MEDAL OF HONOR: Hero Helicopter Pilot at LZ X-Ray | Battle of Ia Drang | Bruce Crandall
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- čas přidán 1. 06. 2024
- Among the most celebrated veterans of the Vietnam War, retired U.S. Army Colonel Bruce Crandall is best known for his actions of November 14, 1965, when he flew 22 missions in an unarmed helicopter into enemy fire to evacuate more than 70 wounded and bring ammunition and supplies to United States forces under the command of then-Colonel Hal Moore.
Crandall's actions at LZ X-Ray - chronicled in the bestselling memoir from Moore and Joseph Galloway, 'We Were Soldiers Once...and Young' and the subsequent movie featuring Greg Kinnear as Crandall - were fully recognized when he was awarded the Medal of Honor in 2007. Colonel Crandall is a veteran of more than 900 combat missions.
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Timecodes
0:00 - Intro
0:34 - Born and Raised in Olympia, Washington State
0:57 - Military Service
2:18 - Drafted at 19
6:23 - When the Military Became Crandall's Life
7:57 - When Vietnam Called
9:04 - C Model Huey vs. Cobra
11:58 - Deployment Details
18:26 - Ia Drang
24:03 - Medevac
26:30 - Hot Zone Communication
31:08 - Let The Medevac Pilots Do What They Need To Do
33:17 - Teach the Troops.
34:45 - Heroism
36:37 - Conclusion
My name is Tony Nadal. I commanded "A" Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry during the battle of LZ Xray. It was my wounded soldiers (among others) that Bruce and Ed Freeman were rescuing.
I have the highest regard for Bruce and can assure any readers of this entry that many of the soldiers recovered and flew back to the aid station would have died if not for Bruce's valor and determination to save their lives. X-Ray was not the only instance in which Bruce came to my company's rescue. A few months letter my company was engaged in a nighttime battle on the edge of a village in Bong Son when some of my soldiers were wounded. To rescue them required a night helicopter descent into a small clearing in the village. It was dark and the rice paddy was under enemy fire. I heard Bruce on the radio and asked him to take my wounded out. Although not his assigned mission, Bruce made two flights into that small rice paddy under fire and pulled out six of my wounded soldiers
Although the Army did not give him the medal for which I recommended him, the International Space and Flight Writers Association gave him a medal for THE MOST VALOROUS ACT OF THE YEAR INVOLVING HELICOPTER FLIGHT IN 1966. He is a great human being and friend.
Ramon Nadal. I don't know what company my dad was in when he was there. You may have been his CO.
Thanks for such an impressive additional insight into Col Crandall.
Welcome home sir and thank you for doing what i couldnt
Col Nadal
Wow! I'm in deep awe and respect of the service and sacrifices that you, and your unit and all the men of 1/7 endured and that I read about in LTG Moore's books.
I did not serve in Vietnam, but I joined in '76 and there were certainly several NCOs and officers that served there and they were just the best examples for me as a young soldier. I still think of them often.
Best wishes to you and yours.
Thank you sir for your service. The company of great men you knew and served with is legendary.
Just listening to this Hero make my heart beat a little faster. Proud to be an American. He's the real deal.
This man makes a lot of sense. The kind of sense you get from actual experience.
"I'm putting you in for OCS because you are so screwed up you might make corporal eventually and I can't have that on my conscience." I spit my coffee when he said that. One of the most ... original reasons I ever heard. hahahaha
Medal or not... What a hell of a guy. We sure need more like him these days.
@@goldenmanuever1176 We need a country that is worthy of his sacrifice and efforts.
Why assume we don't have Soldiers/Marines/Airmen/Sailors equal in dedication to the mission and abilities given similar circumstances. Heroism is the product of opportunity. Read a few books about the experiences of battles and the troops who fought. Someone said there is nothing more dangerous than a pissed off 19 year old Marine with a weapon.
Amen and amen. 🙏🏼💛
@@charliekendall4288 I may be wrong but I think he's speaking more on the basis of civilians. Meaning we have too many pussies. Might want to clarify before getting offended.
Ohh we have em, look about we are here, we hold doors, stand up for others and do or have done what others today can refuse to do.
