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Colonel Fred Cruse was born in Kentucky, the son of Brig. Gen. Thomas Cruse (USMA 1879). As a boy he had lived in Puerto Rico for several years when his father served with the Military Government after the Spanish American War. There he laid the foundation of his linguistic ability which culminated in his standing at the head of his class In Spanish.
Upon graduation from West Point in 1907 he was assigned to the Field Artillery. Lieutenant Cruse's first assignment was at Camp Columbia, Havana, Cuba. During this tour he also was detailed with the Cuban Government and with Cuban Artillery.
Following his duty in Cuba, Cruse served in several artillery assignments in the United States and the Canal Zone. He returned to the U.S. to work with the War Department General Staff in 1917. Cruse joined the American Expeditionary Forces in France in 1918, becoming Chief of Staff for Artillery, IV Army Corps. He returned to the War Department General Staff in Washington, D.C. in May 1919. Later that year and until 1922, he served as Military Attaché in Panama City, Panama, later moving to Guatemala in a similar capacity between June and November 1922. Over the next twenty years he served in a variety of training and staff assignments in the U.S., Honduras and the Canal Zone.
In April 1942 Cruse was assigned as Chief of the Military and Training Mission, Managua, Nicaragua. While in that capacity, he succeeded Colonel Charles L. Mullins Jr. (USMA 1917) as Director of the Nicaragua Military Academy from 1942-1943. Next, he served as Military Attaché, Guatemala, until October 1945. He retired from active duty in February 1946, after which he resided in Guatemala and Panama.
Colonel Fred Cruse died in Balboa, Canal Zone following a prolonged illness in 1949.
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Colonel Fred Cruse was born in Kentucky, the son of Brig. Gen. Thomas Cruse (USMA 1879). As a boy he had lived in Puerto Rico for several years when his father served with the Military Government after the Spanish American War. There he laid the foundation of his linguistic ability which culminated in his standing at the head of his class In Spanish.
Upon graduation from West Point in 1907 he was assigned to the Field Artillery. Lieutenant Cruse's first assignment was at Camp Columbia, Havana, Cuba. During this tour he also was detailed with the Cuban Government and with Cuban Artillery.
Following his duty in Cuba, Cruse served in several artillery assignments in the United States and the Canal Zone. He returned to the U.S. to work with the War Department General Staff in 1917. Cruse joined the American Expeditionary Forces in France in 1918, becoming Chief of Staff for Artillery, IV Army Corps. He returned to the War Department General Staff in Washington, D.C. in May 1919. Later that year and until 1922, he served as Military Attaché in Panama City, Panama, later moving to Guatemala in a similar capacity between June and November 1922. Over the next twenty years he served in a variety of training and staff assignments in the U.S., Honduras and the Canal Zone.
In April 1942 Cruse was assigned as Chief of the Military and Training Mission, Managua, Nicaragua. While in that capacity, he succeeded Colonel Charles L. Mullins Jr. (USMA 1917) as Director of the Nicaragua Military Academy from 1942-1943. Next, he served as Military Attaché, Guatemala, until October 1945. He retired from active duty in February 1946, after which he resided in Guatemala and Panama.
Colonel Fred Cruse died in Balboa, Canal Zone following a prolonged illness in 1949.
Gravesite Details
COL FLD ART; US ARMY
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