Rank: First Lieutenant
Unit: Air Cavalry Troop, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment
MOS: 1981 – Air Observation Pilot
Awards: Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal, Air Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Unit awards: Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm device
Note: OH-6A, Tail # 66-17779, Pilot
Flight class: 68-510/68-16, Fort Wolters, Texas
Enlisted by: Reserve
Commission Source: Armor OCS Class 24-67 B2, Fort Knox, Kentucky
Date of birth: 19-Jun-1945
Hometown: Springfield, Massachusetts
Marital status: Married to Jane M. Crowley
Campaign: Vietnam Conflict
Start of tour: 11-Sep-1968
Incident date: 16-Oct-1968
Date of casualty: 16-Oct-1968
Age at death: 23
Cause of death: Hostile, Died. Helicopter Crash — Crew (MC). Aircraft loss, crash not at sea.
James Allen Crowley II died from wounds received while pilot of military aircraft on combat operation when aircraft was hit by hostile small arms fire and crashed but did not burn.
Location of fatality: Binh Duong, South Vietnam, XT 788 388
Place of interment: Saint Michael‘s Cemetery, Springfield, Massachusetts, USA
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SILVER STAR
POSTHUMOUS
FIRST LIEUTENANT JAMES ALLEN CROWLEY II, ARMOR
16 OCTOBER 1968
AIR CAVALRY TROOP
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
First Lieutenant Crowley distinguished himself for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force on 16 October 1968 while serving with the Air Cavalry Troop of the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date, Lieutenant Crowley was participating in a low level reconnaissance mission in the vicinity of Lai Khe when his platoon leader located a large Viet Cong bunker and tunnel complex. Immediately the friendly force was taken under intense automatic weapons fire, hitting the platoon leader’s ship a number of times and critically wounding him. Lieutenant Crowley immediately assumed command of the platoon and with complete disregard for his own safety, continued to search the enemy complex, locating the firing positions. Again and again Lieutenant Crowley directed his vulnerable aircraft over the enemy positions, directing his minigun’s and door gunner’s fire into the hostile positions. During this time, Lieutenant Crowley, although under constant fire, calmly radioed in vital information on the location of the hostile positions, the estimated number of troops and the types of weapons. During his final low level pass over the complex, the heavy enemy fire directed at the aircraft mortally wounded him. First Lieutenant Crowley’s unwavering devotion to duty and great personal sacrifice were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.
Headquarters, II Field Force Vietnam, General Orders No. 1610 (November 4, 1968)
DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS
POSTHUMOUS
FIRST LIEUTENANT JAMES ALLEN CROWLEY II, ARMOR
10 OCTOBER 1968
AIR CAVALRY TROOP
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
First Lieutenant Crowley distinguished himself for heroism while participating in aerial flight evidenced by voluntary action above and beyond the call of duty on 10 October 1968 while serving with the Air Cavalry Troop of the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date in the vicinity of Tan Uyen, Lieutenant Crowley was leading a scout team on a low level visual reconnaissance mission in search of a Viet Cong unit which had been observed earlier in the immediate area. Suddenly the scout team received an intensive volley of automatic weapons fire from a heavily-wooded area. In the initial burst of fire, Lieutenant Crowley’s wingman received numerous hits, completely disabling the aircraft which crashed into the middle of the Viet Cong positions. Completely disregarding his personal safety, Lieutenant Crowley dropped down and began to circle the area in order to provide cover for his downed comrades. Observing a small landing zone nearby, Lieutenant Crowley landed in the enemy-infested area and dispatched his crew chief to the scene of the crash. Upon learning that the crew chief of the downed aircraft could not be moved due to his critical injuries, Lieutenant Crowley flew his ship to an area surrounded by 60-foot tall trees which was closer to the crash site in order to successfully extract him. Due to Lieutenant Crowley’s courage and outstanding flying ability, the injured crewman was successfully evacuated. First Lieutenant Crowley’s unwavering devotion to duty and exceptional heroism were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.
Headquarters, II Field Force Vietnam, General Orders No. 1611 (November 4, 1968)