Vietnam (chopper) pilot to receive Medal of Honor (We Were Soldiers)

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-02-22-vet-honor_x.htm

Bruce and Arlene Crandall were recently cruising their Winnebago along a West Coast highway, the first leg of a cross-country trip to visit their kids, when the couple got a call from the White House.

The official asked to talk to Bruce Crandall, a retired Army helicopter pilot, to say that 41 years after he took part in one of the bloodiest battles of Vietnam, Crandall was going to receive the Medal of Honor — the highest military medal in the country.

<snip>

Crandall volunteered to continue the airlifts and Freeman — his wingman for hundreds of flights in Vietnam — joined him. Together, they began flying into the clearing, dropping off supplies to Moore's men while filling up their Hueys with the wounded.

Crandall switched helicopters three times because of the fire he was taking. He and Freeman flew through the day and into the night, landing 22 times and taking out at least 70 wounded soldiers.

When asked why he took such a risk, Crandall said: "Any person who has children would understand what we were thinking. If you were standing on a shore of a lake, and you saw your kids go through the ice, you would go out and try to get them even if you didn't know how to swim."

He was the one known as "Snake".

[Monkeyman]

1. Well deserved

I will never forget the guys who got me out under heavy fire.

[lazer47]

3. They all deserve it

There is no feeling like being lifted out of a hot LZ,, and knowing everybody got out, thanks to these guys, My reguards to you Monkeyman,,, Welcome Home Bro.

[Monkeyman]

6. You too

[Allenberg]

2. Good on him.

Well deserved.

[grytpype]

4. Two Medals of Honor have been awarded in Iraq.

One to a solider, one to a Marine, both were killed in action.

http://www.army.mil/CMH/mohiraq.htm

[grytpype]

5. 464 were awarded in World War 2, which was shorter (for us) than Iraq.

http://www.acepilots.com/medals/us_ww2_medals.html

[Greeby]

7. A relevant line from the film

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0277434/quotes

Crandall: My men call me Snakeshit, sir.
Lt. Colonel Hal Moore: Why do they call you that?
Crandall: Because I fly "lower than snakeshit," sir.

:patriot:

[provis99]

8. wish we had given medals also to the vets who spoke against the war

They were profiles in courage, too.

[northofdenali]

9. ...

As one whose ex-husband was airlifted twice - these guys are heroes of the first order.

:patriot::patriot::patriot::patriot::patriot:

[brentspeak]

10. Question on what happens when a medal is upgraded:

On Wikipedia, it says that Crandall was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross with oak leaf; meaning, he won the DSC twice. I presume that the MOH he'll be receiving is an upgrade from one of the DSC medals. So, that means that the DSC oak leaf will be officially removed?

[Toots]

11. I doubt it

He flew into a hot LZ twenty two times and each and every time was worthy of honorable mention. IMO he should receive a medal for every single time he returned to the scene of the battle. Each time was as heroic as the first and last time..

[Hunky Dunky]

12. A true American Hero! n/t