More detail on this person: Colonel William E. Crouch Jr., USA (Retired) passed away on Thursday,
September 19, 2013 in Panama City, FL. Bill was born in Laurel, Delaware on May 28th, 1928. He
attended Laurel High School and enlisted in the US Army Air Corps after graduation in 1946. Bill was
selected to attend the United States Military Academy at West Point, NY and graduated in 1951. While
at West Point, he met the love of his life, Betty Jane (BJ) Macaulay, whom he married after
graduating and being commissioned as Second Lieutenant.
Bill served with distinction during his 30 year Army Career. As a Field Artillery Officer, he first
served with the 82d Airborne Division, then deployed to the Korean Conflict in November 1952 with
the 48th Field Artillery Battalion, 7th Infantry Division. After returning home, he attended
Artillery courses at Fort Sill, OK, and Fort Bliss, TX where Bill was assigned as an instructor. 1n
1955, Bill and BJ were blessed with their daughter Deborah Ann.
In 1957, after graduating from the Artillery Officers' Advanced Course, then Captain Crouch started
the second phase of his Army Career in Army Aviation. Bill attended Mississippi State University
where he earned a Master of Science degree in Aeronautical Engineering in 1959. Following
graduation, he was assigned to Fort Rucker for flight training and earned his Army aviator wings in
1960. He remained at Fort Rucker, serving three years at the United States Army Aviation Test Board,
He was then assigned to and graduated from the United States Army Command and General Staff
College in Fort Leavenworth, KS in 1964.
Bill deployed on his first tour in Vietnam as Light Aviation Project Officer, developing aviation
combat tactics and techniques. Returning home, he assumed duties as Chief, Aircraft Branch of the
Combat Development Command's Aviation Agency. Bill applied for and was selected for the United
States Naval Test Pilot School. After graduation Bill was assigned to the United States Army
Aviation Test Activity at Edward Air Force Base, CA as an experimental test pilot, Chief, Flight
Test Engineering, and later Deputy Commander.
In 1969, he returned to Vietnam as commander of the 9th Aviation Battalion, 9th Infantry Division,
and later as Executive Officer, 17th Aviation Group. He returned home to attend the United States
Army War College and returned to Vietnam in 1971 to command the 101st Aviation Group, 101st
Airborne Division (Airmobile). When his unit redeployed to the United States in January 1972, Bill
served as G-3, 1st Aviation Brigade, and later as Deputy Commander for Operations, 3d Brigade
(Separate), 1st Cavalry Division.
As a Colonel, Bill served in the Pentagon as Chief of Airmobility Division (later reorganized as the
Aviation Systems Division) in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Research, Development, and
Acquisition until July 1977. He concluded his military career in 1981 as Commander, U.S. Army
Aviation Development Test Activity in Fort Rucker, AL. He continued to work with Army Aviation as a
member of industry until his retirement in 1993.
Bill was the recipient of numerous military awards. They included the Legion of Merit with three Oak
Leaf Clusters, Distinguished Flying Cross with an Oak Leaf Cluster, Bronze Star Medal with a âÇoVâÇ¥
device for Valor and three Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Medal with 32 awards, Army Commendation Medal
with a âÇoVâÇ¥ device for Valor and an Oak Leaf Cluster, and many foreign awards.
Upon retirement Bill and BJ moved to Panama City Beach, Florida and although a long time boat owner,
Bill decided he needed to take a boating safety course to learn more about boating. One thing led to
another and he joined the Flotilla 19 of the US Coast Guard Auxiliary in Panama City Beach. Bill
started out as an instructor and shortly thereafter was appointed as Flotilla Finance Officer. Other
staff assignments included Personnel Services Officer and Communications Services Officer. His
leadership positions included service as Flotilla Vice Commander, Flotilla Commander, Division Vice
Captain, Division Captain, District Rear Commodore and District Vice Commodore, and in 2007 he was
elected Commodore of the Coast GuardâÇÖs Eighth District Coastal Region, with responsibility for all
Auxiliary activities from the Arizona / New Mexico state line to St. Marks, FL, and covering all or
part of eight southern states. BillâÇÖs contributions to Boating Safety and the Auxiliary were
extensive, and he received numerous awards, including the prestigious Martin S Herz Award for
inspirational leadership in early 2013. He continued to be active as an instructor and advisor until
his passing.
Bill is survived by his wife of 62 years BJ, daughter Deborah Hesson and son-in-law Colonel James
Hesson (USA Ret) (Huntsville, AL)brothers Donald (Seaford, DE), and Francis Crouch (Delmar, DE),
sister Jean Span (Burk, VA), and his grandchildren, Captain James Hesson (USAF) (Charleston, SC),
Stephen Hesson (Huntsville, AL), and Kirsten Hesson (Huntsville, AL).
A memorial service will be at 2:00 P.M., Saturday September 28, 2013 at Kent-Forest Lawn Funeral
Home. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Wounded Warriors Project
(4899 Belfort Road, Suite 300, Jacksonville, Florida 32256) in his name. Colonel CrouchâÇÖs remains
will be interred at Arlington National Cemetery with military honors for his service to the nation
at a later date.
Burial information: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA
This information was last updated 05/18/2016
Please send additions or corrections to: HQ@vhpa.org VHPA Headquarters
Return to the Helicopter Pilot DAT name list
Return to VHPA web site
Date posted on this site: 01/11/2025
Copyright © 1998 - 2024 Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association