“We lost 301 dead”…after all this time, that number is still there on his mind. My heart goes out to this guy I’ve never met.
I was an army brat in Germany and remember reading about that battle. I figured I was headed there.
I was in Nam a couple of years later. We heard the stories but I knew deep inside that pilot deserved the CMOH. Continuously flying fresh in,ammo runs, aiding med Evans right to the end. Unlike other officers that gave themselves medals, he earned that. Of course as an enlisted man, we hated officers. Hell, I still do 55 years later. I often wonder about the door gunners. I knew at one time the losses.There were guys ready and willing to climb on his and other birds going out to help keep the NVA off their backs. Again, were any awards given them because they damned sure deserved something! That whole unit was amazing.
What a ballsy guy. I served during dessert Storm. This guy saved so many of our Brothers in arms. God Bless you sir. You stand alone
This man’s courage, calm, and intelligence! God keep him safe and sound as he lives his life from here on. He saved many, many boys in that awful Wartime.
"You kill my kids, I'm gonna be pissed at ya."
Such a true statement. Thank you for your service, and heroism. Great Americans like you are few, and really, really, far between.
And there's a lot of people pissed at Americans
They can get oved it. Better pissed off than pissed on!!@davymyboy7966
Met him when I was stationed at Fort Hood, Texas at a unit dinner. He autographed a 1st Cav patch for me. A wonderful guy indeed!!! Much respect!!!
Thank you ao
I'm sorry they sent you to the hood lol
@@stephenF250 FT Hood was okay wasn’t the best assignment but I made the most of it when I was there
Thank you for your Service!
Good ol’ Killeen Tx…😂
Pilots like Crandall survive because they are very instinctual. His take on the Huey as compared to the cobra was very interesting.
Yes, that surprised me however I'm just an ignorant civilian. That man is a true leader and pilot. Whatever he says our govt should have listened. He made a great point about the Marines Osprey VTOL aircraft. They aren't ever seen in video footage or mentioned in the media.
I agree 👍 very interesting to say the least,,,,,, 🤔
Osprey as well its a bloated waste of money program
He is spot on about both
Idk my uncle always talked up the cobra over the apache. I've never heard anything very positive said about the apache's reliability
I'm a Australian but I send out my humble respects to this HERO and to all others who serve their FLAG
I See so many people saying their hero's are these shallow self obsessed people
But men like him are real HERO'S
So from the Land Down "God Bless America"
Thank you for your heart filled words. Respect for all military. Your country has a bunch of hero's also. To all, a Happy New Year from New Orleans, Louisiana.
I have to agree with you . A real hero . Honour & Respect . Lest we forget .
From an Irish fan. ?
When you take the time to realize that he flew 22 trips into the jaws of death were no other pilot dare venture and kept this up till until darkness and survived.
Hal Moore stated that if it wasn't Crandall we would have all died in that place.
I know this is old, but another Medal of Honor recipient once said the true Medal of Honors are those who gave it all
A real HERO ..Bruce Crandall must stand Tall with ( Ed Freeman) amongst the Best Helicopter Pilots in the vietnam conflict ..
This legend flew 900 combat missions. Just wow.
@@Lowgold And survived
@@Lowgold And to think that a chopper pilots life expectancy was between 13 and 30 days or so in Vietnam and he
pulled off 900 combat missions makes that stat twice as impressive. Speaking of pilots Dust Off pilots those guys are
truly incredible. They pulled off miracles in rescuing wounded. Some of the tales of what they were able to do under fire
to get soldiers out of harms way defies logic.
This dude is a legend....100% a legend of the highest order, Absolutely love his title of the book he hopefully writes....D.A.D....May his memory last forever.....How the hell can the government take away the financial aid that these guys absolutely deserve....in fact the veterans should NEVER have to go hungry or homeless and should be treated like hero's.......
This guy is the real deal. No BS. Hardcore. I have max respect
max respect for Bruce is an insult to the man! , 💥 Total Admiration is a start! , ✨
@@darrellmay4502 calm down sparky
@@tnelly1295 Got it but damn!
Straight "Bad assery" right there.
I was a medic, worked in the operating room, in saigon.... I agree with him, you don't need to kill everyone.....just those that are an immediate threat to you. Listen to his last few minutes of the interview. Great Man... I always admired the chopper pilots, and what they did. I salute you , Sir.
