Rose was born in Chicago and moved to Los Angeles in 1947. He graduated from Los Angeles City College and entered the Navy as a radioman. He left the Navy in 1955 and attended UCLA. He re-entered the Navy in 1956 and was asigned to the News Department of Armed Forces Radio, Taiwan. In 1965 he returned to Japan and Armed Forces Radio to head the news bureau at Far East Network, Tokyo. He finished his Navy career in Coronado, California on the staff of Commander Amphibious Forces. He retired as a Master Chief Journalist in 1971, and entered San Diego State University earning a BA with honors in