Remembering Veteran’s service and sacrifice here, at the Homestead, today and every day. Thank you!
That’s a great story.
Cannot begin to imagine his family’s reactions to finding out that he was alive and coming home.
Thank you for sharing this story.
They would have Bill come every year to Graduation Week. We’d salute him and give a thunderous ovation.
What a great American.
Thank you
“The cadets would report that the shy janitor they only knew as Mr. Crawford simply blended into the background as he did his job without much fanfare.”
And THAT is how REAL heroes carry themselves.
Thanks for the quality post on a day heros are to be celebrated. 👍
Here is the commencement address at the Air Force Academy by Ronald Reagan which includes William Crawford being award the Medal of Honor.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tBFodnnmMU
I’m surprised that the cadets know what the Medal of Honor is. How long before mentioning it will be forbidden at the service academies?
Awesome post!
I’ve heard this story before, and think of it often. Thanks for posting it again.
Wow!
His humility was bigger than his gallantry, and THAT was bigger than life!
May he rest in the arms of the Lord forever.
Great story. Ronald Reagan involved too.
MOH stories are truly inspirational.
AVOID the book by Tom Brokaw. It sucks.
A great MOH book I have found is:
MEDAL OF HONOR
PORTRAITS OF VALOR BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY
By Nick Del Calzo
Published 2003
Unfortunately, George H.W Bush, John McCain(NO MOH for the Hanoi “Songbird”, and Tom Brokaw wrote the Foreword.
Don’t be put off by that. It is a great book detailing the stories of 117 LIVING MOH Recipients.
Great story.
Frankly, I am more impressed by his achieving the rank of Master Sergeant than receiving the the Medal of Honor. Not that I don’t value his heroism and sacrifice risking POW capture that the medal represents. Both are amazing. It is just as he said, the medal was granted for “one day a long time ago”. Rising to Master Sergeant takes a long time performing at a high level.
I get it, there have been far more Master Sergeants than Metal of Honor winners. It is just so subjective. There are likely many thousands of heroes who died on the various fields of battle without recognition by some witness to tell their story and write them up for commendation.
Master Sargeants and Chief Petty Officers are just amazing bad ass human beings.
I hope and pray nobody takes my post to diminish his heroism or the actions he took that day that very likely saved many lives of his fellow soldiers by silencing those machine gun nest. That was an incredibly brave thing to do.
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What a lovely story! Thank you for sharing it!
No apostrophe required,,,
Wow. Happy Veteran’s Day to all FReepers! THANK YOU for your service. Not just today, of course... I thank you - and think about you all - EVERY day.