World War II Honoree

Henry H. Crowe, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Shirley, Massachusetts

Honored By

Charles B. Church III

ENTERED THE UNITED STATES ARMY FROM SHIRLEY, MASSACHUSETTS IN 1943. BASIC TRAINING AT INDIAN TOWN GAP, PENNSYLVANIA THEN TO FORT DIX, NEW JERSEY. ASSIGNED TO THE 200TH PORT COMPANY IN FORT HAMILTON, NEW YORK AS A LONGSHOREMAN LOADING AND UNLOADING TANKS, AIRPLANES, AMMUNITION, AND ARTILLERY FROM SHIPS. UNIT TRANSITED THROUGH CALIFORNIA, TO HAWAII AND ON SAND ISLAND ACROSS THE BAY FROM HONOLULU HAD LONGSHOREMAN DUTIES FOR 13 MONTHS. PROCEEDED TO THE SOUTH PACIFIC THEATRE AND STOPPED OFF AT YAP ISLAND IN THE MARSHALL ISLANDS, TO ESCAPE A JAPANESE SUBMARINE ATTACK. THEN IN SAMAR PROVINCE IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, PACKED UP KITCHEN CREW AND EQUIPMENT AND LOADED ONTO SHIP TO TRANSPORT TO OKINAWA. ONE HOUR LATER THEIR CAMP WAS BOMBED. IN OKINAWA WHILE UNLOADING AN AMMUNITION SHIP, ALL WERE TOLD TO SHUT DOWN OPERATIONS TO LISTEN FOR THE A-BOMB DETONATION. LATER WHILE ON A DUCK BOAT, KAMIKAZE AIRCRAFT APPEARED AND CRASHED THROUGH THE DECK OF THE CRUISER USS BIRMINGHAM CL62, 500 FEET AWAY. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, OBSERVED A KAMIKAZE FLY DOWN INTO THE STACK OF THE USS NEW YORK BB34. AWARDED THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL, THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH ARROWHEAD, THE PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL WITH BRONZE STAR, AND THE MARKSMAN RIFLE BADGE. AS A TECH 5, HE RECEIVED AN HONORABLE DISCHARGE IN 1946.