Thomas S. Crow
Encyclopedia
Thomas Sherman Crow fourth Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy
was born in 1934, in McArthur, Ohio
, and graduated from McArthur High School
in 1952. He died at his home in San Diego, California
on November 30, 2008. He was interred in Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego, California.
. His first tour was as an Airframe Structural Mechanic, Transport Air Crew member, VR-21, Barbers Point, Hawaii. He became a Search and Rescue Helo
Crew member, NAS Chincoteague, Virginia
. In 1958, he attended AM “B” School at NATTC, Memphis, Tennessee
, and was advanced to AMH2.
Master Chief Crow served as Aircrew A3D, VAH 9, Sanford, Florida
, and deployed aboard USS Saratoga (CV-60)
. This tour was followed with a tour as an instructor at AM “B” school, Memphis, Tennessee. He reported to Fighter Squadron 121
, NAS Miramar, California, in September, 1966. During this tour, he deployed aboard USS Coral Sea
, and served in country in Da Nang
and Chu Lai
, Vietnam
.
In August 1969, Master Chief Crow reported to Naval Air Station North Island
, California. During this tour he was advanced to Chief Petty Officer. His tour included a four month TAD to VRC-50 in support of CIA, COD, aircraft maintenance. After his return to North Island, he was advanced to Senior Chief and was awarded the Navy Achievement Medal for performance as Maintenance CPO.
Master Chief Crow received training at DoD
Race Relations Institute at Patrick Air Force Base
, Florida
. With this training, he reported as Race Relations Education Specialist at Commander Naval Air Force Pacific Det ONE. In April 1974, he served as Program Manager, implementing Phase II of Equal Opportunity
/Race Relations Program. He earned his associates of applied science degree in business administration from National University
, San Diego.
Master Chief Crow attended Navy Drug/Alcohol Counselor School, NAS Miramar and served in the Human Resource Management Office in February 1977. In December 1977 he was selected to serve as Master Chief of the Force, Senior Enlisted Advisor to Commander Naval Air Force Pacific. During this tour he earned his Bachelor of Business Administration
at National University, San Diego, California.
In June 1979, Master Chief Crow was selected by the Chief of Naval Operations to serve as the fourth Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy
. He was sworn into the position on September 28, 1979.
Master Chief Crow retired from active duty on 1 November 1982. He remained an active advocate of the Navy as a Co-chairman of the Secretary of the Navy Retired Affairs from 1983–86, honorary board chairman, U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation, Navy League of the United States, Fleet Reserve Association
, a member on the board of advisors to San Diego Armed Services YMCA
, and president of the United Armed Forces Association.
Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy
The Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy is a unique non-commissioned rank in the United States Navy, which has a paygrade of E-9. The holder of this rank and post is the most senior enlisted member of the U.S...
was born in 1934, in McArthur, Ohio
McArthur, Ohio
McArthur is a village in Vinton County, Ohio, United States. The population was 1,888 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Vinton County.-Geography:McArthur is located at ....
, and graduated from McArthur High School
McArthur High School
McArthur High School is located in Hollywood, Florida. It serves students from both Hollywood and Pembroke Pines in grades 9 through 12. The school is a part of the Broward County Public Schools district. Mr. Todd J. Lapace was named the principal in 2010....
in 1952. He died at his home in San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
on November 30, 2008. He was interred in Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego, California.
Career
After completion of recruit training, Master Chief Crow attended AN "P" School and AM "A" School at NATTC, Memphis, TennesseeMemphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
. His first tour was as an Airframe Structural Mechanic, Transport Air Crew member, VR-21, Barbers Point, Hawaii. He became a Search and Rescue Helo
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
Crew member, NAS Chincoteague, Virginia
Chincoteague, Virginia
Chincoteague is a town on Chincoteague Island in Accomack County, Virginia, United States. The population was 4,317 at the 2000 census. The town is perhaps best known for the Chincoteague Ponies, although these are not actually on the island of Chincoteague but on nearby Assateague Island...
. In 1958, he attended AM “B” School at NATTC, Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
, and was advanced to AMH2.
Master Chief Crow served as Aircrew A3D, VAH 9, Sanford, Florida
Sanford, Florida
Sanford is a city in, and the county seat of, Seminole County, Florida, United States. The population was 38,291 at the 2000 census. As of 2009, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau was 50,998...
, and deployed aboard USS Saratoga (CV-60)
USS Saratoga (CV-60)
USS Saratoga , was one of four Forrestal- class supercarriers built for the US Navy in the 1950s. Saratoga was the sixth US Navy ship, and the second aircraft carrier, to be named for the Battle of Saratoga in the American Revolutionary War.Commissioned in 1956, she spent most of her career in...
