi were making the run from Tobruk to Bir Bu Maafes. They were alone in a wide expanse of desert when machine-gunned by an Italian fighter. The plane came upon them from the rear. The first knowledge they had of the attack was when bullets burned holes through the windshield and instrument panel. They jerked to a stop and dived for cover, but too late. Several fragments had pierced Krusi's back, paralyzing the diaphragm. Later the lower lobe of one lung collapsed. He was rushed to Tobruk, where he was operated on by Colonel Simpson-Smith. This surgeon's skill saved Tim's life.

     Kulak emerged from the attack unscathed, but Kulak and Krusi both would have been killed except for one lucky break. They had piled their kit against the seats in which they were riding. Armor-piercing. bullets tore their kit apart but spent themselves. One bullet plowed through a book, "The Skies of Europe," and ended up halfway through Krusi's diary." (Chapter 6)

"Nephew of Hayward Man Wounded in Far East Attack"  This article claims that Tim was the first American injured in the Middle East.

"Homecoming: Alameda Youth Describes 'African Hell,' Then Vows He'll Return".  Clipping includes a photograph of Tim.

"U.C. Youth, Back From Libya, Tells Own Story: Alameda Resident Wounded When Nazis Attacked Ambulance"

"U.C. Youth Home From Egypt Battle"

"Alamedan Wins Colonial Medal"

Tim and Allen on the right.  Tim's step-mother Hattie seat next to them.

Age seven.

1. Mother of loafingcactus, personal knowledge.

2. loafingcactus, personal knowledge.

3. FamilySearch(TM), Social Security Death Index, 30 September 2000.

4. California Death Index.

5. American Field Service Bulletin, Carrie, A full-text electronic library maintained at the University of Kansas, http://www.ku.edu/carrie, New Year, 1919. http://www.ku.edu/carrie/specoll/AFS/library/Bulletins/03dec18.html

6. Andrew Geer, Mercy in Hell:  An American Ambulance Driver with the Eighth Army,  Whittlesey House: New York, 1943

7.  Collection of L. McNally

This page last updated 01JAN2006.

thecactus@loafingcactus.com