Posted on 09/29/2016 12:54:02 PM PDT by PROCON
Perhaps it was the way he carried himself in an unassuming and humble manner, but day after day hundreds of Air Force Academy cadets would pass this janitor in the hall oblivious to the greatness that was among them.
In the mid-1970s, William Crawford might spend one day sweeping the halls and another cleaning the bathrooms, but it was a day approximately 30 years prior that would create for him a special place in the history of war. In 1943 in Italy, the only thing Private William Crawford was cleaning out was German machine gun nest and bunkers.
Under heavy fire and at great risk to himself, his gallantry was so audacious that it earned him the Medal of Honor and the respect of any man who witnessed his actions. And yet, for the cadets at the Air Force Academy, it would take a student’s study of the Allied campaign in Italy to realize who it was that walked among them. Once the cadets realized the humble janitor was a recipient of the nation’s highest military honor, that would never be able to look at him the same and the secret was out.
(Excerpt) Read more at warhistoryonline.com ...
Bookmarked: http://thelibertydaily.com/
Good info, thanks!
Thanks!!
http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=39979
President Reagan’s address to the USAFA Class of 1984 on 5/30/84, including the presentation to Mr.Crawford.
Reagan made the presentation at the end of his formal remarks.
I don’t recall him. I got there in ‘88 and left in ‘92. We had a waiter in the dining hall named George Mendez who was some Vietnam bad ass. Silver Star or Army Cross. The cadets treated him with a ton of respect. Occasionally they’d bring a MOH winner to lunch and call the wing to attention. Perhaps it could have been this gentleman but I don’t remember him.
there are certain things that use to be understood:
1. if you don’t protect and enforce your borders, you don’t have a country.
2. if you don’t enforce your laws, you won’t have a nation.
3. if you don’t honor and respect those that fought for their country and nation...
then your country will have no honor and deserves no respect.
It’s a great site
Looks like Drudge but has better news links.
What a magnificent story. I believe he likely stood for our national anthem every chance he got.
Too bad there isn't a video recording of the ceremony.
Thanks for the ping. He was a humble hero.
Great thread. Thanks for posting it.
Saved to check for ancestral linkage.
Medal of Honor winner should be Medal of Honor recipient. Not trying to be nit-picky. It’s a common mistake but important enough to mention.
I reads this on the ride home and it brought tears to my eyes.
I was about to post this, but then I thought I would do something rarely done: use the search feature.
If you'd like to be on or off, please FR mail me.
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Perhaps off topic, but a wonderful story.
Imagine a politician saying that.
Ping
What a great story. Thanks for posting it.
What's up with that headline?
How many Air Force Academies do we have?
Are you sure this is still valid?
Sounds like something the Manchurian Candidate president would change.
He has yet to meet an honorable tradition that he could like.
Hard to believe.
Worth a little digging...
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