Great, awesome to see respect for others, when your exploits, may have been.... underappreciated, you are not, your steel man.
I’m very sorry all of you had to go to war.
People always jump on libs for being anti troops. We’re not. We’re anti-war. And it seems to me that if you really loved the troops so much the right be anti war too.
Because being pro war is only going to hurt the men and women they claim to love so much.
I’m sorry. I may not have had an easy life but at least I was never forced by my government to fight a war for/against people I have nothing against.
My father was a part of that generation. The few friends of his that survived the war came back fucked up.
I often wonder what America would be like if we never went to that war. Or Korea.
What would the men who died have done with their lives? How would the ones who survived have been different?
I am honored to live in a country full of good men like you. But ashamed I live in a nation that throws young men to die for the wars of old men.
@@jackroyaltea5034 President Harry Truman did nothing to really help the French resist Communism, so the French were on their own. Then President Eisenhower deploys the Military Advisors to train help train the Republic of Vietnam Army. President Kennedy started sending "TROOPS" in country, then LBJ sent even more "TROOPS". So I am confused by your comment, Jack? Do you prefer Communism? What policies or policy do you like of Biden's? In the last few months, Biden has shown nothing but weakness, which has opened the doors to conflict around the world. What are you ashamed of Jack? Being a coward or not really understanding what really toke place in history, or both? Just imagine if big government starts to babysit your entire existence, similar to what is happening in China by the CCP! Merry CCP Biden Holiday to you, JACK...ars
Well said. This man is a hero and also a very intelligent person. He sees the bigger picture. I salute as well
Repent to Jesus Christ!
“Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”
1 John 4:11 NIV
K
The last 5 minutes of him speaking his mind is just profound. I could listen to this man talk for days
I just discovered this channel a couple days ago and I'm really loving it, but man the time constraints are rough. I wish it was more long form, podcast style. I could have listened to this man speak for 3 hours, and it seemed like he would have if he'd been able
Yes. He needs to write a book ...He has a lot more to say.
@@johntooth9294 I don't beleive he ever wrote a book, but he's written about in a book called We Were Soldiers Once, and Young. Also he's portrayed in the movie We Were Soldiers based on that book.
@@justlucky8254 I had watched a interview with Ed Freeman where he was talking about himself and Bruce about the Medal of Honor they both received ..It was then he talked about Bruce was good at putting Pen to Paper.. So I thought he may have written a Book.. Very interesting man to listen to in interviews.. Joe Gallaway is another I love listening to ..All great men ..
I read Hal Moore's book at least 5,6 times when it came out. Just couldn't put it down. I didn't want to miss a thing. It was then I learned of Bruce Crandell. I'm in awe of his exploits. I'm so glad he received the recognition he deservedly got although years later. So many heroes never got recognized but died in those early battles of the Vietnam War. Thank you Bruce for your fine example! God bless you and yours!
Probably the best book I have ever read.
Read Chickenhawk by Robert Mason. Mason was also at Ia Drang as a slick pilot and the book contains many references to "Too Tall" Freeman and major Crandall, and their incredible heroism. You won't want to put it down, I guarantee it.
@@philholyman9036 I agree I've read the book more than once over the years, the best book ever about the Vietnam war
I enjoyed that book. After I finished reading it, I watched the movie We Were Soldiers to see how it compared to the book. Hollywood did its thing as always but it was still a great movie and Greg Kinnear did a good portrayal of Col Moore, in my opinion.
@@justlucky8254Kinnear played Crandall. Moore was played by Mel Gibson.
You remind me of my Dad. He served in WWII and Korea. In WWII he was in China, Burma, India theater and was in Burma. He was Master Sergeant.
One day a few years ago I was at work on MacDill AFB. Our command is just down the road from the family camping area on the beach. I was just sitting there working when this older gentleman came in the front door and asked if we had a copier he could use to make a couple copies on, said he was an Army vet and hoped we wouldn’t mind. I looked at him and said “you’re Bruce Crandall aren’t you?” He said “ yessir”. And that’s how I met Bruce Crandall. He got his copies.
