Friends mourn loss of leader, war veteran
Posted on Tuesday, February 5, 2008
A man known for his dedication to country, county and friends died Saturday.
Fayetteville's Bucky Crouch, a decorated veteran of the Korean and Vietnam wars, as well as a state leader in the Arkansas American Legion, died after a one-year battle with cancer.
Friends and acquaintances described Crouch as a dedicated individual who never shied from sharing his opinions.
"He always had a point to raise," said Steve Gray, military and veterans adviser to U. S. Rep. John Boozman.
In his 78 years, Crouch served in the 936 th Field Artillery Battalion during the Korean War and with Company A of the 501 st Aviation BN during the Vietnam War. He also spent time training United Nations pilots during the revolution in Congo in 1960.
On a local level, Crouch worked his way up the level of command in the American Legion. He was a post commander, a post finance commander, a district commander, a district executive committee member and the Washington County commander, as well as the Arkansas commander.
He also served as Washington County's election coordinator from 1992 to 2002.
Gray said he dealt with Crouch mostly when the American Legion member would speak at panels on veteran affairs for Boozman. He said he watched Crouch advocate for the millions of men and women who have served in the U. S. military.
"Bucky always took it seriously," Gray said. "He always sought the issues that he could fight the good fight for."
Rod York, post commander of American Legion Post 27 in Fayetteville, said he got to know Crouch well during the past 12 years.
"He was one of the greatest men I ever knew," York said. "He was totally dedicated to the military and the American Legion."
York said Crouch had a particular passion for introducing young people who came out of the military to the American Legion.
"He was always instrumental in setting up programs to help them learn about the (American Legion )," York said.
In a 2004 interview, Crouch talked about the need for veterans organizations to moder n- ize and organize functions that would attract veterans of more recent conflicts in addition to their longtime members.
"Some of us that are in these organizations that are on the end of a limb are going to have to come to ter ms with it and sit down with newer veterans and see what we can work out together to give them direction, and I don't think we have a prayer if we don't do that," he said then.
Crouch was so involved in the organization that on Jan. 30 he was awarded the Certificate of Notorious Service by the American Legion's national commander for his service.
John Logan Burrow, chairman of the Washington County Election Commission, said he worked with Crouch from 1995 to 2002.
"He was just an absolutely wonderful man to work with," Burrow said. "We could always trust each other."
Burrow said Crouch brought a unique gift to the Election Commission.
"He had a tremendous set of people skills," he said. "He was a great friend, and he'll be sorely missed."
Funeral services for Crouch will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Son's Chapel in Fayetteville. Memorials may be made to the building fund for the First Christian Church, 220 N. College Ave., in Fayetteville.
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