William J. Crowe
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William Crowe | |
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Commander of United States Pacific Command | |
In office July 1, 1983 – September 18, 1985 | |
President | Ronald Reagan |
Preceded by | Robert L. J. Long |
Succeeded by | Ronald J. Hays |
Personal details | |
Born | Air Force Distinguished Service Medal Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal Legion of Merit (3) Bronze Star Medal Air Medal (7) Presidential Medal of Freedom | January 2, 1925
William James Crowe Jr. (January 2, 1925 – October 18, 2007) was a
Early life and education
Crowe was born in La Grange, Kentucky on January 2, 1925. At the beginning of the Great Depression, Crowe's father moved the family to Oklahoma City. In June 1946, Crowe completed a war-accelerated course of study and graduated with the Class of 1947 from the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.[citation needed]
Career
From 1954 to 1955, Crowe served as assistant to the naval aide of President Dwight D. Eisenhower. While serving in Eisenhower's White House in Spring of 1955, Crowe was tasked with figuring out a way to rid the White House lawn of squirrels, which were impacting the golfing greens Eisenhower had built on the lawn.[1] From 1956 to 1958, Crowe served as executive officer of the submarine USS Wahoo (SS-565).
In 1958, he served as an aide to the Deputy
During the Vietnam War he was the senior adviser to the Vietnamese Riverine Force. In 1969, he took command of Submarine Division 31, homeported in San Diego, California.[citation needed]
A long string of assignments followed:
- 1967 – Head of East Asia Pacific Branch, Politico-Military Division, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations
- 1970 – Senior adviser to the Vietnamese Navy Riverine Force
- 1973 – promoted to rear admiral and named Deputy Director, Strategic Plans, Policy, Nuclear Systems, and NSC Affairs Division, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations
- 1975 – Director, East Asia and Pacific Region, Office of the Secretary of Defense
- 1976 – Commander, Middle East Force (COMMIDEASTFOR)
- 1977 – promoted to vice admiral and named Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, Plans, Policy and Operations
- 1980 – promoted to admiral and named Commander-in-Chief, Allied Forces Southern Europe(CINCSOUTH)
- 1983 – as CINCSOUTH, named Commander-in-Chief, United States Naval Forces Europe(CINCUSNAVEUR)
- 1983 – Commander-in-Chief, United States Pacific Command(CINCPAC)
On July 10, 1985, Crowe was appointed by President
Later life and death
On March 16, 1989, he made a cameo appearance in the “Hot Rocks” episode of Cheers.
After he retired in October 1989, Crowe returned to the University of Oklahoma and William J. Crowe chair in geopolitics. Crowe surprised politicians when he endorsed
Crowe sat on the
As he did at the University of Oklahoma in 1990–91, Crowe taught a seminar class on national security at the United States Naval Academy from 2000 to 2007.
In 2004, Crowe was among 27 retired diplomats and military commanders called Diplomats and Military Commanders for Change who publicly said the administration of President George W. Bush did not understand the world and was unable to handle "in either style or substance" the responsibilities of global leadership.[4]
On June 16, 2004, the former senior diplomats and military commanders issued a statement against the Iraq War.[5]
Death
Crowe died on October 18, 2007, at
His funeral was held on October 31, 2007, at the Naval Academy chapel; Bill Clinton spoke. Crowe was buried later that day in the United States Naval Academy Cemetery. [citation needed]
As of 2016, he is one of only two deceased former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs to not be buried at Arlington National Cemetery. His predecessor, John William Vessey Jr. died in 2016 and was buried in Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery, Little Falls, Minnesota.[citation needed]
Legacy
In 2008, a fellowship was established in Crowe's honor at the University of Kentucky's Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce to support a former member of the U.S. armed forces who – like Crowe – is shifting from military to diplomatic service.
In 2009, the International Programs Center at the University of Oklahoma established the Admiral William J. Crowe Jr. Award. This award is presented to an outstanding International and Area Studies (IAS) graduate every spring semester. The award recognizes an IAS student who has demonstrated high academic achievement, a commitment to public service, and a desire to pursue a career in global affairs. Also in 2009, the Xbox/ PS2 game, Heroes of the Pacific, was released. The main character's name is also William Crowe, though whether or not this was inspired by the real-life Crowe is unknown.
