UW to honor war heroes with Medal of Honor memorial (WA)

Seattle Times ^ | November 10, 2009 | Jack Broom

[jazusamo]

In observance of Veterans Day, the University of Washington will dedicate a new memorial to eight UW alumni who have received the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest honor for valor in battle.

Earning a medal, of any sort, was the furthest thing from Bruce Crandall's mind on the morning of Nov. 14, 1965, as he repeatedly flew his Huey helicopter through a hail of enemy fire in Vietnam. Only this mattered: His comrades needed him.

Likewise, John "Bud" Hawk wasn't looking for glory on Aug. 20, 1944, when he stayed exposed in a French orchard, taking a shot in the thigh as he directed fire against German tanks. Fact is, Hawk didn't know if he'd live to see sunset.

On Wednesday, Veterans Day, the University of Washington will dedicate a new memorial to eight UW alumni who have received the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest honor for valor in battle.

Medal recipients from as long ago as World War I will be honored by a short parade and ceremony at the $152,000 memorial, funded by private donations in a traffic circle along Memorial Way in the heart of the campus. Speakers will include Gen. Peter W. Chiarelli, Army vice chief of staff who has degrees from Seattle University and UW.

Laid out on a five-pointed star, the memorial includes eight large stones standing as sentinels around its perimeter. "The stones become a metaphor for who we're honoring," said artist Michael Magrath. "They're common. They're indigenous. And they're incredibly strong."

One split stone of green-gray serpentine carries the names of the medal recipients, with room to add more in the future. It praises "ordinary individuals facing extraordinary circumstances with courage and selflessness."

Crandall and Hawk — the only two of the eight still living —

[Just A Nobody]

What a great picture of two great men!

[jazusamo]

You bet Justa.

I was real happy to find this this morning after the controversy from before and that is a great pic of the two. :-)

Just finished answering your FRmail.

[Just A Nobody]

And back atcha... ;*)

[4woodenboats]

His zombies usually "come out" for him in the 80% plus range. I think it'd be easier to dig a big ditch around his district, throw a few mollusks and snail darters in the ditch, toss up a few "ENDANGERED SPECIES -> ABSOLUTELY NO CROSSING, BATHING OR LOITERING WITHIN 100YARD DITCH SET BACK" <- signs, and stop by every few years to hose the place down.

[jazusamo]

LOL! That’s what should be done, if they replaced him just think of the replacement, they’d surely be worse.

[lilycicero]

Shockingly great.