A funeral 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 the aircraft. 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. He never spoke an unkind word, and was a shining example of how to love unconditionally. [15][16] Some people did not believe that the resolution's sponsor had fully addressed the financial and logistical problems of installing a memorial, and some were questioning the assumption that all warriors and acts of war are automatically worthy of memorialization. Col. Crandall signed the Squadron rolls during a Squadron Ball where he helped induct officers and NCO's into the Order of St. Michael and received a 1st Sqdn., 6th Cav. belt buckle. You can send your sympathy in the guestbook provided and share it with the family. Comment * Name. It is with great sadness that the family of Bruce Thorne Crandall announce his passing. {{start_at_rate}} {{format_dollars}} {{start_price}} {{format_cents}} {{term}}, {{promotional_format_dollars}}{{promotional_price}}{{promotional_format_cents}} {{term}}, US states that spend the most on health and hospitals, AI might ensure all of those recently lost tech jobs might not come back, Take your cooking to the next level with certain spices, Why it's difficult to locate some grocery store items. (Laughter.) [10], Crandall has received the following military decorations:[3]. Estela I am so sorry for your loss. Bruce Crandall Obituary (1944 - 2020) | Monticello, MN 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. Bruce also spent part of every weekday at the Mad Science of the Mid-Hudson office, where his laughter would brighten the day for his son and daughter-in-laws office staff. He was born to Grace (Swale) and Theodore Crandall. Born on July 24, 1951, in Glens Falls, he was the son of the late Clayton Crandall. Edit Search New Search Filters (1) To get better results, add more information such as Birth Info, Death Info and Locationeven a guess will help. A stroke sidelined Crandall, ending his flying career. Assignments: Infantry Basic; Engineering Amphibious Training; Leadership School; Engineer Officer Candidate School; fixed wing flight training at Gary AFB, TX; 1st graduating class of advanced flight school at Camp Rucker, AL; 30th Topographic Group, Presidio of San Francisco; 30th Topographic Group, Arctic Slope; Helicopter School, Gary AFB, TX; Advanced Helicopter Training, Camp Rucker, AL; 30th Topo Gp at Presidio of San Francisco; Wheelus AFB, Libya; 4th Eng Battalion, 4th Infantry Division at Ft. Lewis, WA; Engineer Advanced Course at Ft. Belvoir; back to 4th Engineer Battalion; Interamerican Geodetic Survey at Howard AFB, Panama; Interamerican Geodetic Survey at Costa Rica; 11th Air Assault Division platoon commander helping develop Army's new "airmobility" concept; 18th ABN Corps liaison for air assault in the Dominican Republic Expeditionary Force; Company Commander of A Company of the 229th as the 11th Air Assault Division (Test) became the 1st CAV (Airmobile), Ft. Benning, GA; 229th at An Khe, Vietnam, in support of eight battalions; Commander of Special Troops at Ft. Carson, CO; Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, VA; HQ 1st CAV at An Khe; 1/9 CAV at An Khe; University of Nebraska; Bangkok, Thailand as a Facility Engineer; Deputy Chief of Staff for Ft. Leonard Wood, MO; Commander, 5th Engineer Battalion also at Ft. Leonard Wood; Defense Language Institute, Monterey, CA. Burial will follow at West Union Cemetery, West Union, Iowa with Military Rites. Bruce P. Crandall | Military Wiki | Fandom When 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. Bruce J. Crandall, 83, entered heaven's gate on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017. Roy Gene Edwards. In January 1966, during the first combined American and South Vietnamese Army operation, "Operation Masher," Crandall, while under intense enemy fire and with only a spot flashlight beam to guide him , twice dropped his Huey helicopter through the dense jungle canopy to rescue 12 wounded Soldiers. All Rights Reserved. Biography: Retired Lt. Col. Crandall is a veteran Master Army Aviator in both fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters. An avid genealogist, Bruce spent countless hours researching the connections of Civil War veterans. [3] At the 20th annual award ceremony, his rescue flights were ranked highest over the first 20 years of the award.