Leslie Dewayne Crouse

Major Leslie Crouse grew up in the Fort Dodge area. However, as one friend described him, “He was brought up by the Army and was Army.” A twenty year veteran, he started out as a private and worked his way through officer school in the artillery. In 1968 he was assigned as a S-3 Operations Officer with the Headquarters Company, 6th Battalion, 29th Artillery. He arrived in Vietnam January 1968 and was based close to the Laotian border near Ben Het in Kontum Province. He was killed by a rocket attack while coordinating fire support. He was widely respected, served as a mentor for young officers and was a professional soldier. In his honor, the Headquarters Building at Fort Richardson in Alaska, his home base, was renamed for him. He was promoted posthumously to Lieutenant Colonel. Married with four children, he was buried at Fort Richardson National Cemetery in Anchorage.