Medal of Honor Presentation to Bruce Crandall

[Music] ladies and gentlemen the President of the United States [Music] let us pray Almighty God you are the Shepherd of our soul I'll strengthen a high tower and ever-present sanctuary in time of need we place our trust in you today we are deeply privileged to honor an extraordinary American Lieutenant Colonel retired Bruce Crandall his lifetime of service to his fellow soldiers the United States Army and this great nation achieves the highest ideals of valor and heroism we thank you for his supreme service as the president recognizes Lieutenant Colonel krandalls achievements we pray that your divine blessing will rest on him and each member of his family and following his example enable each of us to renew our commitment to serving with honor and distinction with humbleness of heart we ask these petitions in your Holy Name Amen [Music] 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 today I'm proud to bestow this medal on a daring pilot a devoted soldier and a selfless leader Lieutenant Colonel Bruce Crandall I welcome Bruce and his wife Arlene back to the White House I congratulate you on 50 years of marriage she must be a patient woman I also am glad that there are three sons and three of their grandchildren are here welcome especially pleased that some of Bruce's comrades have joined us as an officer Bruce always put his men before himself today his men are here for him in this afternoon 41 years after his heroic actions in Vietnam America recognizes Bruce Crandall with our highest award for valor the Medal of Honor I appreciate Secretary of Defense Bob gates joining us today mr. secretary you're always welcome here at the White House I appreciate the Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jim Nicholson welcome I appreciate members of the United States Congress who've joined us starting with the ranking member of the Senate Appropriations Committee Subcommittee on defense Ted Stevens senator from Alaska Congressman Norm Dicks who happens to be the US congressman from Colonel krandalls district congressman welcome congressman jim marshall congressman Patrick Murphy we are glad you're here thank you for coming appreciate very much doctor Fran Harvey as Secretary of the army general Pete pace chairman of the Joint Chiefs general Pete School Maker chief of staff of the United States Army make all the other members of the military who joined us a particularly when I say thanks and welcome to the Medal of Honor recipients who are with us today Harvey Barney Barnum Bob Foley Jake Jacobs Jack Jacobs Joe man Bob Patterson al rascon Gordon Roberts and Brian Thacker welcome I appreciate the families friends and comrades of Bruce Crandall a David Hicks thank you for your blessings the journey that brought Bruce Crandall to this day began 74 years ago in Olympia Washington growing up Bruce was a gifted athlete and a bit of a handful a teacher once observed that he had quote a unique ability to get into trouble and out of trouble without any trouble at all at Olympia high school Bruce was named an all-american in baseball he batted 612 for the league champs like we better check the scorecards his dream was to be drafted by the New York Yankees instead he got drafted by the US Army he was commissioned as an officer trained as an aviator his early career took him on mapping missions over Alaska and North Africa and Latin America in 1963 he reported to Fort Benning to help lead a new unit that would become known as the Air Cavalry two years later he arrived in Vietnam as a major and as a commanding officer in the 229th assault helicopter battalion as a leader major Crandall earned the respect of his men with his honesty and his humor he earned their admiration with his remarkable control over a Huey his radio call sign was ancient serpent 6 which is men shortened to old snake or sometimes they used a more colorful nickname which we better not pronounce in the morning of November 14 1965 major krandalls unit was transporting a battalion of soldiers to a remote spot in the yard rank Valley to the landing zone called x-ray after several routine lifts into the area the men on the ground came under a massive attack from the North Vietnamese Army on major Crandall's next flight three soldiers on his helicopter were killed three more were wounded but instead of lifting off to safety major Crandall kept his Chopper on the ground and the direct line of enemy fire so that for wounded soldiers could be loaded aboard major Crandall flew the men back to base where the injuries could be treated that point he had fulfilled his mission but he knew that soldiers on the ground were outnumbered in low on ammunition so major Crandall decided to fly back into x-ray he asked for a volunteer to join him captor captain Idi Freeman stepped forward and their unarmed choppers they flew through a cloud of smoke and a wave of bullets they delivered desperately needed supplies they carried out more of the wounded even though medical evacuation was really not their mission 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 14 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 in every need of the pettalia 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 to the men of your drying the image of major Crandall's helicopter coming to their rescue is when they will never forget one officer who witnessed the battle wrote major krandalls actions were without question the most glorious observed of any helicopter pilot in Vietnam the battalion commander said without Crandall this battalion would almost have surely been overrun another officer said I will always be in awe of major Bruce Crandall for his part Bruce has never seen it that way here's what he said he there was never a consideration that we would not go into those landing