[9]. He was obsessed with the descendants of Elder John Crandall, who emigrated from Wales to Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1634 only to be expelled and become one of the seven men named in the charter of the Colony of Providence Plantation and Rhode Island in 1664. Bruce Perry Crandall (born February 17, 1933)[2] is a retired United States Army officer who received the Medal of Honor for his actions as a pilot during the Battle of Ia Drang on November 14, 1965, in South Vietnam. He led over 900 combat missions during two tours in Vietnam. David E. Crandall Obituary (1929 - 2021) | Middleport, New York - Echovita After his first medical evacuation, Major Crandall continued to fly into and out of the landing zone throughout the day and into the evening. You can send your sympathy in the guestbook provided and share it with the family. He retired from the army as a lieutenant colonel and worked several jobs in different states before settling down with his wife in his home state of Washington. A funeral service will be held at Community United Methodist Church at 9225 Jason Ave. NE in Monticello on Monday, February 10 at 12PM; visitation will be held from 10AM 12PM. Bruce was an active member of Camp 124 of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, an organization dedicated to preserving the history and legacy of the heroes who fought to save the Union. He was raised by his grandparents, John and Mary Roitz on the Roitz family ranch in Fort Bridger. [3] Later that year, he was assigned to South Vietnam, where the United States had entered the civil war defending South Vietnam against the Communist North Vietnamese. He began his college career at Upper Iowa University transferring to Iowa State Teachers College in 1956. They moved to Yonkers in 1992 and then to Goshen in 2003 where he joined the First Presbyterian Church of Goshen. In retirement, Bruce remained in perpetual motion. to provide comfort and ease at this very difficult time. In early 1965, he joined the Dominican Republic Expeditionary Force as a liaison to the 18th Airborne Corps. Bruce Crandall Obituary (2023) - Legacy Remembers To send flowers He returned to refuel and shut down for the night when he learned that a company was in heavy enemy contact and had 12 wounded soldiers who needed evacuation. Bruce died unexpectedly on Sunday, Dec. 12, 2021, at the exact age of 79. He and Jean Moss Crandall would have celebrated their 56th wedding anniversary this week. for Spanish language training in preparation for an Argentine Aviation and Engineering advisor assignment that wasn't to be (a stroke sidelined him and ended his flying career); after recovery he went to Caracas, Venezuela, as the Defense Mapping Agency's director for the Interamerican Geodetic Survey. While working at the Gettysburg College dining hall, he reprimanded a beautiful woman for the offense of sneaking an extra salad. [3], Crandall's helicopter was shot down during another rescue attempt in January 1968, four months into his second tour, due to air force bombs going off too close to where he was flying. Crandall, Jacquelyn Anne Loving mother, grandmother, and great-great grandmother went home to be with the Lord on Saturday March 27th, 2021 at the age of at 86. The importance of saying "I love you" during COVID-19, Effective ways of dealing with the grieving process, Solutions to show your sympathy safely during the Covid-19 pandemic. He joined First National Bank in West Union in 1964. Growing up, Bruce was a gifted athlete and a bit of a handful. Friends may Home, Inc., 68 Main St., Hudson Falls. He liked music, especially the blues. Bruce was born on Oct. 4, 1934, at home in Fayette, Iowa. As Major Crandall flew back to Plei Me, his base of operations, he determined that the ground commander of the besieged infantry battalion desperately needed more ammunition. Lt. Col. Bruce P. Crandall Official military photo, 1965. GLENS FALLS He was the perfect husband, father, grandpa, great-grandpa, brother, uncle and friend. Obituary for Bruce Alan Crandall | Peterson Grimsmo Chapel Bruce Perry Crandall II Houston, Texas January 30, 2023 Share Obituary: Tribute Wall Obituary & Events Share a memory Send Flowers Share a memory of Bruce Perry Crandall II. Leave a Message Cancel reply. There he mapped the desert for two years, flying de Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otter, DHC-2 Beaver, L-19 Birddog, and OH-23 Raven