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 —

[jazusamo]

From the University of Washington Medal of Honor Memeorial page.

Honorees

Deming Bronson, 1LT, USA (1915)
This UW graduate won a Medal of Honor in World War I for capturing enemy prisoners near Eclisfontaine, France, in 1918. He was wounded by a hand grenade and a bullet and still led his unit to capture enemy positions. At the UW, he was a forestry major and played Husky football from 1912-1916 under legendary Coach Gil Dobie.

Gregory “Pappy” Boyington, Col., USMC (1934)
The Marines’ WWII ace, Boyington downed 28 enemy planes before being captured by the Japanese and spending the rest of the conflict in a prisoner of war camp. His squadron’s exploits became the basis for the 1970s TV series, Baa Baa Black Sheep.

Robert E. Galer, BGen, USMC (1935)
As a Marine Corps major in August and September of 1942, he repeatedly engaged Japanese aerial forces in combat, “individually shooting down 11 enemy bomber and fighter aircraft over a period of 29 days,” according to the text of his medal citation. Galer was himself shot down four times during his service in World War II and Korea. He retired as a brigadier general in 1957.

William Nakamura, PFC, USA (1941)
Twice on July 4, 1944, Private First Class William K. Nakamura singlehandedly attacked German machine gunners in Italy so his platoon could be freed from pinned-down positions. During his second effort, Nakamura was killed. He had volunteered for the Army after his family and other Japanese Americans on the West coast were forced to move to internment camps.

Bruce Crandall, Maj., USA (1951-52)
For extraordinary heroism as a Flight Commander in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Company A, 229th Assault Helicopter Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile). On Nov. 14, 1965, despite the fact that his landing zone was still under relentless enemy fire, Major Crandall landed and supervised the loading of seriously wounded soldiers aboard his aircraft. His voluntary decision to land under the most extreme fire instilled in the other pilots the will and spirit to continue to land their own aircraft.

John D. “Bud” Hawk, Sgt., USA (1952)
Army Sgt. Hawk was wounded on August 20, 1944, in France when the German army was trying to escape its encirclement following the Normandy invasion. A portion of his medal citation reads, “Sgt. Hawk’s fearless initiative and heroic conduct, even while suffering from a painful wound, was in large measure responsible for crushing two desperate attempts of the enemy to escape from the Falaise Pocket and for taking more than 500 prisoners.”

Archie Van Winkle, Col., USMC (1961)
Van Winkle was awarded the Medal of Honor for action in Korea. On November 2, 1950, Van Winkle led a daring charge through withering enemy fire during which a bullet shattered his arm and an enemy hand grenade exploded against his chest. Though severely wounded, he refused to be evacuated, and continued to shout orders and encouragement to his men while lying on the ground weak from loss of blood. His heroic leadership enabled the outnumbered platoon to repulse a fanatical enemy attack.

Robert Leisy, 2LT, USA (1968)
He served as a 2nd Lt. in the Vietnam War and was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously. During an engagement in Phuoc Long Province, Leisy’s unit was ambushed by a far larger force of North Vietnamese soldiers. He shielded his men from a rocket grenade attack and died of the wounds on Dec. 2, 1969. He was 24

[jazusamo]

Medal of Honor Ping!

[left that other site]

God Bless our American heroes.

[DuncanWaring]

Actually a welcome turn of events:

He Fought For Our Country ... But He's Not Worthy.

[jazusamo]

I remember well when that communist moonbat Jill Edwards said that and the controversy it raised.

Thank the Lord they went ahead with the memorial to all of them.

[KeyesPlease]

Yep. That was rather blood boiling to say the least:

http://michellemalkin.com/2006/02/15/the-fight-over-pappy-boyington/

Student senator Jill Edwards, according to minutes of the student government’s meeting last week, said she “didn’t believe a member of the Marine Corps was an example of the sort of person UW wanted to produce.”

Ashley Miller, another senator, argued “many monuments at UW already commemorate rich white men.”

[jazusamo]

Forgot to ping you Lily. :)

[Venturer]

The University of Washington, in response to a proposal to erect a monument for decorated WWII Marine pilot Col. Gregory “Pappy” Boyington, decided that they didn’t need “any more monuments to rich white men” and that they weren’t too keen on the idea of putting up a monument that, you know, dealt with like, war and killing and stuff. Minutes of the meeting here:

What brought on this change?

[matt1234]

I remember well when that communist moonbat Jill Edwards said that and the controversy it raised.

At the UW campus in Seattle, the main square is called "Red Square." Some say this is attributed to the red brick of the square and surrounding structures, but you have to wonder.

[jazusamo]

It really wasn’t the UW it was a couple of moonbats, at least one of which was a student senator.

[Darteaus94025]

“Yeth, we’ll have the perpetually burning flag over here on the right, the Tomb of the Unknown Civilian in the thenter and the statues of Marx, Engles and Mao on the left for balance.”

[21twelve]

I had to read 2 more articles, then finally found the calender page for the UW. The service is at 10 am Weds, S. end of Memorial Drive, enter from NE 45th street. FYI

[jazusamo]

Thanks for posting, 21twelve.

The service is at 10 am Weds, S. end of Memorial Drive, enter from NE 45th street.

[max americana]

Bruce Crandall was the heli pilot in WHEN WE WERE SOLDIERS. Never thought he was UW alumni like my uncle.

One of the platoon soldiers said that if he did NOT fly in those ammo and came back to pick up the wounded/dead while under fire constantly , they would have all been slaughtered.

[jazusamo]

Maj. Bruce Crandall stepping aside so that Capt. Ed Freeman could be awarded the Medal of Honor shows what a great man he is. I love this pic of President Bush awarding his MOH, you can see just how proud Maj. Crandall is.

[sionnsar]

Thanks to jazusamo for the ping.

Say WA? Evergreen State ping

Quick link: WA State Board

FReepmail sionnsar if you want on or off this ping list.
Ping sionnsar if you see a Washington state related thread.

[Captain Rhino]

While it is nice that my undergraduate alma mater has erected this memorial, I can't help wonder how long (or perhaps I should say “how short?”) a period of time will pass before it is vandalized and/or covered with graffiti.

I was a military student (Marines) there during the Vietnam War (1974 through 1978). Based on the quotes from the current student government council members, things don't appear to have changed much in the intervening decades.

[4woodenboats]

That incident wasn't long after Jim McDimwitt had been running around High Schools claiming President Bush was going to institute the draft, when in fact it was McDermott and Rangel who keep pushing for one.

How ironic it would have been for the moonbats at UW to have been drafted;

McDermott Draft Scare

[jazusamo]

Yep, I remember McD stirring the pot with the draft thing to recruit more moonbats against the war and Rangel was no better, I think Rangel is still harping on it.

It’d sure be nice to see enough sane people in McD’s district come around and throw his rear out but it’ll probably never happen.

[Just A Nobody]

What a wonderful way to honor our heroes on their special day. God bless our Military -- past, present and future!

Thanks for the ping, jaz.