Born in Boston, KY, the fourth of five children of Samuel Lee Crowe (1865–1921) and Alvada T. Crowe (1868–1942). He married, first, Florence May Larsen (1910-1982), and they had one son before divorcing. He married, second, Mona Barbara Quell in Quantico, VA. She was born 29 Nov 1917 in Appleton, WI and died 29 Oct 2006 in Chesapeake, VA. They had four sons and three daughters.
Crowe enlisted in the USMC after WW1.He saw service in Nicaragua and China and was commissioned as a gunnery warrant officer in 1934. He attained his captain's bars after Pearl Harbor.
Captain Crowe landed with the 8th Marines at Guadalcanal in November 1942, commanding a Weapons Company. On the 13th January 1943 while leading an attack on Japanese positions Crowe issued his famous "Follow Me" command, "Get out of those foxholes, men, you'll never get the Purple Heart lying there! Follow me!" The Marines were galvanized. They came scrambling up from the hole and followed Crowe in a rifle and grenade charge that wiped out the emplacement.
Promoted to major and battalion commander in 1943, Crowe led the 2/8th Marines onto Red Beach 3 at Tarawa in November 1943. His inspiring leadership and disregard for personal safety was a key determinate in holding the beachhead during the traumatic first day of battle on Tarawa. He was awarded the Navy Cross for his bravery there.
On 15 June 1944, Lt. Col. Crowe led the 2/8th ashore onto Saipan and was subsequently badly wounded.His combat service in WW2 was at an end.
Crowe stayed in the Corps and along with Colonel Shoup (MOH Tarawa) made a cameo appearance in the 1949 film "Sands of Iwo Jima". When the Korean war broke out in 1950, Crowe commanded the 1st Shore Party Battalion at Inchon.
Crowe retired from active duty on 1 March 1960 after 40 years service in the Marine Corps, including fourteen and a half years as an enlisted man and seven and a half years as a warrant officer. He later served as Chief of Police of the Portsmouth, VA Police Department from 1960 to 1969. He passed away in Portsmouth on 27 June 1991 after a long illness. At his request, he was cremated and his ashes were scattered at sea.
Col Crowe's awards also include the Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon with three bronze stars; the Good Conduct Medal with three bronze stars; the World War I Victory Medal; the Expeditionary Medal; the Second Dominican Campaign Medal; the Second Nicaraguan Campaign Medal; the China Service Medal; the American Defense Service Medal; the Asiatic-Pacific Area Campaign Medal with three bronze stars; the World War II Victory Medal; the National Defense Service Medal; the Korean Service Medal with three bronze stars and the United Nations Service Medal.
Many thanks to Find-A-Grave contributor BarryC (47806468) for the following:
Navy Cross Citation
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Major Henry Pierson Crowe (MCSN: 0-5028), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service while serving as Commanding Officer of the Second Battalion, Eighth Marines, SECOND Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces at Betio Island, Tarawa Atoll, Gilbert Islands, from 20 to 22 November 1943. Courageously leading his Battalion ashore in the face of savage enemy resistance, Major Crowe maintained continuous aggressive pressure for three days from the limited beachhead established by his command in the midst of Japanese emplacements and strongholds. Constantly exposing himself to hostile fire and working without rest, he effectively coordinated the efforts of his own hard-pressed Battalion, attached units and subsequent reinforcement, directing their combined attacks skillfully and with unwavering determination, and succeeded in overcoming one of the most heavily defended Japanese centers of resistance on Tarawa Atoll. Major Crowe's inspiring leadership, brilliant tactical ability and indomitable fighting spirit under extremely perilous conditions reflect great credit upon himself, his valiant command and the United States Naval Service.
Crowe enlisted in the USMC after WW1.He saw service in Nicaragua and China and was commissioned as a gunnery warrant officer in 1934. He attained his captain's bars after Pearl Harbor.
Captain Crowe landed with the 8th Marines at Guadalcanal in November 1942, commanding a Weapons Company. On the 13th January 1943 while leading an attack on Japanese positions Crowe issued his famous "Follow Me" command, "Get out of those foxholes, men, you'll never get the Purple Heart lying there! Follow me!" The Marines were galvanized. They came scrambling up from the hole and followed Crowe in a rifle and grenade charge that wiped out the emplacement.
Promoted to major and battalion commander in 1943, Crowe led the 2/8th Marines onto Red Beach 3 at Tarawa in November 1943. His inspiring leadership and disregard for personal safety was a key determinate in holding the beachhead during the traumatic first day of battle on Tarawa. He was awarded the Navy Cross for his bravery there.
