Army Cpl. William J. Crouch

Died June 2, 2007 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

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21, of Zachary, La.; assigned to 2nd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.; died June 2 in Hadid, Iraq, of wounds sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle.

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Fort Lewis Stryker brigade soldier killed in Iraq

By The Associated Press

FORT LEWIS, Wash. — A Louisiana soldier with one of Fort Lewis’ two Stryker brigades in Iraq has been killed, the Defense Department said Monday.

Cpl. William J. Crouch, 21, of Zachary, La., died Saturday in Hadid when a roadside bomb exploded near his vehicle.

Crouch was a cavalry scout with the 2nd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, of the 4th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division at Fort Lewis, south of Tacoma.

He joined the Army his senior year in high school. His desire to serve came from his father, James Crouch, a Baton Rouge policeman who died of natural causes when Crouch was 13, his mother, Kathy Rushing, said.

He wanted to be “in the thick of things ... on the front lines,” she said.

Rushing said casualty assistance soldiers from Fort Polk told her Saturday night that her son had been killed while on patrol.

Crouch’s younger brother, John Crouch, a reservist with a maintenance company stationed in Iraq, would try to join his brother’s body on the flight back to the U.S., Rushing said.

“We’re hoping he’ll be able to bring his brother home,” she said.

The 4th Brigade has lost 10 soldiers since leaving for Iraq in April on what has since been extended to a 15-month tour in the country.

On Tuesday, it plans a memorial service at Fort Lewis for Staff Sgts. David Kuehl and Kristopher Higdon, Pfc. Robert Worthington, and Cpl. Mathew LaForest.

The four were among 20 Fort Lewis soldiers killed in multiple attacks last month, the deadliest for the post — as well as for troops with ties to the state — since the war began in March 2003.

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Zachary native killed in Iraq

By The Associated Press

ZACHARY, La. — A Zachary native who joined the Army his senior year in high school was killed Saturday in Iraq when a roadside bomb exploded near his vehicle, the Army said.

Cpl. William Jared Crouch, 21, had only been stationed in Iraq for a little more than a month, his mother, Kathy Rushing, said in a newspaper interview. She was informed of his death Saturday night by casualty assistance soldiers from Fort Polk.

The Defense Department said Crouch was a cavalry scout assigned to the 2nd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.

Rushing said her younger son, John Crouch, a reservist with a maintenance company stationed in Iraq, would try to join his brother’s body on the flight back to the U.S.

“We’re hoping he’ll be able to bring his brother home,” said Rushing.

She said both sons had always felt the need to serve. Jared Crouch, who graduated from Starkey Academy in Central in 2004, wanted to be “in the thick of things ... on the front lines,” his mother said.

She said he got his desire to serve from his father, James Crouch, a Baton Rouge policeman who died of natural causes when Crouch was 13. James Crouch, had wanted to serve in the military but never got the opportunity, Rushing said.

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Bikers escort funeral cortege of soldier killed in Iraq

The Associated Press

PORT HUDSON, La. — About 30 motorcycle riders led the funeral cortege of a soldier killed in Iraq from a Baton Rouge church to the national cemetery at Port Hudson on June 9.

Cpl. William Jared Crouch, 21, of Zachary was killed June 1.

The Patriot Guard riders said they didn’t know Crouch, but respected him and all veterans.

“We don’t want them to come home unrecognized and forgotten as have previous veterans,” John Colter said.

“If they die for us, we can ride for them,” Michael Bares said.

Crouch, a cavalry scout assigned to the 2nd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash., joined the Army his senior year in high school. He was killed a roadside bomb.

His mother, Kathy Rushing, has said that her son was in Iraq a little more than a month.

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Soldier killed in Iraq inspired to serve by his father

The Associated Press

Army Spc. William J. Crouch got his desire to serve from his father, a policeman who died of natural causes when Crouch was 13. His father, James Crouch, had wanted to serve in the military but never got the opportunity.

The younger Crouch broke the news that he had decided to join the Army when his mother and stepfather returned from a skiing trip during his senior year in high school.

“It’s something he just had in his blood to do,” said James Rushing, Crouch’s stepfather.

Crouch, 21, Zachary, La., was killed by a roadside bomb June 2 in Hadid, Iraq. He was a 2004 high school graduate and was assigned to Fort Lewis, Wash.

A movie buff, Crouch loved science fiction, kickboxing, pizza and hanging out with his friends. He was disappointed that his younger brother saw combat in Iraq before he did.

His mother, Kathy Rushing, went with her husband to spend a week with Crouch at Fort Lewis before he left for Iraq in April 9.

They toured Seattle, went to the top of the Space Needle and spent hours at a science fiction museum. Those are the memories she said she cherishes.

“Needless to say,” she said, “it was priceless.”