Bruce P. Crandall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bruce P. Crandall
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Crandall in the mid-1960s
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| Nicknames | "Snake", "Snakeshit" |
| Born | February 17, 1933 Olympia, Washington, U.S.
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| Died | May 31, 2026 (aged 93) Tempe, Arizona, U.S.
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| Allegiance | United States |
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Branch
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United States Army |
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Service years
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1953–1977 |
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Rank
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Colonel |
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Conflicts
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Operation Power Pack Vietnam War
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| Awards | Medal of Honor Distinguished Flying Cross (4) Bronze Star Medal Purple Heart Meritorious Service Medal (3) Air Medal (23) |
| Spouse |
Arlene Shaffer
(m. 1956; died 2010) |
| Children | 3 |
| Other work | City Manager of Dunsmuir, California Public Works Manager of Mesa, Arizona |
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Bruce Perry Crandall (February 17, 1933 – May 31, 2026) was a brave United States Army officer. He received the highest military award, the Medal of Honor, for his amazing actions as a helicopter pilot. This happened during the Battle of Ia Drang on November 14, 1965, in South Vietnam.
During this intense battle, Crandall flew 22 dangerous missions. He flew his Bell Huey helicopter into areas with heavy enemy fire. His goal was to rescue over 70 wounded soldiers. He also brought much-needed ammunition and supplies to the American forces. His heroic actions in the Ia Drang valley were shown in the movie We Were Soldiers, where actor Greg Kinnear played him. By the end of the Vietnam War, Crandall had flown more than 900 combat missions. He retired from the army as a lieutenant colonel. After his military career, he worked in different jobs before settling down with his wife in Washington state.
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Early Life and Family
Bruce Crandall was born on February 17, 1933, in Olympia, Washington. He grew up there and went to public schools. In high school, he was a talented baseball player, earning the title of All-American. He attended the University of Washington in Seattle. In 1953, during the Korean War, he joined the United States Army.
Bruce married Arlene Shaffer on March 31, 1956. They had three sons and five grandchildren. Arlene passed away from cancer on November 2, 2010. Bruce Crandall died at his home in Tempe, Arizona, on May 31, 2026, at the age of 93.
A Career in the Sky
Crandall finished his officer training school in 1954. He then learned to fly both airplanes and helicopters. His first assignment was with an Army Aviation group that mapped areas from the air. This was the largest military flying unit in the world at the time. He started by piloting small planes like the Cessna L-19 Bird Dog and de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver in Alaska. He helped with military studies to map the land.
His first overseas flying job took him to Wheelus Air Base in Tripoli, Libya. For two years, he mapped the desert. He flew various aircraft, including the de Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otter and OH-23 Raven. He also worked as an instructor pilot.
Crandall's next overseas missions involved flying over vast, unmapped mountains and jungles. These flights took place in Central and South America. He was based in Howard Air Force Base, Panama, and Costa Rica. He helped develop new ways to use helicopters to quickly move soldiers into battle. In 1965, he joined a group sent to the Dominican Republic. Later that year, he went to South Vietnam. The United States was involved in a conflict there, supporting South Vietnam. He commanded a helicopter unit called Company A, part of the 1st Cavalry Division. His radio call sign was "Ancient Serpent 6."
Heroic Flights in Ia Drang
On November 14, 1965, Crandall led the first big helicopter operation of the Vietnam War. He helped soldiers from the 7th and 5th Cavalry Regiments land at a spot called Landing Zone X-Ray. A very intense battle, known as the Battle of Ia Drang, quickly began.
During the fighting, Crandall and his co-pilot, Major Ed Freeman, bravely evacuated about 70 wounded soldiers. They made 12 to 18 flights into the landing zone, even though other rescue helicopters wouldn't land there due to heavy enemy fire. Crandall rescued more than 75 injured people in his helicopters. His flying day started at 6 AM and ended at 10:30 PM, lasting over 16 hours. He later said, "It was the longest day I ever experienced in any aircraft." He had to use several helicopters that day because each one became badly damaged by enemy fire.
Crandall and Freeman also flew in much-needed ammunition. This helped the 7th Cavalry soldiers survive the battle. The helicopters they flew were not armed with weapons. For his incredible bravery, Crandall first received a high award called the Distinguished Service Cross. This was later changed to the Medal of Honor. President George W. Bush presented him with the Medal of Honor on February 26, 2007, at the White House.
Saving Lives in Operation Masher
On January 31, 1966, Crandall had just finished a long day supporting soldiers during "Operation Masher". This was a joint operation between American and South Vietnamese forces. As he was refueling for the night, he learned that a company of soldiers was in heavy enemy contact. Twelve wounded soldiers needed to be rescued. They were stuck in a small area surrounded by the enemy. The unit was led by Captain Tony Nadal, a friend of Crandall's from the Battle of Ia Drang.