aircraft as an instructor pilot and unit test pilot. After retiring from the army, Crandall earned a master's degree in public administration from Golden Gate University in 1977. Awards: Distinguished Service Cross (to be upgraded to Medal of Honor); Distinguished Flying Cross with one oak leaf cluster; Bronze Star Medal; Meritorious Service Medal; Air Medal (24 awards); Army Commendation Medal; Purple Heart; National Defense Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster; Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal; Vietnam Service Medal (four campaigns); Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with 60 device; Presidential Unit Citation; Meritorious Unit Citation; Master Army Aviator Badge; Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Gold Star (three awards) and the Armed Forces Reserve Medal. [9], After an assignment in Colorado, Crandall attended the Armed Forces Staff College. Interment will be at a later date in Memorial Park Cemetery in OK. 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 Ia Drang Valley. Preceded in death by parents; two brothers and one sister. He was the President of the West Union Country Club, member on the North Fayette School Board, a West Union Ambassador, a Lion, a Jaycee, a Mason, a Shriner, and a West Union Boy Scout leader. Bruce graduated from Earlville Central School in the class of 1960, was captain of the basketball team and a proud trumpet-playing member of the marching band, dance band,and brass ensemble. The Crandalls live in Manchester, Wash. Nemia Tumaque-Holmes-Golden and family; his sisters and brothers, Sheryl Wilson All Obituaries | Crandall Funeral Home Inc. | Evanston WY funeral home After leaving California, he and his wife Arlene LouiseShaffer moved to Mesa, Arizona, where he worked for 17 years in the Public Works Department, the last four as the public works manager. Bruce C. Vernon, 78, passed away April 19, 2023. He became President of FNB in West Union in 1985 and retired after 40 years at the bank in 2004. Grau Funeral Homes, Inc. 2018 All Rights Reserved, Our professional and caring staff is dedicated to working with your family to provide assistance in selecting high quality and affordable funeral services, Our professional and caring staff is dedicated to working with your family to provide assistance in selecting high quality and affordable funeral services during a time, Betty Jean Converse, Postville, Iowa, December 28, 2022, Donald Maynard Larson, Elkader, Iowa, April 21, 2023, Kenneth Edwin Mittelstadt, Elgin, Iowa, April 21, 2023, Arlene Miller, West Union, Iowa, April 21, 2023, Donald Dean Webster, Elgin, Iowa, November 24, 2021, Joseph Anthony Vlazny, Farmersburg, Iowa, February 5, 2021, Dorothy J. Anderson, Elgin, Iowa, February 22, 2021. Bruce Alan Crandall | Obituaries | hometownsource.com He commanded the 1st Cavalry Division's Company A, 229th Assault Helicopter Battalion at Camp Radcliff, An Khe, Vietnam. Bruce Crandall Barton Obituary Medal of Honor going to Vietnam vet from Kitsap County Bruce was a friend to all and loved by all. Born in 1933,. At Gettysburg, Bruce began building his encyclopedic knowledge of Civil War scholarship. It was privately funded and was completed in time for a Veterans Day dedication in November 2009. His actions provided critical resupply of ammunition and evacuation of the wounded. He was obsessed with the descendants of Elder John Crandall, who emigrated from Wales to Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1634 only to be expelled and become one of the seven men named in the charter of the Colony of Providence Plantation and Rhode Island in 1664. He also identified the grave sites of nearly all the members of the 114th New York State Volunteer Infantry (his great-grandfathers regiment) and those of the 124th New York State Volunteers - the Orange Blossoms of local fame. [5] As of 2011, he lives in Washington. He enjoyed playing football and basketball during high school. He was drafted into the Army in 1953. "It was the longest day I ever experienced in any aircraft," he said. BRUCE PERRY CRANDALL II, 24, loving son, family member, and friend passed away January 30, 2023. Bruce graduated from West Union High School in 1953. [3], On November 14, 1965, Crandall led the first major division operation of the Vietnam War, landing elements of the 1st Battalion and 2nd Battalion of the 7th Cavalry Regiment and the 5th Cavalry Regiment into Landing Zone X-Ray in the Battle of Ia Drang. Citation for Medaol of Honor - Lt. Col. Bruce P. Crandall your email below for our complimentary daily grief messages. Bruce died unexpectedly on December 12, 2021, at the exact age of 79. