Bruce Crandall's command photo taken at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. in 1971
as the 5th Engineer Battalion Commander.
Posted on 02/26/2007 12:47:04 PM PST by ReleaseTheHounds
From just a little earlier today at the White House:
THE PRESIDENT: Welcome. I am pleased that you all are here on a very special day. Presenting the Medal of Honor is one of the great privileges for the President. The medal is the highest military decoration a President can confer. This medal is awarded for actions above and beyond the call of duty...
If Major Crandall had stopped here he would have been a hero. But he didn't stop. He flew back into X-Ray again and again. Fourteen times he flew into what they called the Valley of Death. He made those flights knowing that he faced what was later described as an "almost unbelievably extreme risk to his life." Over the course of the day, Major Crandall had to fly three different choppers. Two were damaged so badly they could not stay in the air. Yet he kept flying until every wounded man had been evacuated and every need of the battalion had been met.
When they touched down on their last flight, Major Crandall and Captain Freeman had spent more than 14 hours in the air. They had evacuated some 70 wounded men. They had provided a lifeline that allowed the battalion to survive the day.
(Excerpt) Read more at corner.nationalreview.com ...
I remember a (History Channel? Discover Channel?) segment about him. He definitely earned his MOH.
I have a lot of respect for medivec crews. The ones that pulled us out for medivec came into the hot LZ against orders and took a lot of hits both coming in and getting out. They weren’t dust off people, just regular US Marine CH-46 cargo jockies. The one I was in was so badly damaged that after it made it to the hospital at Phu Bai it could no longer fly. It barely made it to the hospital.
Thanks for the ping. It's men like this that make my day feel better.
I know I always felt better seeing those 1st Cav emblems on the front
of those choppers overhead. They were good.
Always loved their cool hats.
Congratulations Maj Crandall for your heroism
I'll never forget the men of X-RAY. Heroes proved!
You're a hero proved. Thanks for going.
You're a hero proved. Thanks for going.
I was never a hero. I volunteered for the draft to escape a small town and volunteered for Viet Nam to escape a threatened courts martial. The Purple Heart resulted from unavoidable circumstances. The helicopter pilots I mentioned were true heroes.
But thanks anyway.
Fair enough. Your humility and honesty does you honor.
Bravo Zulu
Naval Air
1965-1976
A true American hero. Thanks for the ping. I was only pinged once, but I still feel honored. *S*
*G* back atcha.
Fierce, righteous determination, yet cool as a cucumber... that photo says to me.
Heh! And now I am honored twice. Thank you. *G*
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