Medal of Honor Recipient Bruce Crandall, Vietnam War Hero, Dies at 93
Retired U.S. Army Colonel Bruce Crandall, a Medal of Honor recipient for his heroic helicopter evacuations during the 1965 Battle of Ia Drang in Vietnam, died on May 31, 2026, at age 93. He voluntarily flew 22 missions under heavy fire to evacuate wounded soldiers and deliver supplies, saving over 70 lives. His actions were chronicled in the book and film 'We Were Soldiers Once... and Young.' Crandall served two tours in Vietnam, flew nearly 1,000 combat missions, and was awarded the Medal of Honor in 2007.
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Medal of Honor recipient and legendary Vietnam War helicopter pilot ‘Old Snake’ has died
Retired Army Col. Bruce Perry Crandall, the legendary helicopter pilot known as 'Old Snake' who received the Medal of Honor for his bravery during the 1965 Battle of Ia Drang in Vietnam, has died at age 93. Crandall repeatedly flew his helicopter into heavy combat to evacuate wounded troops and deliver supplies under intense enemy fire, saving approximately 70 wounded soldiers during 22 harrowing landings. His heroism was featured in the book 'We Were Soldiers Once…and Young' and the subsequent 2002 film where actor Greg Kinnear portrayed him. Crandall joined the Army National Guard at age 15 and was commissioned as an officer in 1954. He was awarded the Medal of Honor in February 2007 by President George W. Bush for his actions on November 14, 1965, when he voluntarily landed under extreme fire at Landing Zone X-Ray, inspiring other pilots and ground forces.
Task & PurposeMedal of Honor recipient and legendary Vietnam War helicopter pilot ‘Old Snake’ has died
Retired Army Col. Bruce Perry Crandall, the legendary helicopter pilot known as 'Old Snake' who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery during the 1965 Battle of Ia Drang in Vietnam, has died at age 93. Crandall repeatedly flew his helicopter into heavy combat to evacuate wounded troops and deliver supplies under intense enemy fire, saving about 70 wounded soldiers during 22 harrowing landings. His heroism was featured in the book 'We Were Soldiers Once…and Young' and the subsequent 2002 film where he was portrayed by actor Greg Kinnear. Crandall joined the Army National Guard at age 15 and was commissioned as an officer in 1954. He received the Medal of Honor in February 2007 from President George W. Bush.
Task & PurposeMedal of Honor recipient Bruce Crandall, whose heroism was chronicled in ‘We Were Soldiers Once,’ dies at 93
Retired U.S. Army Colonel Bruce Crandall, a Medal of Honor recipient for his extraordinary heroism during the Vietnam War's Battle of Ia Drang, died on May 31 at the age of 93. Crandall was awarded the nation's highest military honor for repeatedly flying his unarmed helicopter into intense enemy fire on November 14, 1965, to deliver ammunition and evacuate approximately 70 wounded soldiers from Landing Zone X-Ray. His actions, alongside Major Ed Freeman, were depicted in the book and film 'We Were Soldiers Once... and Young.' Crandall flew nearly 1,000 combat missions over two tours in Vietnam. The Congressional Medal of Honor Society remembered him for his wit, humility, and fierce loyalty. Born in Olympia, Washington, in 1933, Crandall was drafted into the Army in 1953, deferring a potential baseball career.
Army TimesMedal of Honor recipient Bruce Crandall, whose heroism was chronicled in ‘We Were Soldiers Once,’ dies at 93
Retired U.S. Army Colonel Bruce Crandall, a Medal of Honor recipient for his heroic helicopter evacuations during the Vietnam War's Battle of Ia Drang, died on May 31, 2026, at age 93. Crandall led over 900 combat missions across two Vietnam tours. During the November 14, 1965, Battle of Ia Drang, he voluntarily flew 22 missions into a heavily contested landing zone to deliver ammunition and evacuate approximately 70 wounded soldiers, despite intense enemy fire and after medevac support was cut off. His actions, alongside Major Ed Freeman, were later chronicled in the book and film 'We Were Soldiers Once... and Young.' Crandall was born in Olympia, Washington, in 1933 and was drafted into the Army in 1953. He is remembered for his humility, wit, and loyalty.