Personal life
Crowe married to Shirley Grennell in 1954. They had three children.[citation needed]
Dates of rank
- United States Naval Reserve: December 4, 1942
- Midshipman, United States Naval Academy: June 23, 1943
Ensign | Lieutenant junior grade
|
Lieutenant | Lieutenant commander | Commander | Captain |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
O-1 | O-2 | O-3 | O-4 | O-5 | O-6 |
June 5, 1946 | June 5, 1949 | June 1, 1952 | January 1, 1958 | July 1, 1962 | July 1, 1967 |
Rear admiral (lower half) | Rear admiral (upper half)
|
Vice admiral | Admiral |
---|---|---|---|
O-7 | O-8 | O-9 | O-10 |
N/A* | |||
June 1, 1973 | August 1, 1977 | September 26, 1977 | June 6, 1980 |
- At the time of Admiral Crowe's promotion, all rear admirals wore two stars, but the rank was divided into an "upper" and "lower half" for pay purposes
Awards and recognition
Crowe was awarded
In 1986, he received the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement presented by Awards Council member and Supreme Allied Commander Europe, General Bernard W. Rogers, USA.[7]
In 1989, Crowe appeared in an episode of the television sitcom Cheers (Season 7, Episode 17 "Hot Rocks"), where he played himself, and was accused of stealing the General Manager's (Kirstie Alley) diamond earrings.[8]
On 1990, he was the first recipient of the Distinguished Sea Service Award of Naval Order of the United States.
In 1993, Crowe published his memoirs in the book The Line of Fire: From Washington to the Gulf, the Politics and Battles of the New Military.
Crowe received four Defense Distinguished Service Medals and numerous military decorations from heads of state. In 1998, the American Atatürk Association honored Crowe with the "Atatürk Peace and Democracy Award".[9] Following his retirement from the Navy, he was awarded a 2000 Presidential Medal of Freedom, the United States' highest civilian honor.[10][11]
Awards and decorations
- Badges
- Submarine Warfare Insignia
- Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge
U.S. military decorations
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Oak Leaf Clusters )
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Navy Distinguished Service Medal (with two gold stars) | |
Army Distinguished Service Medal
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Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
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Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal | |
award stars )
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Valor device
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award numeral 7 (strike/flight awards)
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U.S. Unit Awards | |
Navy Unit Commendation | |
U.S. non-military decorations | |
Presidential Medal of Freedom | |
U.S. service and campaign awards | |
China Service Medal | |
American Campaign Medal | |
World War II Victory Medal | |
Navy Occupation Service Medal with Pacific clasp | |
National Defense Service Medal with bronze service star | |
Vietnam Service Medal with 1 campaign star | |
Humanitarian Service Medal | |
Foreign military decorations, unit and campaign awards | |
Knight Grand Cross of the Most Noble Order of the Crown of Thailand | |
Knight of the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic | |
Tong-Il Medal
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Republic of Vietnam Navy Distinguished Service Order 2nd Class
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Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm and Bronze Star
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Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation
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Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces Honor Medal First Class
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Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
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References
- ^ Kelly, John (April 14, 2018). "In 1955, the White House waged warfare against some furry terrorists: Squirrels". Washington Post. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
- ^ "Former Joint Chiefs Chair Crowe Dies". Press Association. October 18, 2007. Archived from the original on June 9, 2007. Retrieved June 25, 2018.
- ^ Crowe, William J. (1965). The policy roots of the modern Royal Navy 1946-1963.
- ^ Brownstein, Ronald (June 13, 2004). "Retired Officials Say Bush Must Go". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 25, 2018.
- ^ Diplomats and Military Commanders for Change Official Statement Archived October 11, 2007, at the Wayback Machine (June 16, 2004)
- ^ "Former JCS chairman Crowe dies at 82". Air Force Times. October 18, 2007.
- American Academy of Achievement.
- IMDb
- ^ "Admiral Crowe Receives Ataturk Award". Turkish Press Review. April 28, 1998. Archived from the original on December 10, 2000.
- ^ "Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipients". U.S. Senate. Archived from the original on July 14, 2004.
- ^ List of Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients#Military
External links
- "Admiral William Crowe". The Times. October 23, 2007. Archived from the original on May 24, 2011.
- "Biographies in Naval History: Admiral William James Crowe, USN". Naval Historical Center. October 18, 2007. Archived from the originalon October 29, 2007.
- "Senate statement on Crowe's tenure as CJCS". Congress.gov. Archived from the original on January 8, 2016. Retrieved August 5, 2006.
- "President Clinton Nominates William Crowe Ambassador to the United Kingdom". White House Press Office. March 22, 1994. Archived from the originalon October 3, 2006. Retrieved August 5, 2006.
- Peniston, Bradley (2006). No Higher Honor: Saving the USS Samuel B. Roberts in the Persian Gulf. ISBN 978-1-59114-661-2. Archived from the originalon October 15, 2007. Foreword by Adm. (ret.) William J. Crowe.
- "Selected Works of Admiral William J. Crowe, Jr., USN" (PDF). Washington, DC: Joint History Office, Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. 2013.
- "William J. Crowe Papers" (PDF). The Library of Congress.
- Appearances on C-SPAN