Bruce P. Crandall | |
|---|---|
 Crandall in the mid-1960s | |
| Nickname(s) | "Snake", "Snakeshit" |
| Born | February 17, 1933 Olympia, Washington |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1953–1977 |
| Rank | Colonel[1] |
| Battles / wars | Operation Power Pack Vietnam War |
| Awards | Medal of Honor Distinguished Flying Cross (4) Bronze Star Medal Purple Heart Meritorious Service Medal (3) Air Medal (23) |
| Spouse(s) |
Arlene Shaffer
(m. 1956; died 2010) |
| Relations | 3 children, 5 grandchildren |
| Other work | City Manager of Dunsmuir, California Public Works Manager of Mesa, Arizona |
Bruce Perry Crandall (born February 17, 1933)[2] is a retired United States Army officer who received the Medal of Honor for his actions as a pilot during the Battle of Ia Drang on November 14, 1965, in South Vietnam. During the battle, he flew 22 missions in a Bell Huey helicopter into enemy fire to evacuate more than 70 wounded and bring ammunition and supplies to United States forces. His actions in the battle of the Ia Drang valley were portrayed by actor Greg Kinnear in the Mel Gibson film, We Were Soldiers. By the end of the Vietnam War, he had flown more than 900 combat missions. He retired from the army as a lieutenant colonel and worked several jobs in different states before settling down with his wife in his home state of Washington. As of 2024, Crandall lives in Tempe, Arizona.[3]
- ^ Pate, Kelly (April 15, 2010). "Medal of Honor recipient receives promotion to colonel – 30 years after retirement". Retrieved September 22, 2011.
- ^ "Medal Of Honor 2011". Archived from the original on October 2, 2011. Retrieved September 22, 2011.
- ^ "A Medal of Honor Recipient Lives Here!". November 11, 2021. Retrieved July 2, 2024.