Washington – Bruce Crandall received the nation’s highest award for valor Monday, more than four decades after he braved relentless enemy fire and repeatedly flew his helicopter into a “hot” landing zone in Vietnam to resupply and rescue the wounded of a surrounded U.S. infantry battalion.
In the East Room of the White House, President Bush presented the Medal of Honor to Crandall. As the president placed the medal around his neck, Crandall, 74, broke into a broad smile and kissed Arlene, his wife of 50 years.
“In men like Bruce Crandall, we really see the best of America,” Bush said. “He and his fellow soldiers were brave, brave folks. They were as noble and selfless as any who have worn our nation’s uniform.”
Crandall, a retired Army lieutenant colonel who lives in Manchester, Wash., didn’t speak during the 20-minute ceremony.
On Nov. 14, 1965, Crandall flew his Huey helicopter 22 times into Landing Zone X-Ray to resupply the 450 members of the 1st Battalion of the 7th Cavalry, who were pinned down and close to being overrun by 2,000 North Vietnamese soldiers. The fight in the Ia Drang Valley was the first major battle between U.S. forces and North Vietnamese regulars.
Joseph Galloway, who was a 24-year-old reporter at Ia Drang, and battalion commander Harold Moore, who’s now a retired lieutenant general, co- wrote the best-selling book about the battle, “We Were Soldiers Once … and Young,” which was turned into a 2002 movie starring Mel Gibson.