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). PAULINE JELINEK WASHINGTON Bruce Crandall was a soldier once and young. He loved spending time with his family especially the traditional trip to Potato Lake (and later Eagle Lake) each year. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. VIETNAM WAR LT.COL. Major Crandalls 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. Bruce was a friend to all and loved by all. He was the middle child of seven children. CITATION Burnham-Wood-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service, West Union, Iowa is helping the family with the arrangements. Bruce graduated from Granville High School, class of 1970. The Helsinki-Uusimaa Region is at the heart of Northern Europe, more precisely in the very south of Finland and it has some 230 km of Baltic Sea coastline. He had four great-grandchildren: Carson, Blake, Lucas and Wilson Cox. He was also a member of the West Union Industrial Development Corporation which was instrumental in bringing in new business and jobs to West Union. Oklahoma Gov. [3], Crandall graduated from Engineer Officer Candidate School, Fort Belvoir, Virginia, in 1954. [6] During the fierce battle that followed, he was credited with evacuating some 70 wounded soldiers, along with his wing man Major Ed Freeman. He grew up in Westport, CT, and graduated from Brown University in 1960, continuing on to earn an M.S., and later a Ph. 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. The University of Washington Medal of Honor memorial was constructed at the south end of Memorial Way (17th Ave NE), north of Red Square, in the interior of a traffic circle between Parrington and Kane Halls (.mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}473926N 1221835W / 47.6573N 122.3097W / 47.6573; -122.3097). Biography for Medal of Honor - Lt. Col. Bruce P. Crandall Bruce is After his recovery, the Crandalls found the language training useful when he was sent to Caracas, Venezuela, as the Defense Mapping Agency's director for the Inter-American Geodetic Survey. The unit was led by Captain Tony Nadal, his friend and fellow veteran of the Battle of la Drang. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. They were married for 60 years. 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. Although only covering three percent (9,440 km 2) of our national land area, our Region is home to around 1.7 million inhabitants, which is about a third of the country's total population. While assigned to the 11th Air Assault Division, Crandall helped develop air-assault tactics as a platoon commander. Bruce Crandall Obituary (2021) | Goshen, NY - Echovita April 15, 2023; July 24, 1951April 11, 2023. Edit your search or learn more. Born on June 25, 1944 to Keith & Florence (Wannarka) Crandall in St. Peter, he went on to graduate from Monticello High School in 1962. Bruce served his community in many organizations, often taking leadership positions. Rosary for Bruce and you as well. In 1975 he organized a fund drive to build a new Methodist Church after the old church was destroyed by fire. The family After commissioning and graduation from fixed-wing and helicopter training conducted by the Air Force and Army, he was assigned to a mapping group based out of the Presidio of San Francisco "that at the time was the largest flying military aviation unit in the world. " Bruce enjoyed singing in the choir and occasional trumpet and hand bell performances at both churches. Bruce returned to Farragut Middle School year after year to present lessons on Women in American History and genealogy, during which he proudly outlined his connection to his famous ancestor, Prudence Crandall (third cousin four times removed). Bruce is survived by his wife Joyce; sons Dan (Beth) Crandall, Jim (Deb) Davidson, Duff (Natalie) Davidson; daughter Mickey Davidson; sister Carole (Russ) Larson; grandchildren Anthony, Maddie, Anna, Maria, Sarah, Livia, Hanna, Amelia, & Charlie; and his beloved dog, Itsy Bitsy. Spouse: Arlene Crandall of Kent, Washington, Education: BA University of Nebraska, 1969; MPA Golden Gate University, 1977, Commissioned: Engineer