Marine Corps TimesMedal of Honor recipient Bruce Crandall, whose heroism was chronicled in ‘We Were Soldiers Once,’ dies at 93
Retired U.S. Army Colonel Bruce Crandall, a Medal of Honor recipient for his heroic helicopter evacuations during the Vietnam War's Battle of Ia Drang, died on May 31, 2026, at age 93. Crandall, born in Olympia, Washington in 1933, was drafted into the Army in 1953. During the November 14, 1965 battle, he voluntarily flew 22 missions into intense enemy fire at Landing Zone X-Ray to deliver ammunition and evacuate approximately 70 wounded soldiers, despite medevac pilots refusing to land. His actions, alongside Major Ed Freeman, were chronicled in the book and film 'We Were Soldiers Once... and Young.' Crandall flew nearly 1,000 combat missions over two Vietnam tours and was remembered by the Congressional Medal of Honor Society for his wit, humility, and loyalty.
Air Force TimesMedal of Honor recipient Bruce Crandall, whose heroism was chronicled in ‘We Were Soldiers Once,’ dies at 93
Retired U.S. Army Colonel Bruce Crandall, a Medal of Honor recipient for his heroic helicopter evacuations during the Vietnam War's Battle of Ia Drang, died on May 31, 2026, at age 93. Crandall, who led over 900 combat missions, was awarded the nation's highest valor award for voluntarily flying 22 missions into intense enemy fire on November 14, 1965, to deliver ammunition and evacuate approximately 70 wounded soldiers from Landing Zone X-Ray. His actions, alongside Major Ed Freeman, were depicted in the book and film 'We Were Soldiers Once... and Young.' Crandall's heroism and humility were highlighted by the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. He was born in Olympia, Washington, in 1933 and was drafted into the Army in 1953.
Marine Corps TimesMedal of Honor recipient Bruce Crandall, whose heroism was chronicled in ‘We Were Soldiers Once,’ dies at 93
Retired U.S. Army Colonel Bruce Crandall, a Medal of Honor recipient for his heroic actions during the Vietnam War's Battle of Ia Drang, died on May 31, 2026, at the age of 93. Crandall was recognized for repeatedly flying his helicopter into intense enemy fire on November 14, 1965, to evacuate dozens of wounded soldiers and deliver ammunition to trapped troops of the 1/7 Cavalry. Despite orders for medevac pilots to abort due to heavy fire, Crandall and his friend Maj. Ed Freeman voluntarily flew 22 missions into Landing Zone X-Ray, evacuating approximately 70 wounded soldiers. His actions were chronicled in the book and film 'We Were Soldiers Once... and Young.' Crandall flew nearly 1,000 combat missions during two tours in Vietnam and was remembered for his humility, wit, and loyalty.
Marine Corps TimesMedal of Honor recipient Bruce Crandall, whose heroism was chronicled in ‘We Were Soldiers Once,’ dies at 93
Retired U.S. Army Colonel Bruce Crandall, a Medal of Honor recipient for his heroic helicopter evacuations during the 1965 Battle of Ia Drang in Vietnam, died on May 31 at age 93. Crandall led more than 900 combat missions over two tours in Vietnam. During the first major clash of the Vietnam War, he voluntarily flew 22 missions into a heavily contested landing zone to deliver ammunition and evacuate approximately 70 wounded soldiers, despite intense enemy fire and orders for medevac pilots to abort. His actions, alongside Major Ed Freeman, were later immortalized in the book and film 'We Were Soldiers Once... and Young.' Crandall was born in Olympia, Washington in 1933, drafted into the Army in 1953, and also rescued 12 wounded soldiers during a jungle operation in 1966. He is remembered for his humility, wit, and fierce loyalty.
