Marmon Crowther

Colonel Marmon Crowther was the commander of the elite 21st Space Assault Battalion, nicknamed the Black Daggers.

Biography
Colonel Marmon Crowther was in command of the UNSC's 21st Space Assault Battalion, the "Black Daggers", consisting of Orbital Drop Shock Troopers (ODST). According to Vice Admiral Preston Cole, they were the best the UNSC had aside from the untested SPARTAN-II supersoldiers. Crowther was skeptical about deploying the SPARTAN-IIs at their front lines due to their inexperience in the battlefield as well as their young age, much to John-117's frustration.

During the surprised attack on the ODST deployment on Biko's moon Seoba, the commanding officer of the 21st's Alpha Company was killed, resulting in Crowther promoting Lieutenant Hamm to the rank of captain and CO of Alpha Company. Hamm would constantly butt heads with the leader of the SPARTAN-IIs, John-117. Crowther was later responsible for John's promotion to the rank of Master Chief Petty Officer, a promotion that would come to define the Spartan's image and career.

Personality and traits
John-117 initially suspected Crowther of wanting to save his own reputation when he was reluctant to use the Spartan-IIs in operations after he found out they were minors and blamed the Colonel for not giving the Spartans more commanding roles within the battalion. After Crowther confided to John-117 that he was weary of Hector Nyeto - whom he suspected of having Insurrectionist sympathies and wanting to kill the Spartan-IIs - however, he became more accepting and respectful of the Spartans in general, and John in particular; the latter especially saw him as a father figure and a role model for commanding.

Trivia
It was Crowther who promoted John-117 to the rank of Master Chief Petty Officer, 4 full ranks, which was something unheard of even in 2526.

List of appearances

 * Halo: Silent Storm