*"We should have used chainsaws instead of machetes." Common sense is not common. Everytime Col. Randall smiled I felt like he knew things could have been different than they turned out to be. Vietnam was a winnable cause if the powers that be wanted it to be. Respect to all who served there.*
. . . 'if the powers to be, wanted it '!
. . . that be
It was never winnable, as history proved.
@@oldbatwit5102 History only proves that politicians still get young and old men killed at astounding rates.
Did you ever read up on some of the Rules of Engagement these men had to fight under during Vietnam? The bullshit rules those politicians made these soldiers fight under?
Don’t shoot unless shot at.
No don’t bomb that depot- with missiles that kill your brothers.
Don’t bomb over there- the enemy is there.
Again, history only proves that politicians don’t belong in warfare.
@@chloehennessey6813 You are full of crap and, plainly, have no idea what happened over there.
There are loads of really good accounts written by men who served in Vietnam and I suggest you read a bunch of them.
It was never winnable, as almost anybody who served will tell you.
Goodbye.
Pure leadership. You can recognize it but is difficult to describe.
Badass AMERICAN HERO. 🇺🇸 You don't have to kill everybody. Wisdom Right There.
You contrast guys who have been in it with the stories of exposed stolen valor frauds and the differences in tone and conviction are obvious. What they choose to talk about after their nuts and bolts personal action narrative makes it obvious who the real deals are.
A man who speaks from experience should not be confused with one who just speaks his mind.
Well said....
Experience can be misleading. Especially if you have lots of positive reinforcement.
A foolish man speaks cause he has to say something.
A wise man speaks cause he has something to say.
My father is big on history, and has been since before I was born. It's one of the best things I've inherited from him. I don't follow it as closely as he does, but from what I've read and seen in my days, the Vietnam War put out some of the best soldiers our country has seen. More importantly than that though, is the shame that I feel for how Vietnam vets were treated by the people of our country upon their return home. You hear about it in history books, but to hear from actual veterans is heartbreaking and sickening. These boys loved our country and their brothers in arms, and they deserved and still deserve our gratitude and respect for what they went through. Glad I found this channel and will be tuning in regularly.
correctAmericans didnt understand then but sure as hell do now?????????????????????????isalot so much
One common thing I've found about combat veterans like Crandall is they're always so understated. They'll tell you all about their experience, the horrors of war, and never try to embellish. - A video I watch earlier about LZ Ray and one vet talked about losing many friends in terrible ways on the first day and the last thing he said was, "It was a difficult situation." -
This is a Real American hero! Why? because he doesn't brag about what he did. He just did what he had to do! Many soldiers have this man to thank if they lived through that battle.
That they do!
Repent to Jesus Christ!
“Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”
1 John 4:11 NIV
I was in Iraq and saw innocent kids get killed
you mean like those Seal Team 6 pukes who were part of the OBL capture/kill who went PUBLIC, WROTE BOOKS, TRIED to parlay BIG BUCKS, like any MERCENARY WOULD?????????
@@Nat3_H1gg3rs playing call of duty doesn't count kid
This man's action/ideas saved many generations. Thank you. God bless.
I’d buy this brave man a drink🇺🇸
Godspeed Sir🇺🇸
I'd buy this guy a Distillery...
This guy did good a no bs he did it his way
@@brianpeters7847 If you'd do that I'd start drinking his brand. What a man
He has the ice cold eyes of a fighter pilot - no BS - only the truth of combat
As Col. Crandall says here about his lovely wife, "She knew I loved to fly!" Thank God for wives who support us as we military aviators feed our habit.
These tales from our vets are so important, very hard to hear sometimes but so appreciated by those of us who know, and should be required for our kids in school too, never forget!
I've heard of course of Mr Crandall, America's best!
He wears that metal so proud........I love it.
I think I saw my Dad in Vietnam in HD during the aftermath of the Ia Drang battle. It's very grainy so I'm not positive it's him.
Lost Dad in 1988 from damn bone marrow cancer. He was 39 in Vietnam but I see pictures from then and he looks 60. Served 1945 to 1969. CWO3.
Thanks Col Crandall for your brave,honorable service. We need more men like you.
God Bless our vets and "Pops" memory.
Garry Owen.
Another CWO !
