Once Young Soldier Bruce Crandall Receives Medal of Honor

Fox News ^ | February 26, 2007 | AP

[stm]

WASHINGTON — Bruce Crandall was a soldier once ... and young. As a 32-year-old helicopter pilot, he flew through a gantlet of enemy fire, taking ammunition in and wounded Americans out of one of the fiercest battles of the Vietnam War, Army records say.

Now, a week after his 74th birthday, Crandall received the nation's highest military honor Monday in a White House ceremony with President Bush.

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

Here's one I never heard of;

9 JUN 1871

Three sailors earn Medals of Honor for action in Korea. These were the first Medals of Honor earned on foreign soil. Over the following two days twelve more Americans earn Medals of honor...9 sailors and 6 Marines in all.

[Libloather]

Why did he have to wait 40 years?

I saw a bit of this on Fox News this morning. I believe I heard that he humbly refused the honor in the past. A TOTAL American hero in my book...

[maxwellp]

This guy gets better by the second. I had inquired here on Free Republic as to why he had to wait 40 years to receive this medal. On today's news I learned that he was offered the medal, but refused because he wanted it to go to his co-pilot. America will always survive because of men like LCOL Crandall! God Bless America and God Bless our military - THE BEST OF AMERICA.

[maxwellp]

Yes, after I posted I learned that he had refused the Medal of Honor and wanted it to go to someone else. I will remember him always and try to emulate him in my everyday, ordinary life.

[08crandallj]

I am Bruce Crandall’s youngest grandaughter and I really appreciated reading what everyone had to say. I’ve always thought that my grandfather is wonderful, and it’s nice to know that others agree.