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 ...
A great story; a remarkable man and a heroic soldier.
Military Ping.
And some people think football players are heroes.
Real heroes generally don’t talk about it. Most of the time I’ve met them they talk about the others who were remarkable, but not lucky.
Great story.
“Crawford’s official Medal of Honor citation reads:
36th Infantry Division shoulder patch.For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty in action with the enemy near Altavilla, Italy, 13 September 1943. When Company I attacked an enemy-held position on Hill 424, the 3d Platoon, in which Pvt. Crawford was a squad scout, attacked as base platoon for the company. After reaching the crest of the hill, the platoon was pinned down by intense enemy machinegun and small-arms fire. Locating 1 of these guns, which was dug in on a terrace on his immediate front, Pvt. Crawford, without orders and on his own initiative, moved over the hill under enemy fire to a point within a few yards of the gun emplacement and single-handedly destroyed the machinegun and killed 3 of the crew with a hand grenade, thus enabling his platoon to continue its advance. When the platoon, after reaching the crest, was once more delayed by enemy fire, Pvt. Crawford again, in the face of intense fire, advanced directly to the front midway between 2 hostile machinegun nests located on a higher terrace and emplaced in a small ravine. Moving first to the left, with a hand grenade he destroyed 1 gun emplacement and killed the crew; he then worked his way, under continuous fire, to the other and with 1 grenade and the use of his rifle, killed 1 enemy and forced the remainder to flee. Seizing the enemy machinegun, he fired on the withdrawing Germans and facilitated his company’s advance.”
Universal truth. I have met some true heroes everyone of them was humble and praised those around them.
What an awesome story!!!
Bump To The Top
I like that last bit ... turned the Krauts’ own gun on ‘em. That’s seriously badass.
Wow! Great story.
Sweet story.
I’ve heard the story, but never met him. Wish I had though.
This story was posted here ten or twelve years ago.
I love it. So many lessons, so much to admire.
Tears on my face right now.
Oh man...that brought tears to my eyes.
Yeah I know, just a product of being home skooled.
Best thing I read this week.
A Wonderful Story. Thank You for Posting.
My father fought in Italy with the 5th Canadian Armoured Division at Ortona, then in the breakthrough of the Gustav Linie just south of Cassino, the Hitler lines all the way to Rome. HIs unit spent the rest of 44’ on the Adriatic coast fighting near Rimmini and places further north. They were shipped to France in January 45’ and were deployed in Holland until VE Day. I remember him saying that the fighting in Italy was hellish, with the mountainous terrain giving the Germans the ability to dig in and force the Allies to fight ridge by ridge. His unit started out as a machine gun (Bren) company and was converted to mortars to deal with the terrain. The courageous achievements of Private Crawford and others like him are truly remarkable given the obstacles they faced.
Sorry a pet peeve...should be “an heroic soldier.”
That a certain set of overcompensated, underbrained athletes choose not to respect the heroism that gave them the right to soil their pampers in public is not the issue here. God bless Sergeant Crawford. He and those like him are the issue, and the flag that covered them at their graveside.
Thank you for posting this inspiring story.
Our nation needs to sober up and find unity based on morality and honor.
RE: “A great story; a remarkable man and a heroic soldier.”
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