Mine was in from 1940-1967, retired as CWO 3, as a radar and guidance specialist. Served on the USS CHICAGO, The USS PROMETHEUS, USS ROCHESTER, And USS THETIS BAY.
Was at the Battle for the Solomons, and New Guinea, the support for the Inchon invasion, Occupation Forces of Japan, the Queimoi Incident, and the blockade of the Formosa straits in 1956. We then were stationed at China Lake NWTC, in California.
@@siseley1 Wow. Awesome. Sounds like 2 good men.
My dad was in the army 1949 to 1971. Two tours in Korea during the war and we were at ft Bennington 1962 to 1965 and he got orders for Vietnam in the summer of 65. He was with that Cav unit. We got a letter sometime in December of that year from him saying he got hit during that battle and was in some hospital in Vietnam. He was also wounded in both tours in Korea. He didn't come home and returned to duty sometime in January of 66 and came home finally later that summer. His third tour in Korea was in 68 to 69 and finally retired in 71. He went to school and started teaching air conditioning and refrigeration in trade school and came down with cancer in 1983 and passed away shortly after being diagnosed with it that year. I sure did miss him and wish I could have spent more time with him when I was getting older.
@@oldfarmer4700 I have the utmost respect for your father and for his service to America. America today is in dire need of men such as your father. May the good LORD BLESS him with the rest he richly deserves.
Frank Serra thank you sir. He always avoided cameras and said many times while he was in Vietnam he could have been in front of them. Quite man and was military until his last breath. Wish I could find out more of what and when and where he was and did.
One of the greatest and bravest soldiers of Vietnam along with Ed Freeman.
Among the greats but unfortunately lesser known is medal of honor recipient Roy Benavidez .... there are a couple videos you can find on CZcams about his life and time in the jungle... I can't promise you won't get choked up a bit.
Don't forget hal moore
@@zachmorgan3680 or CSM Basil Plumley
They were all brave men
Joe Ronnie Hooper
Col. Crandall shared so much wisdom after telling his story: “Don’t kill ‘em (the ‘enemy’ soldiers) we need to convert ‘em, get ‘em to help us. We don’t need a million more Arabs hating us. Go after Saddam Hussein, OK, that’s who we needed to kill.”
He knows as much as anyone, though, that war is hell and too many good lives are lost in one.
He’s so right too about “breaking up the units,” to send soldiers out of Nam & back home.
So much harm came from that alone. It only created the isolation and the alienation so many Vietnam veterans felt on their return to the States, and increased the trauma so many experienced after returning.Welcome home, sir!
I wish we could get the name of the Camp Holloway Officers Club bartender who refused to serve Crandall, Mills and Hal Moore based on Hal Moore being "Too Dirty after 3 days at LZ X-Ray
Cant convert an ideology
@Bryce McQueen baath party was formed from nazi party believe it or not
@@knarftrakiul3881 True. However we messed up by disbanding the infrastructure of the party. Those people needed better governance not democracy. If we had left that governing infrastructure in place we would have avoided sectarian and later religious infighting.
My childhood mentor was at LZ X-ray with B 1/5 Cavalry. They had to jump from the helicopters because of all the ground fire. Those helicopter pilots deserved every decoration they received especially Mr. Crandall.
I cooked for his VFW Post in Oak Harbor, WA... Close as I'll lever come to giving my thanks to him.
Did you shoot your special sauce all over his food?
Thank you for your Service, Sir... 1969 1CAV veteran
Welcome home and thank you for doing what i could not
If we had men in the Pentagon today with this mans character, our Nation wouldnt be in the position it is today!
We do. The civilian leadership is to blame for where we are today. The military has never been as professional and effective as it is today.
The military has never been as dysgenic and gay as it is today. Is that why they fought?
@@davereiland9921 You served where and when? Proud veteran here, so screw you and your unhelpful homophobic views
@@Walant55 i purposely did not serve israel in the us military.
Trust me we do
For a 90 day wonder to end up a colonel and a medal of honor all I do is I'm honored to have heard your story. A Great man!
Love his point blank honesty!
Bruce I met with you a few times at our reunions ...much respect for what you did to save many of our men during those awful days
I can't imagine the PTSD and nightmares he suffers. Could you live with that? Believe. There are great men and then there are men like Col. Crandall.
