John William Crow, known as "Johnnie" to his friends, was a towering figure in the Class of 1935. A native of Waxahachie and later Milford, Texas, Johnnie was a man of immense physical and leadership talent who left an indelible mark on the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas.



At Texas A&M College, Johnnie was a standout athlete, earning four letters as a star guard on the Aggie football team. His athletic prowess was matched by his leadership in the Corps of Cadets, where he served as Major and Battalion Commander of the First Battalion Infantry Staff. He was a member of the elite Ross Volunteers, the "T" Club, and graduated with a degree in Interdisciplinary Engineering. After graduation, he continued to mentor young men as a coach at Allen Academy in Bryan, Texas.



Service and Extraordinary Heroism
During World War II, First Lieutenant Crow served with the 128th Infantry Regiment, 32nd Infantry Division in the Southwest Pacific. On November 20, 1942, during the brutal Battle of Buna in New Guinea, Johnnie displayed the "extraordinary heroism" that is the hallmark of the Aggie spirit.

While his unit faced stiff resistance from well-prepared Japanese defenses, Johnnie led his platoon, and eventually the entire company, in a daring assault. Under heavy sniper and machine-gun fire, he aggressively moved forward, firing into enemy emplacements to encourage his men by his own courageous example. It was during this assault on a machine-gun nest that Johnnie was killed by enemy fire.

For his actions, General Douglas MacArthur posthumously awarded 1LT Crow the Distinguished Service Cross, the nation's second-highest award for valor. His citation noted his "dedicated devotion to duty, without regard for his own life".

Headquarters, Southwest Pacific Area, General Orders No. 14 (January 30, 1943)(Citation Needed) SYNOPSIS: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to First Lieutenant (Infantry) John William Crow (ASN: 0-328644), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy in aerial combat while serving with Company C, 1st Battalion, 128th Infantry Regiment, 32d Infantry Division in New Guinea. On 20 November 1942, during the battle at Buna, First Lieutenant Crow led Company C to destroy several Japanese machine gun emplacements, and during the fighting, while assaulting another enemy machine gun nest, he aggressively moved forward, firing into the emplacement, but was killed by enemy fire. His extraordinary heroism and dedicated devotion to duty, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.

Johnnie was survived by his wife, Jessie Marie, and their two children. He was also survived by his parents and several siblings, including his brother Marion Crow '36, who followed in his footsteps as a star Aggie football guard. Originally buried in New Guinea, Johnnie was returned home in 1948 and rests at Greenwood Memorial Park in Fort Worth, Texas.