On 15 June 1944, Lt. Col. Crowe led the 2/8th ashore onto Saipan and was subsequently badly wounded.His combat service in WW2 was at an end.
Crowe stayed in the Corps and along with Colonel Shoup (MOH Tarawa) made a cameo appearance in the 1949 film "Sands of Iwo Jima". When the Korean war broke out in 1950, Crowe commanded the 1st Shore Party Battalion at Inchon.
Crowe retired from active duty on 1 March 1960 after 40 years service in the Marine Corps, including fourteen and a half years as an enlisted man and seven and a half years as a warrant officer. He later served as Chief of Police of the Portsmouth, VA Police Department from 1960 to 1969. He passed away in Portsmouth on 27 June 1991 after a long illness. At his request, he was cremated and his ashes were scattered at sea.
Col Crowe's awards also include the Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon with three bronze stars; the Good Conduct Medal with three bronze stars; the World War I Victory Medal; the Expeditionary Medal; the Second Dominican Campaign Medal; the Second Nicaraguan Campaign Medal; the China Service Medal; the American Defense Service Medal; the Asiatic-Pacific Area Campaign Medal with three bronze stars; the World War II Victory Medal; the National Defense Service Medal; the Korean Service Medal with three bronze stars and the United Nations Service Medal.
Many thanks to Find-A-Grave contributor BarryC (47806468) for the following:
Navy Cross Citation
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Major Henry Pierson Crowe (MCSN: 0-5028), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service while serving as Commanding Officer of the Second Battalion, Eighth Marines, SECOND Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces at Betio Island, Tarawa Atoll, Gilbert Islands, from 20 to 22 November 1943. Courageously leading his Battalion ashore in the face of savage enemy resistance, Major Crowe maintained continuous aggressive pressure for three days from the limited beachhead established by his command in the midst of Japanese emplacements and strongholds. Constantly exposing himself to hostile fire and working without rest, he effectively coordinated the efforts of his own hard-pressed Battalion, attached units and subsequent reinforcement, directing their combined attacks skillfully and with unwavering determination, and succeeded in overcoming one of the most heavily defended Japanese centers of resistance on Tarawa Atoll. Major Crowe's inspiring leadership, brilliant tactical ability and indomitable fighting spirit under extremely perilous conditions reflect great credit upon himself, his valiant command and the United States Naval Service.
Born in Boston, KY, the fourth of five children of Samuel Lee Crowe (1865–1921) and Alvada T. Crowe (1868–1942). He married, first, Florence May Larsen (1910-1982), and they had one son before divorcing. He married, second, Mona Barbara Quell in Quantico, VA. She was born 29 Nov 1917 in Appleton, WI and died 29 Oct 2006 in Chesapeake, VA. They had four sons and three daughters.
Crowe enlisted in the USMC after WW1.He saw service in Nicaragua and China and was commissioned as a gunnery warrant officer in 1934. He attained his captain's bars after Pearl Harbor.
Captain Crowe landed with the 8th Marines at Guadalcanal in November 1942, commanding a Weapons Company. On the 13th January 1943 while leading an attack on Japanese positions Crowe issued his famous "Follow Me" command, "Get out of those foxholes, men, you'll never get the Purple Heart lying there! Follow me!" The Marines were galvanized. They came scrambling up from the hole and followed Crowe in a rifle and grenade charge that wiped out the emplacement.
Promoted to major and battalion commander in 1943, Crowe led the 2/8th Marines onto Red Beach 3 at Tarawa in November 1943. His inspiring leadership and disregard for personal safety was a key determinate in holding the beachhead during the traumatic first day of battle on Tarawa. He was awarded the Navy Cross for his bravery there.
On 15 June 1944, Lt. Col. Crowe led the 2/8th ashore onto Saipan and was subsequently badly wounded.His combat service in WW2 was at an end.
Crowe stayed in the Corps and along with Colonel Shoup (MOH Tarawa) made a cameo appearance in the 1949 film "Sands of Iwo Jima". When the Korean war broke out in 1950, Crowe commanded the 1st Shore Party Battalion at Inchon.
Crowe retired from active duty on 1 March 1960 after 40 years service in the Marine Corps, including fourteen and a half years as an enlisted man and seven and a half years as a warrant officer. He later served as Chief of Police of the Portsmouth, VA Police Department from 1960 to 1969. He passed away in Portsmouth on 27 June 1991 after a long illness. At his request, he was cremated and his ashes were scattered at sea.
