Chief Marine Gunner Crowe embarked with the 8th Marines for Samoa in January 1942, and the following month was promoted from chief gunner to captain. He was promoted to major in March 1943 and to lieutenant colonel in January 1944.
After the war's end, Lt Col Crowe served briefly with the 29th Marines in China, and with Marine Garrison Forces, 14th Naval District, at Pearl Harbor. He returned to the United States in March 1946, and after duty at San Diego and Quantico, Virginia, entered the Senior Course in the Amphibious Warfare School at Quantico in September 1947. He completed the course in May 1948, and reported to the 1st Marine Division at Camp Pendleton, California, the following month. There, he served as a battalion executive officer, as division special services officer, played himself in a cameo in the film Sands of Iwo Jima and was executive officer of the 1st Shore Party Battalion before taking command of the unit in July 1950.
He arrived in Japan in August 1950 to assist in preparations for the Inchon landing in Korea. He remained with the 1st Shore Party Battalion, 1st Marine Division from September 1950 to May 1951 and was awarded the two Legions of Merit with Combat "V" (one by the army) for outstanding service during the Inchon-Seoul Campaign and Wonsan landing. He returned to the United States in May 1951.
Lieutenant Colonel Crowe was promoted to colonel in December 1951, while serving as chief of the Tactical School Section, Troop Training Unit, Amphibious Training Command, at Coronado, California. He later served there as chief of the Administrative Schools Section before assuming command of the headquarters and service battalion at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, in January 1953. He was assigned additional duties as a technical advisor for the movie Battle Cry (December 1953–June 1954). Following his detachment from San Diego, he completed his final tour of duty June 1957 to March 1960, as commanding officer, Marine Barracks, Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth, Virginia.
Colonel Crowe retired from active duty March 1, 1960, after 40 years service in the Marine Corps, including 14+1⁄2 years as an enlisted man and seven and a half years as a warrant officer. Immediately after retirement, he served as Chief of Police in Portsmouth, Virginia, for nine years, retiring in 1969.[4] He died on June 27, 1991, in Portsmouth after a long illness. As he had instructed, his remains were cremated and his ashes scattered at sea.
Crowe's leadership during action against enemy Japanese forces at Betio Island earned him the Navy Cross.
The citation reads:
The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Henry Pierson Crowe (0-5028), Major, U.S. 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.[2]
^"USMC Quotations". Plum Branch, South Carolina: Heritage Press International. 2001. Retrieved February 2, 2012. excerpted from Warrior Culture of the U.S. Marines.
Compilation and Arrangement:
Copyright 2001 Marion F. Sturkey
Pearl Harbor to Guadalcanal. History of U.S. Marine Corps Operations in World War II. Vol. I.
Central Pacific Drive. History of U.S. Marine Corps Operations in World War II. Vol. III.
The Inchon-Seoul Operation. U.S. Marine Corps Operations in Korea, 1950–1953. Vol. II.
The Chosin Reservoir Campaign. U.S. Marine Corps Operations in Korea, 1950–1953. Vol. III.
"Army & Navy – MARINES: Iron Man". TIME. November 27, 1944. Archived from the original(subscription required) on December 14, 2008. Retrieved February 2, 2012. From the spotless decks of San Diego's Naval Hospital last week came word that the Paul Bunyan of the Marine Corps had pulled through again: 45-year-old "Jim" Crowe had persuaded the doctors to let him go back to war ... Leading his battalion of the 8th Marines into another beachhead landing—at Saipan last June — 6-ft, 200-lb. Lieut. Colonel Henry Pierson Crowe came about as near to getting killed as a man could, and still live. First a Jap bullet pierced his left lung, not far from his heart. Then he was almost killed...