This is an American I have the highest regard for. He went above and beyond . America was too slow giving this hero his much deserved rewards.
Everything he said about the pentagon and command structure was totally true and mapping for oil companies, man if only people like him were in command.
Without a doubt. If Bruce Crandall took command of the Vietnam war we would have won. I salute you sir!
Ps don't forget about Hal Moore. George Washington, U.S. Grant, (insert any other name) couldn't polish his boots........
This man is exceptional. He speaks the truth by living it, by experiencing it. He talks about how the rewards he treasures are the lives saved, not the medals or how many he killed but how many he defended. This guy is a true hero.
Truly a good and decent man. What a Man
Thank you sir for what you have done! As a grunt on the ground you instill confidence that when SHTF somebody is coming after you! Chopper pilots take a hell of a lot more fire than us grunts do yet you keep coming back time after time to the rescue! Four courageous men in a helicopter that will risk their lives for folks they have never heard of! You are the best of the best!
RGT you call.
What an honourable gentleman.
Another American hero! I salute you, sir! May God make His light shine upon you.
I was enlisted. This great sir was I'm sure in his units was called the old man. If the old man says we are going to hell to fight we follow him. He loves his men and they love him. Never mess with a unit that works like that. You will lose.
Welcome home and thank you
I was just a teenager during the Vietnam War but everyone I knew was either being drafted or enlisting. All the boys I knew who went to Nam came home missing pieces or were killed. Thank you Sir for sharing your truths. You are a hero. God bless you and your family.
I was a teenager IN the Vietnam war.
as was I myfriend. I was 19 went I was over there. It seems like a lifetime ago....maybe it was. I appreciate Life more .... and the need to remain strong as a Country. @@barotraumabruce4245
It gives me hope that there are men out there like this...they are the real hero's!
One of the best I've ever watched.This Colonel exuded COMMON SENSE!!
Col. Crandall, I salute you sir. Thank you for your sacrifices and your wisdom in battle. You are one in ten million, we need a lot more of men like you, you're awesome. God bless you and America.
This man is a national treasure. 🗽
A man of true valor, who saved many brothers lives at his own peril time and again .
This brave man saved many lives. A man with intelligence unlike people in the Pentagon whose decisions cost lives of young men in battle.
What a great example of humble and effective leadership!
Welcome home sir!
Words of true wisdom at the end.
Crandall is a tough old bird and he was right about the lousy Pentagon policy of rotating individuals in and out of 'Nam. It destroys unit cohesion. As I recall the Sec of Def at the time was Robert McNamara who knew something about making cars, but not much about the Army. McNamara treated his people like they were just interchangeable widgets. Hell of a way to run an army.
Widget was a popular term right? Fascinating take on McNamara s failures
Human Resources approach -- people are like pencils. Lose one, get another. Alla same.
This guy even looks like a Gun Fighter , Thank you for your service sir !
in October 1994 this is how the villagers of the Ia Drang Valley felt about you and your team Bruce,
as your two Cavalry buddies myself and our Vietnamese driver traveled along the dirt road out of the valley at dusk villagers began to appear in silhouette lining the road clapping and cheering you and your buddies, the further we traveled along the road the more villagers silhouettes appeared and the louder and more excited the clapping and cheering became,
it became a spontaneous avenue of honor,
HUH?
@@susanblake9994 Melvin (Mel) J Allen 1/7th ( cant remember exactly maybe 2/7th) X-Ray veteran, Reginald Bud Davis 1/7th Engineers Anh Khe, Myself 1st tourist to visit X Ray since conflicts end,
The villagers lined the road at days end and cheered and clapped us out of the Ia Drang valley as we departed from the return to X-Ray,
1994, October.
Gary Owen.
Well, I do hope there's a part 2. This was too good to end like this. I love it when the veteran just talks and tell his story and not a lot of questions asked.
I thought it was an excellent interview for the same reasons .
I met him after a presentation he gave at city hall in Auburn Washington. What a good guy he was. Salute, Sir!
Thank you for your service sir. You guy’s are my HEROES
This wonderful man had angels on his shoulders.
Most pilots can relate.
My steadiest longest salute to this soldier Veteran! Thank you for your service.