Military TimesMedal of Honor recipient Bruce Crandall, hero of Ia Drang, dies at 93
Retired U.S. Army Colonel Bruce Crandall, a Medal of Honor recipient for his heroism during the Vietnam War's Battle of Ia Drang, died on May 31, 2026, at the age of 93. Crandall was awarded the nation's highest military honor for repeatedly flying his unarmed helicopter into intense enemy fire on November 14, 1965, to evacuate approximately 70 wounded soldiers and deliver ammunition to the trapped 1/7 Cavalry. His actions, alongside Major Ed Freeman, were chronicled in the book and film 'We Were Soldiers Once... and Young.' Crandall flew nearly 1,000 combat missions over two tours in Vietnam. The Congressional Medal of Honor Society remembered him for his wit, humility, and fierce loyalty. Born in Olympia, Washington, in 1933, he was drafted into the Army in 1953, deferring a potential baseball career.
Navy TimesMedal of Honor recipient Bruce Crandall, whose heroism was chronicled in ‘We Were Soldiers Once,’ dies at 93
Retired U.S. Army Colonel Bruce Crandall, a Medal of Honor recipient for his heroic helicopter evacuations during the Vietnam War's Battle of Ia Drang, died on May 31 at age 93. Crandall, born in Olympia, Washington in 1933, was drafted into the Army in 1953. During the November 14, 1965 battle—the first major clash of the Vietnam War, later chronicled in the book and film 'We Were Soldiers Once...and Young'—Crandall voluntarily flew 22 missions into a heavily contested landing zone to deliver ammunition and evacuate approximately 70 wounded soldiers, despite intense enemy fire. He led over 900 combat missions across two Vietnam tours. The Congressional Medal of Honor Society remembered him for his wit, humility, and fierce loyalty. His actions at Landing Zone X-Ray, alongside friend Maj. Ed Freeman, were credited with saving numerous lives and boosting troop morale during a critical moment in the war.
Military TimesMedal of Honor recipient Bruce Crandall, whose heroism was chronicled in ‘We Were Soldiers Once,’ dies at 93
Retired U.S. Army Colonel Bruce Crandall, a Medal of Honor recipient for his heroic helicopter evacuations during the Vietnam War's Battle of Ia Drang, died on May 31, 2026, at age 93. Crandall led over 900 combat missions across two tours in Vietnam. His most famous action occurred on November 14, 1965, when he voluntarily flew 22 missions into the heavily contested Landing Zone X-Ray, delivering ammunition and evacuating approximately 70 wounded soldiers under intense enemy fire, despite medevac pilots refusing to land. His actions, alongside Major Ed Freeman, were chronicled in the book and film 'We Were Soldiers Once... and Young.' Crandall was born in Olympia, Washington, in 1933, and was drafted into the Army in 1953. He is remembered for his humility, wit, and loyalty.
Air Force TimesMedal of Honor recipient Bruce Crandall dies at 93
Retired Army Colonel Bruce Crandall, a Medal of Honor recipient for his heroic actions during the Vietnam War's Battle of Ia Drang, died on May 31 at age 93. Crandall was awarded the nation's highest honor for valor for repeatedly flying his helicopter into intense enemy fire on November 14, 1965, to evacuate dozens of wounded soldiers and deliver ammunition to trapped troops of the 1/7 Cavalry. Despite orders for medevac aircraft to abort due to heavy fire, Crandall and his friend Maj. Ed Freeman voluntarily flew 22 missions into Landing Zone X-Ray, evacuating approximately 70 wounded soldiers. His heroism was chronicled in the book and film 'We Were Soldiers Once... and Young.' Crandall flew nearly 1,000 combat missions during two tours in Vietnam and was further commended for rescuing 12 wounded soldiers in January 1966. He was born in Olympia, Washington in February 1933 and was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1953.
Army TimesMedal of Honor recipient Bruce Crandall, whose heroism was chronicled in ‘We Were Soldiers Once,’ dies at 93
Retired U.S. Army Colonel Bruce Crandall, a Medal of Honor recipient for his heroic actions during the Vietnam War's Battle of Ia Drang, died on May 31 at age 93. Crandall was awarded the nation's highest military honor for repeatedly flying his helicopter into intense enemy fire on November 14, 1965, to evacuate wounded soldiers and deliver ammunition to trapped troops of the 1/7 Cavalry. Despite orders for medevac aircraft to abort due to heavy fire, Crandall voluntarily led 22 missions into Landing Zone X-Ray alongside Major Ed Freeman, evacuating approximately 70 wounded soldiers. His actions were later chronicled in the book and film 'We Were Soldiers Once... and Young.' Crandall flew nearly 1,000 combat missions over two tours in Vietnam and was remembered by the Congressional Medal of Honor Society for his wit, humility, and fierce loyalty.
