John Crouse was born on 7 Feb 1952 in Highland Park, Michigan and raised in Royal Oak, Michigan by his parents,  Rosemary (Kern) & RE 'Pete' Crouse (multi race heritage - European/Hillbilly), brother Steve Crouse & sister Nancy (Savickas) Crouse.   John was in the Boy Scout's of America and became an Eagle Scout.  He had a Detroit Newspaper route.  John was one of about 900 who graduated from Royal Oak Kimball High School in June 1970, and he Lettered in football.

John entered the Navy in July 1970.  He wanted to take a break from school, so he enlisted in the nuclear power program.  John attended Boot Camp at Great Lakes, RTC, Illinois.  (His recommendation: Don't do this in the Winter!)  He then went on to Machinist Mate Class 'A' School at Great Lakes, NTC, Illinois. (Which was still frozen in the Spring!)  After that, he went to Nuclear Power School at Mare Island, California (Finally thawed out).  Upon completion of Nuclear Power School, he was assigned temporary duty to the USS Henry B. Wilson, DDG-7, San Diego, California for training to learn what the Navy is all about.  This was a Non-nuc, Skimmer Destroyer.  The first day on board, Sunday, he had to donate to the "Get a Shipmate Out of the Tijuana Jail Fund, "(not me!).  John said he must admit, at 35+ knots, the rooster tail on a DDG is impressive.  From there, John went to the Nuclear S1W Prototype at Idaho Falls, Idaho.  John was the only Machinist Mate to FULL SCRAM one of the oldest reactors in the world.  He even snow skied down hills of the Rocky Mountains in Idaho and Wyoming.  (Not bad for someone from Michigan, with max elevation of 500'.  But never did visit Yellow Stone Park! Mistake.)

John reported to his first boat, USS FLASHER (SSN-613) at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii in June of 1972 as an MM3(SU) and departed in September 1976 as a MM1(SS).   Upon arrival to meet his boat he found Pearl Harbor empty of all combat vessels, due to minor problem in Hanoi Harbor.  Only 7 Flasher crewmembers were married - True meaning of Fast Attack Tuff.  (PS: The seven wives knew more about the boat then the crew).  John completed West PACs, East PACs and lots of local ops.  He Qualified ERLL in four days, was Divisional Machinist Mate, qualified Engine room Supervisor/Engineering Watch Supervisor and part-time sonar operator (BQS-13).  (Now John has a BQS-13 sonar console in the museum to play with!)   John was Sonar trained by STS-1 Bill Stout and assisted Roger Bacon in submarine traditions.  Leading 1ST Class and was Ship Refueling Coordinator (refueling overhaul in Mare Island).  John drank his dolphins in Club Macombo (twice), Guam. John sponsored the "greatest going away party in the barracks on the hill" in Pearl Harbor for his CO, Roger Bacon who transferred

 (Who say's an entire crew can't attend the party?)

In October 1976, John reported to his first tour of shore duty at Nuclear Prototype Site, Ballston Spa, New York and advanced to MMC(SS) before he transferred from there in September 1979.  John then reported in March 1980 to USS PUFFER (SSN 652) as M-Division LPO and qualified Engine room Supervisor and Engineering Watch Supervisor.  John was the Command Career Counselor and WestPAC Commando.  He became an Auxiliary Sonar Operator because he liked listening to the biologics (fish).  When he reported on board, the PUFFER only had 6 Machinist Mates.  His Division fixed every divisions gear at least once, some twice, during his tour. The one boat one crew belief was very good on this boat  He trained the Engineer Officer on how to take care of the ships reduction gears, never let the Eng touch them again without CPO supervision.  He survived liberty in the Philippines several times, and Australia twice.  John advanced to Senior Chief with Jimmy the Greek (TMCS(SS) WestPAC Commando) and saved MM1 Jeff Sinclair, future CPO, from several socials with the CO.  His crew visited the Aloha Stadium as the Green Machine, and they even watched a game, once.  John completed West PACs, East PACs and lots of Mid PACs.
 
John's second tour of shore duty was at COMSUBRON ONE, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii from October 1983 to September 1986 as Squadron Career Counselor, Haku Haole (Kamaaina) Kahuna Luau Cooker and squadron coordinator for the Mokonani Deep Sea Fishing Boat.  During this tour he completed West PACs (two short rides and had to qualify Engineering Watch Supervisor, as a rider and was most likely the first and only rider to do this, to support the crew) & East PACs, with lots of local weekly ops (all as a 3M rider).

John then reported to the USS BUFFALO (SSN-715), Pearl Harbor, Hawaii and served from October 1986 to September 1989 as the Bull Nuc.  He Qualified Engine room Supervisor/Engineering Watch Supervisor and advanced to Master Chief Petty Officer.  He became known as the "Master Blaster!"  During this tour he completed West PACs and lots of local weekly ops.  John then went on to his first ship, USS CANOPUS (AS-32) at Kings Bay, Georgia and served as the Bull Nuc (Senior Enlisted Nuclear Planner) and Assistant Nuclear Repair Officer from January 1990 to 31 December 1992 when he Transferred to the Fleet Reserve (Happy New Year!).

After retirement John went to work in 1993 at Independent Associates, St. Marys, Georgia.  He was a NAVSEA sub-contractor (local beltway bandit) West Coast Ohio Class boats until September 1996.  He then worked as a volunteer at St. Marys Submarine Museum, St. Marys, Georgia from January 95 until September 96.  He then was hired to be the Museum Manager (collector of stuff) and is presently serving in that position.

John is a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post-1054; Fleet Reserve Association Branch 248 in St. Marys; American Legion Post-312, St. Marys; and St. Marys Saltwater Fishing Association, St. Marys.  He is also an active member of SUBVETS WW II and SUBVETS, Inc. and is presently serving as the Membership Officer of the Kings Bay Trident Chapter.

John says his future goals are to improve the Submarine Museum by getting assistance from SubVets to keep our history alive by displaying a photo, history & plaque from each boat, sub tender, sub rescue & sub staffs.  He also assisted MACS in bringing the Vietnam Memorial Moving Wall to St. Marys in the year 2000, and assisted the Subase with the Centennial Submarine Force Celebration here in the Kings Bay Area. The Subase obtained the sail from the decommissioned submarine USS GEORGE BANCROFT SSBN-643. Museum raised the funds and there is now an outstanding submarine sail exhibit outside the Kings Bay Subase gate. It is the first time an exhibit of this type was done with the submarine surfacing.