Col Crowe's awards also include the Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon with three bronze stars; the Good Conduct Medal with three bronze stars; the World War I Victory Medal; the Expeditionary Medal; the Second Dominican Campaign Medal; the Second Nicaraguan Campaign Medal; the China Service Medal; the American Defense Service Medal; the Asiatic-Pacific Area Campaign Medal with three bronze stars; the World War II Victory Medal; the National Defense Service Medal; the Korean Service Medal with three bronze stars and the United Nations Service Medal.
Many thanks to Find-A-Grave contributor BarryC (47806468) for the following:
Navy Cross Citation
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Major Henry Pierson Crowe (MCSN: 0-5028), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service while serving as Commanding Officer of the Second Battalion, Eighth Marines, SECOND Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces at Betio Island, Tarawa Atoll, Gilbert Islands, from 20 to 22 November 1943. Courageously leading his Battalion ashore in the face of savage enemy resistance, Major Crowe maintained continuous aggressive pressure for three days from the limited beachhead established by his command in the midst of Japanese emplacements and strongholds. Constantly exposing himself to hostile fire and working without rest, he effectively coordinated the efforts of his own hard-pressed Battalion, attached units and subsequent reinforcement, directing their combined attacks skillfully and with unwavering determination, and succeeded in overcoming one of the most heavily defended Japanese centers of resistance on Tarawa Atoll. Major Crowe's inspiring leadership, brilliant tactical ability and indomitable fighting spirit under extremely perilous conditions reflect great credit upon himself, his valiant command and the United States Naval Service.
Crowe enlisted in the USMC after WW1.He saw service in Nicaragua and China and was commissioned as a gunnery warrant officer in 1934. He attained his captain's bars after Pearl Harbor.
Captain Crowe landed with the 8th Marines at Guadalcanal in November 1942, commanding a Weapons Company. On the 13th January 1943 while leading an attack on Japanese positions Crowe issued his famous "Follow Me" command, "Get out of those foxholes, men, you'll never get the Purple Heart lying there! Follow me!" The Marines were galvanized. They came scrambling up from the hole and followed Crowe in a rifle and grenade charge that wiped out the emplacement.
Promoted to major and battalion commander in 1943, Crowe led the 2/8th Marines onto Red Beach 3 at Tarawa in November 1943. His inspiring leadership and disregard for personal safety was a key determinate in holding the beachhead during the traumatic first day of battle on Tarawa. He was awarded the Navy Cross for his bravery there.
On 15 June 1944, Lt. Col. Crowe led the 2/8th ashore onto Saipan and was subsequently badly wounded.His combat service in WW2 was at an end.
Crowe stayed in the Corps and along with Colonel Shoup (MOH Tarawa) made a cameo appearance in the 1949 film "Sands of Iwo Jima". When the Korean war broke out in 1950, Crowe commanded the 1st Shore Party Battalion at Inchon.
Crowe retired from active duty on 1 March 1960 after 40 years service in the Marine Corps, including fourteen and a half years as an enlisted man and seven and a half years as a warrant officer. He later served as Chief of Police of the Portsmouth, VA Police Department from 1960 to 1969. He passed away in Portsmouth on 27 June 1991 after a long illness. At his request, he was cremated and his ashes were scattered at sea.
Col Crowe's awards also include the Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon with three bronze stars; the Good Conduct Medal with three bronze stars; the World War I Victory Medal; the Expeditionary Medal; the Second Dominican Campaign Medal; the Second Nicaraguan Campaign Medal; the China Service Medal; the American Defense Service Medal; the Asiatic-Pacific Area Campaign Medal with three bronze stars; the World War II Victory Medal; the National Defense Service Medal; the Korean Service Medal with three bronze stars and the United Nations Service Medal.
Many thanks to Find-A-Grave contributor BarryC (47806468) for the following:
Navy Cross Citation
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Major Henry Pierson Crowe (MCSN: 0-5028), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service while serving as Commanding Officer of the Second Battalion, Eighth Marines, SECOND Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces at Betio Island, Tarawa Atoll, Gilbert Islands, from 20 to 22 November 1943. Courageously leading his Battalion ashore in the face of savage enemy resistance, Major Crowe maintained continuous aggressive pressure for three days from the limited beachhead established by his command in the midst of Japanese emplacements and strongholds. Constantly exposing himself to hostile fire and working without rest, he effectively coordinated the efforts of his own hard-pressed Battalion, attached units and subsequent reinforcement, directing their combined attacks skillfully and with unwavering determination, and succeeded in overcoming one of the most heavily defended Japanese centers of resistance on Tarawa Atoll. Major Crowe's inspiring leadership, brilliant tactical ability and indomitable fighting spirit under extremely perilous conditions reflect great credit upon himself, his valiant command and the United States Naval Service.
