Glenn Robert Rouse

1941 - 2022

Glenn Rouse, a long-time resident of Monterey County, passed away on April 2 in Watsonville, CA at the age of 80 following several years of progressive cardiopulmonary illness. Glenn (Bob to his close family) was born in Danville, Illinois on August 19, 1941 to Glenn Riley Rouse and Reva Louise Wilson.

By the time he was in high school he had moved to Florida to live with his dad. At 17, right after graduation, he followed his father's footsteps and enlisted in the Army. More than 20 years later Glenn retired as a Major following a remarkable and decorated military career, including active duty overseas and combat in Vietnam. As a Special Forces Officer for over a decade, Glenn was a master diver and parachute jumper, an expert in explosives and munitions, and learned several languages. During his tours he received the Silver Star for valor, Bronze Star, Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Armed Forces Honor Medal, Vietnam Gallantry Cross, Vietnam Jump Wings Medal, and Master Parachute Badge, among others, including the Purple Heart for wounds he sustained in combat. His Silver Star was earned in 1970 as a member of an elite, hand-picked raiding force of 100 Special Forces volunteers chosen to lead an airborne assault mission on a POW camp at Son Tay in an attempt to rescue 70 American prisoners.

Near the end of his military service Glenn married Saeko, whom he met overseas, and settled in Prunedale, in Monterey County. After his honorable retirement from the Army he began his second service career as a police officer for the City of Salinas, where he applied his expertise in intelligence and tactics to the department's gang enforcement efforts. Following retirement from the City Glenn continued to work in Salinas as a private investigator.

Glenn was a mischievous character, prankster, fisherman, diver, marksman, enjoyed a good donut, and loved to ride his Harley Road King, which he rode as long as he could. He had seen distant corners of the country and the world, the good and the bad, and had many stories. But like many veterans of Vietnam and elsewhere, we also know that he had many stories inside that he didn't share.

Glenn is survived by his wife Saeko Rouse, brother Terry Rouse, sister Jody Bentley, niece Barbara Bentley Stearn and several other relatives from his roots in the Midwest and elsewhere. The close friends and companions he made over the decades – from the law enforcement community, veterans organizations and the coffee shop – were also his family. But maybe most importantly, for the past decade he had the joy of being "GranBob" to his grand-niece Sophie, who somehow managed to beat him in checkers. Every time.

Services will be at the California Central Coast Veterans Cemetery on May 23, 2022 at 2:00pm followed by a celebration of life at the Embassy Suites Monterey Bay directly after the service. Mehl's Colonial Chapel was entrusted with the arrangements.

See you down the road, Bob.