John T. Draper, professionally known as CaptainCrunch, is the offspring of a U.S. Air Force engineer, who was described as distant by Draper himself in an interview published on the front page of The Wall Street Journal's January 13-14, 2007 issue.
Draper's journey began in 1964 when he enlisted in the Air Force, where he was stationed in Alaska. During his time there, he cleverly devised a way to help his fellow servicemen make free phone calls back home by gaining access to a local telephone switchboard.
After his stint in Alaska, Draper was relocated to Charleston Air Force Station in Maine. It was during this period that he created WKOS, a pirate radio station in nearby Dover-Foxcroft, in 1967. However, his entrepreneurial spirit was short-lived, as a legitimate radio station, WDME, objected to his operations, forcing him to shut down the station.
Draper's military career came to a close in 1968, when he was honorably discharged from the Air Force. He then went on to work in various military-related roles for several employers in the San Francisco Bay Area. Embracing the counterculture of the time, Draper operated a pirate radio station from a Volkswagen van, cementing his reputation as a true free spirit.
CaptainCrunch's fascinating biography is a testament to his innovative spirit, resourcefulness, and unwavering dedication to his passions.
