Bruce P. Crandall
Bruce P. Crandall | |
|---|---|
 Crandall in the mid-1960s | |
| Nickname(s) | "Snake", "Snakeshit" |
| Born | February 17, 1933 Olympia, Washington |
| Died | May 31, 2026 (aged 93) Tempe, Arizona, U.S. |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch | 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 (February 17, 1933 – May 31, 2026)[2] was a U.S. Army officer who was born in Crandall in Olympia, Washington.[3] He received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Battle of Ia Drang.
During the battle he flew 22 missions in an unarmed helicopter into enemy fire to bring ammunition and supplies and evacuate the wounded. By the end of the Vietnam War, he had flown over 900 combat missions.
He studied at the University of Washington. After retiring from the Army he worked several jobs in different states before settling down with his wife in his home state of Washington. Crandall was married to Arlene Louise from 1956 until her death in 2010.
Crandall died on May 31, 2026 at his home in Tempe, Arizona at the age of 93.[4]
References
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ "Biography of Bruce P. Crandall". Archived from the original on April 2, 2012. Retrieved September 23, 2011.
- ↑ "Congressional Medal of Honor Society Mourns the Passing of Vietnam Medal of Honor Recipient Bruce P. Crandall". cmohs.org. 2026-05-31. Retrieved 2026-06-01.
Other websites
- Bruce Crandall Personal Site (December 31, 2022) https://brucecrandall.com
- "Bruce P.Crandall - Medal of Honor, U.S. Army". U.S. Army, army.mil. Retrieved February 15, 2010.
- Gomez, Ian (February 22, 2007). "Vietnam pilot to receive Medal of Honor". USA Today.
- Office of the Press Secretary (February 26, 2007). "President Bush Presents the Medal of Honor to Lieutenant Colonel Bruce Crandall". White House.gov.
- "Interview with Bruce P Crandall". Pritzker Military Library. April 22, 2008. Archived from the original on October 20, 2008. Retrieved February 15, 2010.
- Medal of Honor Recipients on Film