Medal of Honor Recipient Bruce P. Crandall Interview

He is the most recent living recipient of America's highest award for military valor. In a ceremony at the White House in 2007, more than 41 years after his incredible exploits as a pilot in the Ia Drang Valley of Vietnam, a legend in Army aviation received the Medal of Honor: Bruce Crandall.

His call sign that day was "Ancient Serpent 6", but many simply called him "Old Snake". Maj. Crandall's mission was to airlift troops into Landing Zone X-Ray, a remote location in the Central Highlands of Vietnam. After his fifth delivery, the landing zone came under intense fire and subsequent air missions were called off. However, the troops already in the landing zone were isolated, running out of time and ammunition, with casualties mounting.

By rule, medevac pilots were not allowed into a landing zone until it had been clear of enemy fire for at least five minutes, but those five minutes would not come. Crandall and another volunteer, Capt. Ed "Too Tall" Freeman, who were not medevac pilots, decided to return. They flew back into the Ia Drang Valley, under relentless fire and extreme danger, to resupply the isolated battalion - making fourteen flights each, until more than 70 wounded soldiers had been airlifted to safety.

These events were chronicled in the book We Were Soldiers Once...and Young, by Joe Galloway and Lt. Gen. Hal Moore, both of whom were on the ground at that landing zone - one a journalist, the other the infantry battalion commander.

Crandall served a second tour of duty and retired in 1977 as a Lieutenant Colonel. Upon learning that he and Freeman were being considered for the Medal of Honor, Crandall asked that his name be withdrawn in order to enhance his wingman's chances. Freeman received the award in 2001, but the "Old Snake" was not forgotten: he received the Medal of Honor on February 26, 2007.

His Citation Reads:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty,
Major Bruce P. Crandall distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism as a Flight Commander in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Company A, 229th Assault Helicopter Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile). On 14 November 1965, his flight of sixteen helicopters was lifting troops for a search and destroy mission from Plei Me, Vietnam, to Landing Zone X-Ray in the la Drang Valley. On the fourth troop lift, the airlift began to take enemy fire, and by the time the aircraft had refueled and returned for the next troop lift, the enemy had Landing Zone X-Ray targeted. As Major Crandall and the first eight helicopters landed to discharge troops on his fifth troop lift, his unarmed helicopter came under such intense enemy fire that the ground commander ordered the second flight of eight aircraft to abort their mission. As Major Crandall flew back to Plei Me, his base of operations, he determined that the ground commander of the besieged infantry batallion desperately needed more ammunition. Major Crandall then decided to adjust his base of operations to Artillery Firebase Falcon in order to shorten the flight distance to deliver ammunition and evacuate wounded soldiers. While medical evacuation was not his mission, he immediately sought volunteers and with complete disregard for his own personal safety, led the two aircraft to Landing Zone X-Ray. Despite the fact that the landing zone was still under relentless enemy fire, Major Crandall landed and proceeded to supervise the loading of seriously wounded soldiers aboard his aircraft. Major Crandall's voluntary decision to land under the most extreme fire instilled in the other pilots the will and spirit to continue to land their own aircraft, and in the ground forces the realization that they would be resupplied and that friendly wounded would be promptly evacuated. This greatly enhanced morale and the will to fight at a critical time. After his first medical evacuation, Major Crandall continued to fly into and out of the landing zone throughout the day and into the evening. That day he completed a total of 22 flights, most under intense enemy fire, retiring from the battlefield only after all possible service had been rendered to the Infantry battalion. His actions provided critical resupply of ammunition and evacuation of the wounded. Major Crandall's daring acts of bravery and courage in the face of an overwhelming and determined enemy are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.