George Cruse, 65, survivor of deadly duty in Vietnam

George L. Cruse Jr., 65, of Deptford, a decorated Marine who fought in the Vietnam War, died of congestive heart failure Thursday, Sept. 9, at his home.

Whether it was luck or good reflexes, Mr. Cruse survived several near-death experiences during his tour in Vietnam.

In one incident, Mr. Cruse, a weapons specialist, was shot in his right leg and immediately returned fire. When a Viet Cong soldier went to strike back, the soldier's gun jammed, giving Mr. Cruse the chance to shoot several rounds and escape, said his sister Kathleen Santucci. He was later awarded a Purple Heart, among other military awards.

As a Marine on the front lines, Mr. Cruse saw most of the men in his platoon killed, his family said.

Viet Cong ambushed Mr. Cruse and men in his division as they crossed a mine field. Mr. Cruse took shelter behind the body of a Viet Cong soldier who had just been killed, said nephew Jeffrey Dovan, who is now a Marine.

When the gunfire stopped and the Viet Cong were checking for survivors, Mr. Cruse successfully played dead.

Mr. Cruse, who lived in Vietnamese villages and dressed like the local people to blend in, later had a difficult time coping with what he had experienced.

"He had issues with helicopters," his sister said. "It was bad for a long time, with the flashbacks."

After the war, Mr. Cruse worked for about a dozen years as a pressman for the Philadelphia Bulletin until it closed in 1982.

During his retirement years, Mr. Cruse enjoyed hunting, fishing, and going to Atlantic City casinos.

Mr. Cruse was born and raised in Camden. He graduated from Bishop Neumann High School in Philadelphia in 1963.

Following high school, Mr. Cruse started taking drafting courses at a local college, but about a year later he enlisted in the Marine Corps.

In addition to his sister, Mr. Cruse is survived by his mother, Catherine M. Cruse, and another sister, JoAnn Teare.

A visitation will be held from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 14, at the Healey Funeral Home, 9 White Horse Pike, Haddon Heights. A funeral will follow at 11:30 a.m. at the funeral home.

Interment will follow in Calvary Mausoleum, Cherry Hill.