A real American hero, risked his life saving wounded......an exceptional human being.....!
An incredible incredible man. Thank God men like him lived.
This gentleman is pure genius. Thank you for your service, sir.
You gentlemen are the very definition of hero's - all servicemen and women - and to all 20th century veterans thank you for protectively allowing many of us to grow up in "One (great) Nation, under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all".
So very grateful for Bruce and so many others. We needed you then and we need you and more like you and Hal Moore now. Welcome Home!
This man came to my high school when I was jr. Back in 2009a I just so happen to have the book we were soldiers on me that day. I was re reading it. I was pretty star struck listing to him talk.
Colonel Bruce P Crandall; Sir you have a wonderful mind filled with much knowledge; you taught us much here! Thank you for serving America! People like you helped keep our ground units much safer than anyone can imagine! 1/ 7 Air Mobile Cavalry ; 67/68. God Bless America…
What a fine sweet human being. Brave and real. Pragmatist and clear. Practical and steady handed. Men like this. Thank you, Sir. Bless you.
I thought I recognized his name from the movie. I am so glad he received the Metal of Honor. Flying a Huey was dangerous enough as it was, but to go into and out of battle zones so many times is above and beyond the call of duty. Glad he is still with us as an example to all.
*Medal of Honor
Not atall surprised about the valor demonstrated by helo pilots during the Vietnam War.
I was a British F4 instructor on loan to the USN at Miramar (75-77) when 2 ex-army helo pilots came through for conversion to the F4. (They had resigned as O3’s from the army and came to us as Lieutenants Junior Grade, having been re-commissioned as Ensigns - no appreciation by the Navy for what these men had accomplished as helicopter pilots.)
Both had 3 Silver Stars and both had been shot down 3 times - one a Loach driver and one a Huey Cobra driver.
Have to admit that I was somewhat in awe of their war stories.
lol "Metal" of Honor. Sounds like a Hatebreed song.
This man continues to serve. He has given us a gift by this interview -- the gift of his wisdom borne by EXPERIENCE. This has been one of the most interesting, insightful, and EYE OPENING interviews I have ever had the pleasure to watch. Thank you Col. Crandall, for your service and for sharing your wisdom with us.
I must say his philosophy in the last 3 minutes of this video is exceptional and from someone that has never been in war nor understands the vast majority of how things go I am humbled by his words, honesty and point of view.
🇺🇸❣️👍🏽A charming man with a reluctant beautiful smile and gentleman’s spirit❣️🇺🇸👍🏽
As a prior combat commander, soldier safety, loosing a soldier was my utmost concern.
To hell with the brass and their lack of common sense.
I would have been proud to serve with the patriots who deployed to Vietnam.
MSG Pete Burns, 1st Cav (Commo Silver Star), my uncle, was another proud patriot worth mention.
VR
William G. Burns
CPT (Ret), USA FA
I believe all Vets deserve a hero's title with deep respect. I thank you all for your service and sacrifice. God bless all of you.
Man i like this guy i wish i was under his command when i was in OIF 2008-2009 but then he'll be too old i guess . I love this channel im happy to hear his story about vietnam and everything he went through. Great person. I wish i met him .
My Uncle Chuck Christman was at Inchon at barely 18 years old. He was a Navy enlisted and then a civilian contractor who developed something of a reputation for his electronic warfare and radar work. Had an encounter with a VC hand grenade in a latrine in Vietnam one auspicious day. I was Army for a few quick years but I think Chuck would have loved to talk with someone like this great veteran.
Ed Freeman lived down the road from us in Idaho. He finally got his MOH. He says the same thing about the mission. He said that he made the decision to fly until they died or those men on the ground were relieved.
I wish we could get the name of the Camp Holloway Officers Club bartender who refused to serve Crandall, Mills and Hal Moore based on Hal Moore being "Too Dirty after 3 days at LZ X-Ray
He would have got a throat punch from me for sure!
I heard he moved out of town and changed his name.
D$&@! If they came in looking like that, they’d *need* fortification prior to getting cleaned up!
What a Walking, Talking National Treasure we have in this Man. Welcome Home Sir and Thank You for your Service !!!
