Name: Willard Weymouth Crowell Rank: Private First Class Service Number: 1670499 Service: Company E, of the 25th Engineers Regiment and Headquarters Company, 344th Battalion, Tank Corps US Army, American Expeditionary Force Awards: Purple Heart Date of Birth: March 17, 1896 Place of Birth: Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California Date of Enlistment: November 26, 1917 Place of Enlistment: Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California Address at Enlistment: 902 South Alvarado St, Los Angeles, California Age at Enlistment: 21 Date of Discharge: April 3, 1919 Place of Discharge: Camp Kearny, Linda Vista, San Diego County, California Date of Death: October 15, 1963 Age: 67 Cemetery: Glen Haven Memorial Park, Sylmar, Los Angeles County, California Grave: Garden of Prayer, Lot 123 Willard W. Crowell was the son of Weymouth Crowell, Sr (1864-1952) and Ethel May (Ryder) Crowell (1874- 1952), and the husband of Madeline L. (Harvey) Crowell (1898-1975), and the father of Willard Crowell Jr. (1926-1952). Willard’s siblings were Harold Ryder Crowell (1893-1973), Ethel Mae Crowell Edel (1894–1951), Florence A. (Crowell) Lacy (1898–1985), Andrew Edward Crowell (1900–1972), Rachel E. Crowell Meyer (1905–1978), Katherine M. (Crowell) Hinman (1909–1998), and Weymouth Crowell Jr (1918-1944). His brother Harold Ryder Crowell also served during WWI, in the US Army Air Corps and survived the war. His brother Captain Weymouth Crowell Jr., also a Purple Heart recipient like Willard, served in WWII the USAAF and was killed in action on April 17, 1944. Willard served with E Company of the 25th Engineers Regiment of the US Army (Construction, N.A.) when he departed the US from Hoboken, New Jersey on February 27, 1918. Upon his return, departing La Pallice port in La Rochelle, France on January 26, 1919, aboard the Peerless (Notes Bordeaux Casualty Company No. 24), he was serving with the Headquarters Company of the 334th Battalion in the Tank Corps. The 344th saw action in the St. Mihiel offensive and the Meuse-Argonne offensive. Willard earned the Purple Heart during the War, indicating he was wounded during the conflict. He survived the war and returned to the US post-war. In 1927, Willard was admitted to the Pacific Branch of the US National Homes for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers in Sawtelle, Los Angeles, California. Willard died at the age of 67 and is interred in the Glen Haven Memorial Park in Sylmar, Los Angeles County, California. Willard’s son, 1st Lieutenant Willard Crowell Jr., served in WWII and the Korean War. He served with Company F, 2nd Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, US Army. He was seriously wounded in action in North Korea on October 9, 1951, and returned to duty. He died on April 30, 1952. His Silver Star was awarded Jan 21, 1952, for his actions Oct 9, 1951: The President of the United States of America, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Second Lieutenant (Infantry) Willard Weymouth Crowell, Jr. (ASN: 0-1334421), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Company F, 38th Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division, in action against an armed enemy on 9 October 1951 in the vicinity of Sangdongbae, Korea. On that date, during an assault on hostile positions, elements of Company F encountered heavy enemy resistance and was forced to withdraw due to many friendly casualties. Upon observing this, Lieutenant Crowell dispersed his men in a skirmish line and advanced through the intense enemy fire to reorganize the withdrawing unit. Combining the two platoons into a single force, Lieutenant Crowell led them forward in a renewed assault but, in the initial phase of the attack, he was wounded by the hostile fire. Disregarding his painful wounds, Lieutenant Crowell remained on an exposed ridge to direct friendly tanks on the now retreating enemy force. Only after the objective was overrun and secured did he submit to medical aid. Through his intrepid heroism and outstanding leadership, the enemy was forced to withdraw, suffering many casualties and the mission successfully completed. The gallantry in action displayed by Lieutenant Crowell on this occasion reflects great credit upon himself and the military service.

Sources: findagrave – Willard Crowell findagrave - Willard’s son, Willard Crowell Jr. Willard’s son’s Silver Star details