Posted on 03/06/2002 9:41:22 AM PST by ALOHA RONNIE
NEVER FORGET
...MEL GIBSON and RANDALL WALLACE's new Vietnam War Masterpiece ..'WE WERE SOLDIERS'.. which came out Nationwide March 1, 2002 ...very realistically depicts the Heroism of many taking care of each other on the Battlefield and those Loved Ones doing the same at Home while waiting for their Heroes far away to come home ...or not.
...Actor ..GREG KINNEAR.. portrayed Commander Helicopter Pilot ..BRUCE "Snake" CRANDALL.. Hero of this Battle of the IA DRANG Valley in November 1965 ..the first Major Battle between invading North Vietnamese Communist Army Regulars and American Forces. That American Force was my 1st Battalion U.S. 7th Cavalry Regiment heavily supported by Air and Artillery.
...Major BRUCE CRANDALL over and over again flew into heavy fire to bring in crucial Ammunition, Food and Water into our 7th Cavalry Skytroopers at Landing Zone X-Ray and to take out our wounded and dead ..which were many ..that I personally carried from his Helicopter to others waiting at our Artillery's Landing Zone Falcon nearby.
...CRANDALL always led his Wingman Capt ED 'Too Tall" FREEMAN into the Fires who was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor by President GEORGE W. BUSH in a White House Ceremony at the White House last year for his own Heroism at Landing Zone X-Ray.
...So as not to have any appearance of a Conflict of Interest BRUCE "Snake" CRANDALL asked that the Paperwork for his own Congressional Medal of Honor be be held back since he was ED FREEMAN's Commanding Officer and was supporting his award.
...I have just learned as a result of my calling into BRUCE "Snake" CRANDALL on The MICHAEL MEDVED Show Monday from His son ...who was in Studio at the time and had started to smile broadly when I asked his Father just when we would be seeing him get his own Congressional Medal of Honor he so richly deserves.. that...
...BRUCE CRANDALL's Congressional Medal of Honor Paperwork that had been submitted to the Office of Former State of Washington Senator GORTON (R) ...and was "Misplaced" when this Senator was defeated by Senator MARIA CANTWELL (D).
...Is there anything we Freepers can do to see that this True American Hero gets what he so richly deserves...?
Signed:..ALOHA RONNIE Guyer / Vet-Battle of IA DRANG-1965 / Landing Zone Falcon / www.LzXray.com
NEVER FORGET
It has come to my attention that your office may be negligent in processing a Medal of Honor recommendation for Lieutenant Colonel (R) Bruce Crandall that was being reviewed by you predecessor, Senator Gorton. In case you are somehow unfamiliar with LTC Crandall, he is the Army officer and aviator who, in November, 1965, was flying helicopter support for the 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division in the battle of Ia Drang Valley of (then) South Vietnam. LTC (then Captain) Crandall's exploits during the battle of LZ X-Ray are legendary among Army Aviators. He exposed himself and his crews to withering enemy fire on at least 22 seperate occasions during this pitched battle in order to re-supply the unit and save the lives of wounded soldiers.
The fact that 1-7 Cav survived the horrendous onslaught of North Vietnamese Army units are due in large part to LTC Crandall's selflessness, courage and endurance during the battle for LZ X-Ray. His actions are described in detail in the book "We Were Soldiers Once, and Young". This is a first hand account of the battle for the Ia Drang Valley by Lieutenant General Hal Moore (R), the battalion commander of 1-7 Cav during the battle, and Joe Galloway, a pulitzer prize winning journalist and war correspondent who was also present at LZ X-Ray. I invite you to read the accounts of LTC Crandall's heroism in this book.
I also invite you to view the film based on this book that is currently showing nationwide. It is a gripping account of that battle and all who fought in it, including LTC Crandall.
Ronnie, this is the message I sent to Senator Cantwell's office. I ran out of space to finish it but I'm confident she'll get the message about LTC Crandall. I also recommend contacting the Vietnam Helicopter Pilot's Association and the Army Aviation Association of America (AAAA). They can have a big impact on getting Senator Crandall and her staff off the bubble. Let me know if there's anything else I can do.
TADSLOS Army Aviator 1985-2001
...I'll refer the CRANDALL Family to your great Letter to the new Washington State Senator thru the TV Program Schedule Thread in ..'The Movie'.. Discussion Forum Section of ..'WE WERE SOLDIERS'.. website:
.. www.WeWereSoldlirsFILM.com ..
...and Thank You on behalf of a True American Hero ...BRUCE "Snake" CRANDALL.
...Guess you'll have to call in next week, same time same station, when they've got me answering phone calls about ..'WE WERE SOLDIERS'...???
ALOHA
...should NEVER be a matter of politics =
..."Misplaced Papers" ..Right...?
...I was blessed last night to have had the opportunity on Radio FR to share this Situation to our many Freeper Activists on FreeRepublic.com.
...We beat CONDIT this week. We'll win this one too.
FREEMAN, ED W.
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress,
March 3, 1863, has awarded in the name of The Congress the Medal of Honor to
CAPTAIN ED W. FREEMAN
UNITED STATES ARMY
for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty:
Captain Ed W. Freeman, United States Army, distinguished himself by numerous acts of conspicuous gallantry and extraordinary intrepidity on 14 November 1965 while serving with Company A, 229th Assault Helicopter Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile). As a flight leader and second in command of a 16-helicopter lift unit, he supported a heavily engaged American infantry battalion at Landing Zone X-Ray in the Ia Drang Valley, Republic of Vietnam. The unit was almost out of ammunition after taking some of the heaviest casualties of the war, fighting off a relentless attack from a highly motivated, heavily armed enemy force. When the infantry commander closed the helicopter landing zone due to intense direct enemy fire, Captain Freeman risked his own life by flying his unarmed helicopter through a gauntlet of enemy fire time after time, delivering critically needed ammunition, water and medical supplies to the besieged battalion. His flights had a direct impact on the battle's outcome by providing the engaged units with timely supplies of ammunition critical to their survival, without which they would almost surely have gone down, with much greater loss of life. After medical evacuation helicopters refused to fly into the area due to intense enemy fire, Captain Freeman flew 14 separate rescue missions, providing life-saving evacuation of an estimated 30 seriously wounded soldiers -- some of whom would not have survived had he not acted. All flights were made into a small emergency landing zone within 100 to 200 meters of the defensive perimeter where heavily committed units were perilously holding off the attacking elements. Captain Freeman's selfless acts of great valor, extraordinary perseverance and intrepidity were far above and beyond the call of duty or mission and set a superb example of leadership and courage for all of his peers. Captain Freeman's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.
...LOVE the American Warrior"..
...Lt. Gen. HAL G. MOORE (Ret.) on the Message of the RANDALL WALLACE Masterpiece...
..'WE WERE SOLDIERS'..
GARRY OWEN, Sir
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