zones they were my people down there and they trusted in me to come and get them as the years have passed Bruce candles character and leadership have only grown clearer he went on to make more rescue flights in Vietnam he served a second tour and he retired from the Army as a lieutenant colonel as a private citizen he's continued to serve he's worked in local government he speaks to students all across our country one of his favorite stops is Midland Texas happens where Lauren I grew up in fact he'd been to Midland so many times they gave him the key of the city it's not exactly the Medal of Honor it's not a bad thing to have maybe one day I'll get a key to the city few years ago Bruce learned he was being considered for our nation's highest military distinction when he found out that captain Freeman had also been nominated Bruce insisted that his own name be withdrawn if only one of them were to receive the Medal of Honor he wanted it to be his wingman so when I presented the medal to captain Freeman in 2001 Bruce was here in the White House captain Freeman wish he were here today but he got snowed in in Iowa but his spirits with us today the story comes to its rightful conclusion Bruce Crandall received the honor he always deserved in men like Bruce Campbell Crandall we really see the best of America he and his fellow soldiers were brave brave folks they were as Noble and selfless as any who have ever worn our nation's uniform on this day of pride we remember their comrades who gave their lives and those who are still missing we remember the terrible telegrams that arrived at Fort Benning the families devastated the children who trace their father's name on panel three east of the Vietnam Memorial Wall or sadness has not diminished with time yet we're also comforted by the knowledge that the suffering and grief could have been far worse one of the reasons it was not because the man we honor today but the soldiers rescued for the men who came home for the children they had in the lives they made America is in debt to Bruce Crandall said that our nation can never really fully repay but today we recognize it as best as we're able and we bestow upon as good and gallant man the Medal of Honor commander please read the citation the President of the United States of America authorized by act of Congress March 3rd 1863 has awarded in the name of Congress the Medal of Honor to Major Bruce P Crandall the United States Army for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty Major Bruce P Crandall distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism as a flight commander in the Republic of Vietnam while serving with company a 229th assault helicopter battalion 1st Calvary division airmobile on 14 November 1965 his flight of 16 helicopters was lifting troops for a Search and Destroy mission from Plame a Vietnam - landing zone X ray in the yuh Drang Valley on the 4th troop lift the airlift began to take enemy fire and by the time the aircraft had refueled and returned for the next troop lift the enemy had landing zone x-ray targeted as major Crandall in the first eight helicopters landed to discharge troops on his fifth troop lift his unarmed helicopter came under such intense enemy fire that the ground commander ordered the second flight of eight aircraft to abort their mission as major Crandall flew back to play May his base of operations he determined that the ground commander of the besieged infantry battalion desperately needed more ammunition major Crandall then decided to adjust his base of operations to artillery fire base falcon in order to shorten the flight distance to deliver ammunition and evacuate wounded soldiers while medical evacuation was not his mission he immediately sought volunteers and with complete disregard for his own personal safety led the two aircraft to landing zone x-ray despite the fact that the landing zone was still under relentless enemy fire major Crandall landed and proceeded to supervise the loading of seriously wounded soldiers aboard his aircraft Maj krandalls voluntary decision to land under the most extreme fire instilled and the other pilots the will and spirit to continue to land their own aircraft and in the ground force is the realization that they would be resupplied and that friendly wounded would be promptly evacuated this greatly enhanced morale and the will to fight at a critical time after his first medical evacuation major Crandall continued to fly into and out of the landing zone throughout the day and into the evening that day he completed a total of 22 flights most under intense enemy fire retired from the battlefield only after all possible service have been rendered to the infantry battalion his actions provided critical resupply of ammunition and evacuation of the wounded major Crandall's daring acts of bravery and courage in the face of an overwhelming and determined enemy are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself his unit and the United States Army [Applause] [Music] [Applause] let us pray Lord it has been a delight to honor Lieutenant Colonel retired Bruce Crandall provide him with health and blessing bless our president his family and the leaders of our nation as they guide this great country today we pray for the servicemen and women who are on deployment and in particular those who are in harm's way we lift their families before you made a goodness of God the steadfast love of the Lord and enduring strength of God reside with our nation the United States of America we pray this in the gracious name of our Lord amen [Applause]

Channel: USA Patriotism!

Views: 130,137

Keywords: Hero, Medal of Honor, United States Army, U.S. Army, Army, Soldier, America, United States, USA, U.S., Vietnam, War

Id: gX0RNV8ej8g

Length: 17min 12sec (1032 seconds)

Published: Thu Sep 15 2011