Crandall quickly refueled and flew to the area. He found out that the landing spot was surrounded by trees on three sides. He was also told that other rescue helicopters had refused to land there. To avoid hitting the trees, he decided to fly straight down. The night was very dark with clouds, making it extremely difficult to see. He wanted to avoid making his helicopter an easy target for the enemy. He also didn't want to accidentally show the enemy where the defending soldiers and wounded were. Instead of using bright lights, he asked Captain Nadal to point a flashlight up at the center of the landing area. Crandall landed twice under intense enemy fire and successfully rescued all 12 wounded soldiers.
After Vietnam
After an assignment in Colorado, Crandall attended a special college for military leaders. Soon after, he returned to South Vietnam for a second tour. This time, he flew Huey helicopters equipped with weapons. He supported the 1st Battalion, 9th Cavalry Squadron.
In January 1968, Crandall's helicopter was shot down during another rescue attempt. This happened because bombs from other aircraft exploded too close to him. He spent five months in the hospital recovering from a broken back and other injuries. After recovering, he continued his education at the University of Nebraska. He graduated in 1969. He then became an engineer in Bangkok, Thailand, where he managed a large team of 3,800 people. He later held important leadership roles at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.
His next assignment was planned for South America. He and his wife, Arlene, went to a school to learn Spanish. He was supposed to be an expert adviser for flying and engineering in Argentina. However, this assignment did not happen because Crandall had a medical event that meant he couldn't fly anymore. After his recovery, the Spanish language training proved useful. He was sent to Caracas, Venezuela, as a director for a mapping project in the Americas. In his final army job, he was the top engineering adviser for the California Army National Guard. In 1977, he retired from the army as a lieutenant colonel.
Life After the Army
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After retiring from the army, Crandall earned a special degree in public administration in 1977. He then worked in public service jobs. For three years, he managed the city of Dunsmuir, California. Later, he and his wife, Arlene Louise Shaffer, moved to Mesa, Arizona. There, he worked for 17 years in the Public Works Department, which handles city services like roads and water. He spent his last four years there as the public works manager. His wife passed away on November 2, 2010, and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
On April 15, 2010, Crandall was given a higher rank, becoming a Colonel. This was more than 30 years after he retired from the army. It was a special recognition for his achievements and for receiving the Medal of Honor. The ceremony took place at an Army Aviation Association Convention in Fort Worth, Texas. He attended the unveiling of a statue for fellow Medal of Honor recipient Leroy Petry in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on June 24, 2013. He also had the honor of raising the "12th Man" flag for the Seattle Seahawks – Minnesota Vikings football game on November 17, 2013. This was part of the Seahawks' "Salute to Service."
Awards and Honors
Bruce Crandall received many military awards for his bravery and service:
- Medal of Honor
- Distinguished Flying Cross (with three oak leaf clusters)
- Bronze Star Medal
- Purple Heart
- Meritorious Service Medal (with two oak leaf clusters)
- Air Medal (with award numeral 23)
- Army Commendation Medal
- Army Good Conduct Medal
- National Defense Service Medal (with one bronze service star)
- Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
- Vietnam Service Medal (with four bronze campaign stars)
- Armed Forces Reserve Medal
- Vietnam Cross of Gallantry (with Palm and three Gold Stars)
- Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
- Army Presidential Unit Citation
- Valorous Unit Award
- Meritorious Unit Commendation
- Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation
- Vietnam Civil Actions Unit Citation
- Army Expert Marksmanship Badge
- Army Sharpshooter Badge
Other Recognitions
Crandall was inducted into the United States Air Force's "Gathering of Eagles" in 1994. He was one of only seven Army aviators to receive this honor. He was also inducted into the Army Aviation Hall of Fame in 2004.
For his courage during Operation Masher, Crandall received the Aviation & Space Writers Helicopter Heroism Award for 1966. At the 20th annual award ceremony, his rescue flights were ranked as the most heroic over the first 20 years of the award.
The baseball field at Olympia High School was named after Lt. Col. Crandall in 2003. Crandall had been an All-American baseball player for the school.
Crandall served as the honorary starter for the 2011 Indianapolis 500 race.
On April 15, 2011, Crandall became an honorary member of the 1st Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment. He signed the Squadron rolls during a special event. He also helped induct officers and non-commissioned officers into the Order of St. Michael.
Crandall's amazing actions at the Battle of Ia Drang are featured in the 1992 book We Were Soldiers Once...And Young. This book was written by Harold G. Moore and Joseph L. Galloway. His story is also told in the 2002 movie, We Were Soldiers, where Greg Kinnear played him. Crandall even worked as an aviation consultant during the filming in 2001.
University of Washington Medal of Honor Memorial
There is a special memorial at the University of Washington that honors Medal of Honor recipients. It was built with private donations and dedicated in November 2009. This memorial recognizes alumni like Bruce Crandall, Greg Boyington, Deming Bronson, Robert E. Galer, John D. Hawk, Robert Leisy, William Kenzo Nakamura, and Archie Van Winkle.
See also
In Spanish: Bruce Crandall para niños
- List of Medal of Honor recipients for the Vietnam War
- List of University of Washington people
- List of Golden Gate University people
