Official Presentation of Medal of Honor to Ret. Army Lt.
Colonel Bruce P. Crandall by
President George W. Bush
White House
February 26, 2007
Transcript of President Bush's Comments with
Photos
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.
Today I am 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. (Laughter.) I also am glad that their three sons and three of
their grandchildren are here. Welcome. I'm especially pleased that
some of Bruce's comrades have joined us.
Bruce Crandall sits with his wife, Arlene White House photo by
Eric Draper
As an officer, Bruce always put his men before himself. Today, his
men are here for him. And 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 have
joined us, starting with the ranking member of the Senate
Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, Ted Stevens, the Senator
from Alaska. Congressman Norm Dicks, who happens to be the U.S.
Congressman from Colonel Crandall's district. Congressman, welcome.
Congressman Jim Marshall, Congressman Patrick Murphy, we are glad
you're here. Thank you for coming.
I appreciate very
much Dr. Fran Harvey, Secretary of the Army; General Pete Pace,
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs; General Pete Schoomaker, Chief of
Staff of the United States Army.
I thank all the other
members of the military who joined us. I particularly want to say
thanks and welcome to the Medal of Honor recipients who are with us
today: Harvey "Barney" Barnum, Bob Foley, Jack Jacobs, Joe Marm, Bob
Patterson, Al Rascon, Gordon Roberts and Brian Thacker. Welcome.
I appreciate the family, friends and comrades of Bruce Crandall.
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. (Laughter.) A teacher once observed that he had "a
unique ability to get into trouble and out of trouble without any
trouble at all." (Laughter.) At Olympia High School, Bruce was named
an All American in baseball. He batted .612 for the league champs --
I think we better check the scorecards. (Laughter.) His dream was to
be drafted by the New York Yankees. Instead he got drafted by the
U.S. Army. (Laughter.)
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 his men shortened to
"Old Snake." (Laughter.) Or sometimes, they used a more colorful
nickname -- (laughter) -- which we better not pronounce. (Laughter.)
On
the morning of November 14, 1965, Major Crandall's unit was
transporting a battalion of soldiers to a remote spot in the la
Drang Valley, to a 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 -- in the direct line of enemy fire
-- so that four wounded soldiers could be loaded aboard.
Major Crandall flew the men back to base, where the injuries could
be treated. At that point, he had fulfilled his mission. But he knew
that soldiers on the ground were outnumbered and low on ammunition.
So Major Crandall decided to fly back into X-Ray. He asked for a
volunteer to join him. Captain Ed Freeman stepped forward. In 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. 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.
To the men of la Drang, the image of Major Crandall's helicopter
coming to their rescue is one they will never forget. One officer
who witnessed the battle wrote, "Major Crandall's actions were
without question the most valorous I've 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:
"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 Crandall's 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, and he speaks to students all
across our country. One of his favorite stops is Midland, Texas.
(Laughter.) It happens [to be] where Laura and I grew up. In fact,
he's been to Midland so many times they gave him the key of the
city. It's not exactly the Medal of Honor. (Laughter.) It's not a
bad thing to have. (Laughter.) Maybe one day I'll get a key to the
city. (Laughter.)
A 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 wished he were here today,
but he got snowed in, in Iowa. His spirit is with us. Today the
story comes to its rightful conclusion: Bruce Crandall receives the
honor he always deserved.
In men like Bruce 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. And 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 traced their father's name on panel three-east of the Vietnam
Memorial wall.
Our 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
is because of the man we honor today. For the soldiers rescued, for
the men who came home, for the children they had and the lives they
made, America is in debt to Bruce Crandall. It's a debt our nation
can never really fully repay, but today we recognize it as best as
we're able, and we bestow upon this good and gallant man the Medal
of Honor.
Official Presentation
On
the morning of November 14, 1965, Major Crandall's unit was
transporting a battalion of soldiers to a remote spot in the la
Drang Valley, to a 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 -- in the direct line of enemy fire
-- so that four wounded soldiers could be loaded aboard.
To the men of la Drang, the image of Major Crandall's helicopter
coming to their rescue is one they will never forget. One officer
who witnessed the battle wrote, "Major Crandall's actions were
without question the most valorous I've 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." 
A 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 wished he were here today,
but he got snowed in, in Iowa. His spirit is with us. Today the
story comes to its rightful conclusion: Bruce Crandall receives the
honor he always deserved. 
