William W. Crouch

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William W. Crouch
William W Crouch.jpg
General William W. Crouch
Nickname(s)Bill
Born (1941-07-12) July 12, 1941 (age 82)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
AllegianceUnited States
Service/branch United States Army
Years of service1963–1998
Rank General
Commands held Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army
Allied Land Forces Central Europe
United States Army Europe
Eighth United States Army
5th Infantry Division
2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment
Battles/wars Vietnam War
Awards Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Army Distinguished Service Medal
Silver Star
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star Medal (2)
Other workCole Commission co-chair

General William Wright Crouch (born July 12, 1941) [1] is a retired United States Army four-star general who served as Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army from 1997 to 1998.

Contents

Early life

Crouch was born on July 12, 1941, in Los Angeles, California. [2] He attended the San Diego Army and Navy Academy and graduated from Claremont Men's College with a degree in Civil Government. [3] He holds a master's degree in history from Texas Christian University.

Military career

Crouch commanded soldiers at every level from platoon through to army. He began his service in 1963 as a cavalry platoon leader in the 5th Infantry Division. He went on to command four companies, two of which were cavalry troops in combat. His subsequent commands included a cavalry squadron, the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment and the 5th Infantry Division. [4] He also served as Commanding General of the Eighth United States Army and Chief of Staff United Nations Command/Combined Forces Command and United States Forces Korea.

Crouch assumed command of United States Army Europe on December 19, 1994, and assumed command of Allied Land Forces Central Europe (LANDCENT) on February 15, 1996, and was its first American since its establishment in 1993. He served as Vice Chief of staff from 1997 until his retirement in 1998.

Crouch is a graduate of the United States Army Command and General Staff College and the United States Army War College. His decorations include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Army Distinguished Service Medal, the Silver Star, the Legion of Merit, and the Bronze Star Medal with oak leaf cluster.

Awards and decorations

Defense Distinguished Service Medal ribbon.svg Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Distinguished Service Medal ribbon.svg Army Distinguished Service Medal
Silver Star ribbon.svg Silver Star
Legion of Merit ribbon.svg Legion of Merit
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze Star ribbon.svg
Bronze Star Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Meritorious Service Medal ribbon.svg
Meritorious Service Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters
Air Medal ribbon.svg Air Medal
Army Commendation Medal ribbon.svg Army Commendation Medal
Army Achievement Medal ribbon.svg Army Achievement Medal
Valorous Unit Award ribbon.svg Valorous Unit Award
Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg
National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg
National Defense Service Medal with Service star
Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg
Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg
Vietnam Service Ribbon.svg
Vietnam Service Medal with two Service stars
Armed Forces Service Medal ribbon.svg Armed Forces Service Medal
Army Service Ribbon.svg Army Service Ribbon
Army Overseas Service Ribbon.svg Army Overseas Service Ribbon
NATO Medal Yugoslavia ribbon bar.svg NATO Medal for Former Yugoslavia
Gugseon Security Medal Ribbon.png Order of National Security Merit (Korea) Gugseon Medal
Vietnamese Gallantry Cross ribbon.svg Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg Gallantry Cross (Vietnam) with bronze star
Vietnam Armed Forces Honor Medal ribbon-First Class.svg Vietnam Armed Forces Honor Medal 1st class
Gallantry Cross Unit Citation.png Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation
Civil Action Unit Citation.png Vietnam Civil Actions Medal Unit Citation
Vietnam Campaign Medal ribbon with 60- clasp.svg Vietnam Campaign Medal

Post-military career

Admiral Harold W. Gehman (left) and General William W. Crouch brief reporters on the report of the USS Cole Commission Crouch and Gehman.jpg
Admiral Harold W. Gehman (left) and General William W. Crouch brief reporters on the report of the USS Cole Commission

Crouch, along with retired Admiral Harold W. Gehman, Jr., were appointed by Defense Secretary William S. Cohen on October 19, 2000, as co-chairmen of the Department of Defense's Cole Commission to investigate the bombing of the USS Cole (DDG-67). [5] He has also served on the board of directors of the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America, [6] and since May 2005 has served on the board of Directors of FLIR Systems. [3] He is also a Senior Mentor with the Leadership Development and Education Program for Sustained Peace at the United States Naval Postgraduate School, serves on the board of the Keck Institute for International and Strategic Studies at Claremont McKenna College, [3] and sits on the advisory board of Isilon Systems. [4]

Personal life

Crouch's wife, Vicki, also a native of Southern California, attended Scripps College, as did their two daughters Cami and Cathi. The Crouches have two grandchildren, Chris and Elizabeth, and reside in Colorado.

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References

  1. "News Release: General Officer Announcement". Defense.gov. Retrieved February 2, 2012.
  2. General Officer announcement 331-91 June 24, 1997
  3. 1 2 3 "FLIR Systems Biography". Phx.corporate-ir.net. Retrieved February 2, 2012.
  4. 1 2 "Isilon Systems Federal Advisory Board". Isilon.com. Retrieved February 2, 2012.
  5. Cole Commission Focuses On Force Protection Measures
  6. CADCA Board of Directors Archived February 10, 2007, at the Wayback Machine

PD-icon.svg This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Government. Archived from the original on June 16, 1997.

Military offices
Preceded by Commanding General of U.S. Army Europe
1994–1997
Succeeded by
Preceded by Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army
1997–1998
Succeeded by