. This tour was followed with a tour as an instructor at AM “B” school, Memphis, Tennessee. He reported to Fighter Squadron 121
VF-121
VF-121 Fighter Squadron 121 of the US Navy and was disestablished on 30 September 1980. VF-121 was originally VF-781, a reserve squadron, established on 2 August 1950.On July 1, 1946, VF-121, The Pacemakers were stationed at NAS Alamitos, CA...
, NAS Miramar, California, in September, 1966. During this tour, he deployed aboard USS Coral Sea
USS Coral Sea
Two ships of the United States Navy have been named USS Coral Sea, commemorating the Battle of the Coral Sea during World War II.* The , was an escort aircraft carrier named Alikula Bay during construction, renamed Coral Sea just before launching in 1943 and then renamed to Anzio a year later...
, and served in country in Da Nang
Da Nang
Đà Nẵng , occasionally Danang, is a major port city in the South Central Coast of Vietnam, on the coast of the South China Sea at the mouth of the Han River. It is the commercial and educational center of Central Vietnam; its well-sheltered, easily accessible port and its location on the path of...
and Chu Lai
Chu Lai
Chu Lai is a sea port, urban and industrial area in Dung Quat Bay, Núi Thành district, Quang Nam province of Vietnam. The city is served by Chu Lai Airport.-Vietnam War:...
, Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
.
In August 1969, Master Chief Crow reported to Naval Air Station North Island
Naval Air Station North Island
Naval Air Station North Island or NAS North Island is located at the north end of the Coronado peninsula on San Diego Bay and is the home port of several aircraft carriers of the United States Navy...
, California. During this tour he was advanced to Chief Petty Officer. His tour included a four month TAD to VRC-50 in support of CIA, COD, aircraft maintenance. After his return to North Island, he was advanced to Senior Chief and was awarded the Navy Achievement Medal for performance as Maintenance CPO.
Master Chief Crow received training at DoD
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
Race Relations Institute at Patrick Air Force Base
Patrick Air Force Base
Patrick Air Force Base is a United States Air Force Base located between Satellite Beach and Cocoa Beach, in Brevard County, Florida, United States. It was named in honor of Major General Mason Patrick. An Air Force Space Command base, it is home to the 45th Space Wing...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. With this training, he reported as Race Relations Education Specialist at Commander Naval Air Force Pacific Det ONE. In April 1974, he served as Program Manager, implementing Phase II of Equal Opportunity
Equal opportunity
Equal opportunity, or equality of opportunity, is a controversial political concept; and an important informal decision-making standard without a precise definition involving fair choices within the public sphere...
/Race Relations Program. He earned his associates of applied science degree in business administration from National University
National University (California)
National University , founded in 1971, is a comprehensive, nonsectarian, independent, accredited, non-profit private university headquartered in La Jolla, California, United States, with academic degree programs offered at campuses located throughout the state, one in Henderson, Nevada, and...
, San Diego.
Master Chief Crow attended Navy Drug/Alcohol Counselor School, NAS Miramar and served in the Human Resource Management Office in February 1977. In December 1977 he was selected to serve as Master Chief of the Force, Senior Enlisted Advisor to Commander Naval Air Force Pacific. During this tour he earned his Bachelor of Business Administration
Bachelor of Business Administration
The Bachelor of Business Administration is a bachelor's degree in Commerce and business administration. In most universities, the degree is conferred upon a student after four years of full-time study in one or more areas of business concentrations; see below...
at National University, San Diego, California.
In June 1979, Master Chief Crow was selected by the Chief of Naval Operations to serve as the fourth Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy
Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy
The Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy is a unique non-commissioned rank in the United States Navy, which has a paygrade of E-9. The holder of this rank and post is the most senior enlisted member of the U.S...
. He was sworn into the position on September 28, 1979.
Master Chief Crow retired from active duty on 1 November 1982. He remained an active advocate of the Navy as a Co-chairman of the Secretary of the Navy Retired Affairs from 1983–86, honorary board chairman, U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation, Navy League of the United States, Fleet Reserve Association
Fleet Reserve Association
The Fleet Reserve Association is a non-profit organization chartered by the United States Congress that represents the interests of enlisted Navy, Coast Guard, and Marine veterans and active duty personnel in the United States....
, a member on the board of advisors to San Diego Armed Services YMCA
YMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
, and president of the United Armed Forces Association.