Navy TimesMedal of Honor recipient Bruce Crandall, hero of 'We Were Soldiers Once,' dies at 93
Retired U.S. Army Colonel Bruce Crandall, a Medal of Honor recipient for his heroic helicopter evacuations during the Vietnam War's Battle of Ia Drang, died on May 31 at age 93. Crandall, born in Olympia, Washington in 1933, was drafted into the Army in 1953. During the November 14, 1965 battle, he voluntarily led 22 missions into the heavily contested Landing Zone X-Ray, delivering ammunition and evacuating approximately 70 wounded soldiers despite intense enemy fire. His actions, alongside Major Ed Freeman, were chronicled in the book and film 'We Were Soldiers Once... and Young.' Crandall flew nearly 1,000 combat missions over two Vietnam tours and was also commended for rescuing 12 wounded soldiers in a jungle operation in 1966. He is remembered for his humility, wit, and fierce loyalty.
Army TimesMedal of Honor recipient Bruce Crandall, whose heroism was chronicled in ‘We Were Soldiers Once,’ dies at 93
Retired U.S. Army Colonel Bruce Crandall, a Medal of Honor recipient for his heroic helicopter evacuations during the Vietnam War's Battle of Ia Drang, died on May 31, 2026, at age 93. Crandall, born in Olympia, Washington in 1933, was drafted into the Army in 1953 after his baseball dreams were deferred. During the November 14, 1965 battle—the first major clash of the Vietnam War, later chronicled in the book and film 'We Were Soldiers Once'—Crandall voluntarily flew 22 missions into intense enemy fire to deliver ammunition and evacuate approximately 70 wounded soldiers when official medevac support was cut off. He led over 900 combat missions during two Vietnam tours and was further commended for rescuing 12 wounded soldiers in January 1966. The Congressional Medal of Honor Society remembered him for his wit, humility, and fierce loyalty.
Air Force TimesMedal of Honor recipient Bruce Crandall dies at 93
Retired Army Colonel Bruce Crandall, a Medal of Honor recipient for his heroic actions during the Vietnam War, died on May 31 at the age of 93. Crandall was awarded the nation's highest military honor for repeatedly flying his helicopter into intense enemy fire during the November 1965 Battle of Ia Drang, the first major clash of the Vietnam War. Despite orders for medevac pilots to abort, Crandall voluntarily flew 22 missions into Landing Zone X-Ray, delivering ammunition and evacuating approximately 70 wounded soldiers. His heroism was chronicled in the book and film 'We Were Soldiers Once... and Young.' Crandall flew nearly 1,000 combat missions over two tours in Vietnam. The Congressional Medal of Honor Society remembered him for his wit, humility, and fierce loyalty.
Navy TimesBruce Crandall, Vietnam helicopter pilot and Medal of Honor recipient, dies at 93
Retired Army Colonel Bruce Crandall, a Medal of Honor recipient for his heroic actions as a helicopter pilot during the Vietnam War's Battle of Ia Drang, died on May 31, 2026, at age 93. In November 1965, then-Major Crandall and Captain Ed Freeman volunteered to fly their UH-1 Hueys into heavy combat to evacuate wounded soldiers and deliver supplies, completing 22 flights under enemy fire and saving over 70 soldiers. Crandall later rescued 12 more soldiers during Operation Masher in 1966. He was severely injured when his helicopter was shot down in 1968 but recovered and continued his Army career until retiring in 1977. President George W. Bush awarded him the Medal of Honor in 2007. Crandall had previously withdrawn his name from consideration to ensure Freeman received the honor first. His actions were chronicled in the book and film 'We Were Soldiers.' He is survived by 63 living Medal of Honor recipients.
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