Col Crandall if you ever read this you are one hell of a pilot and innovator. God bless you sir and ty for your service, men need to here your story nowadays, and the military should have paid more attention to your lessons. It's a shame that war was treated the way it was by your fellow Americans at the time, you and your brothers are heroes.
YOU, did you job. I am following Vietnam war since my young age as 13 years old boy. Even, that I was born " in communist country Yugoslavia ", I was American oriented. Vietnam was my " holly war " but, I couldn't join in. I hated communists. When I turned 18, in 1971, I lived in Germany. I had a friends in US army in Germany, I asked them if I could join in. Unfortunate, to much of red tape. BUT, La Drang, was what fascinated me, even today, I am 67 years old, I wish, I could have been with you guys.
Bless your heart, it’s always good to hear from patriots. Even if you’re not an American.
When I was in the Army, there were guys in my unit that were not citizens that were allowed to join and earn their citizenship. I was in Germany in the 70s and 80s. If you had talked to me, I would have been able to help you out.
If I ever have to go to war I want this man as my commanding general!
Thank You for fighting for my country!. May God always be with You,!.
He is a great man. He just moved to FL this year to live near his son. Wonder how many know just how banged up he really is.
I love these stories. Perspectives that are getting more rare as time marches on. A big thank you to American Veterans Center and others for preserving our history.
My family has served in every battle the United States has been in since it's conception, via the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines (sorry Coasties). In fact my father was born on a ship from Brussels, grandfather stormed the beaches while the other grandfather was on an aircraft carrier. My Uncle went to Nam with the Cav, I went to the second happening of the sandbox with the Cav... Sadly it's a tradition coming to an end, I'm the last living male of me generation and as far as kids from our generation go, well my son will never have children or serve, he will also never be able to live alone (thanks Army for those lasting effects that "aren't really there or from exposure") The last of the line to pass on the name... So, the Freeman legacy in combat for the defense of America and promotion of democracy around the globe has come to an end. We all gave em hell on wheels, water and air, no where was safe from us. Uncle Sam doesn't have a use for my old busted ass anymore overseas, but best believe I don't need his permission if it ever goes sideways on home dirt, the original ride or die til the end, Scouts Out!
An honorable tradition ended by dis honorable men. I can only hope your family find the peace they deserve.
Thanks for your family’s sacrifices to this great country. I pray our government will one day get back on track.
This is very sad to hear, I am so sorry for your loss. Holding people to account never ends well when dealing with the governments. I hope my sincere condolences offer you some comfort. Thank you and your entire family for your great service, in not only defending yourselves, but others from other nations, like mine, I'm a once proud Australian, so from my people we all thank you and acknowledge you.
Thanks to you and you family for serving and sacrificing for our country.
You & your family are not alone....
in reference to the above comment by Mr. Ramon Nadal { or Tony }
Just Googled this pilot using
Medal of Honor Pilot Bruce Crandall in Wikipedia and it mentions this mission you talk about,
Operation Masher
Crandall had just finished a full day supporting the 12th Infantry Battalion on January 31, 1966, during the first combined American and Army of the Republic of Vietnam operation called "Operation Masher". He returned to refuel and shut down for the night when he learned that a company was in heavy enemy contact and had 12 wounded soldiers who needed evacuation. The soldiers were pinned down in a tight perimeter. The unit was led by Captain Tony Nadal, his friend and fellow veteran of the Battle of la Drang.[9]
Crandall refueled and flew to the area. He learned that the pick-up zone was surrounded by trees on three sides, and he was told that the Medevac had refused to land there. To minimize the chances of hitting the trees, he decided to descend vertically. The night was pitch dark with an overcast sky, making flying extremely difficult.[9] He wanted to avoid giving the enemy an illuminated target and risk back-lighting the soldiers defending the landing zone and the wounded soldiers. Instead of using search or landing lights, he instructed Nadal to point a flashlight up in the center of the touchdown area. He landed twice under intense enemy fire and successfully evacuated all 12 wounded soldiers.[9
Just an old 67N huey mechanic in the 70's and 80's but thought you would find this interesting
These Heroes shall never be forgotten ......
Thank so very much Sir. You are a true to life Hero and we all thank you very much.
"You've got the balls to face me and not the balls to face the enemy". A badass
A true hero.