Lance Cpl. William “Billy” H. Crouse IV, 22, and his K-9 officer, Cane, were killed on 12/21/10 in Afghanistan. Crouse, and his K9 partner “Cane” were killed by an improvised explosive device while on patrol. At the scene of the blast Crouse was conscious enough to ask for his bomb dog, Cane, to be transported with him on the helicopter but they could not save K9 Cane. Crouse died at a hospital from cardiac arrest after being taken there from the field. It was Crouse’s first tour of duty; he had been in Afghanistan for only six weeks when the blast occurred, and it was Cane’s third tour of duty. The two were in Helmand province and assigned to 1st Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force based at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. He joined the Marine Corps in November 2007 and was promoted to lance corporal August 1, 2008. He was born in Angola, Indiana and later moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana, and then to Clinton, South Carolina, in the mid 1990’s with his family. He earned the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and was posthumously awarded a purple heart for his service. His funeral was held on 12/29/10 with a burial in Covington Memorial Gardens with full military honors rendered by the U.S. Marine Corps. Memorial Donations may be made to: the Arthritis Foundation, Fairview Missionary Church, Stroh Church of Christ, the Wounded Warrior Project or the Save the Children Organization.
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