Officer Candidate School, Ft. Belvoir, VA, 1954, Deployments: Dominican Republic Expeditionary Force; two tours of Vietnam, Aircraft: U-1 Otter fixed wing; L-20 Beaver fixed wing; L-19 Birddog fixed wing; H-23 Raven "couldn't get off the ground on a hot day"; H-13; H-19; UH-1 Huey "best helicopter ever built". Bruce and Jean moved to Peekskill, NY in 1969 to raise their two children, Allison and Brian. South America was supposed to be his next assignment, and he and Arlene attended the Defense Language Institute, Monterey, CA. Early in his life, he played the drums in a band with his bandmates. Prepare a personalized obituary for someone you loved.. July 24, 1951 - The movie, based on the book "We Were Soldiers Once and Young" was released in 2002. Here is Bruce Crandall's obituary. [8], Crandall had just finished a full day supporting the 12th Infantry Battalion on January 31, 1966, during the first combined American and Army of the Republic of Vietnam operation called "Operation Masher". Love Theresa Oakman, Sending love and prayers during this difficult time and as Uncle Bruce transitions. 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. He was a member of the United Methodist Church and served as its treasurer for many years. [3][4], Crandall married Arlene Shaffer on March 31, 1956, and they had three sons and five grandchildren. Many generations of 7th grade students fondly remember his extensive slide show presentations on the historical markers of New York State, his collection of Time Magazine covers and the Joy City project they worked on while in his class. Bruce was a committed and active member of the Peekskill United Methodist Church for over 20 years. Bruce was a committed and active member of the Peekskill United Methodist Church for over 20 years. In retirement, Bruce remained in perpetual motion. Celebrate and remember the lives we have lost and share a memory of your loved one. service will follow the callings hours, on Tuesday, at 1 p.m. Burial will Please subscribe to keep reading. He worked briefly in Eldred and then spent thirty two years as a beloved teacher at Farragut Middle School in Hastings-on-Hudson. [3], South America was to be his next assignment, and he and his wife Arlene attended the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, California, as Spanish-language students in preparation. Bruce was born on October 4, 1934, at home in Fayette, Iowa. On the fourth troop lift, the enemy had Landing Zone X-Ray targeted. He was happiest when serving others and spending time with his family. He graduated from the Mountain View High School in 1956. Bruce died unexpectedly on December 12, 2021, at the exact age of 79. The craft that he was flying was unarmed. Oakfield - OAKFIELD - Bruce W. Crandall, 65, passed away at a Bangor hospital surrounded by his family on August 12. Search recent US obituaries and condolences. Friends may call Tuesday, April 18, 2023, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., at the Carleton Funeral Home, Inc., 68 Main St., Hudson Falls. He is survived by : his wife Estela Tumaque-Crandall; his sister-in-law Nemia Tumaque-Holmes-Golden; and his siblings, Sheryl Wilson (Claude) of Illinois, Deborah Rozell (Fred) of Granville, Adrian Crandall (Sandy) of Sevierville, TN, Christine Hall of Hudson Falls, Corby Crandall of Glens Falls and Larry Crandall (Gabrielle) of Glens Falls. [23] It honors Greg Boyington, Deming Bronson, Bruce Crandall, Robert E. Galer, John D. Hawk, Robert Leisy, William Kenzo Nakamura, and Archie Van Winkle.[24][25][26]. In early 1965, he joined the Dominican Republic Expeditionary Force as a liaison to the XVIII Airborne Corps. Bruce and Jean moved to Peekskill in 1969 to raise their two children, Allison and Brian. U.S. Army Major Bruce P Crandall was presented the Medal of Honor for military valor during the Vietnam War. Citation for Medaol of Honor - Lt. Col. Bruce P. Crandall (71 years old). He passed peacefully surrounded by family. On Nov. 14, 1965, Crandall led the first major division operation of airmobile troops into Landing Zone X-Ray in Vietnam's Ia Drang Valley and is credited with evacuating some 70 wounded comrades with his wing man and fellow Medal of Honor recipient MAJ Ed Freeman. By presenting this information we hope to assist those close to these families with planning for their service. Though many thought his idea for the park was insurmountable, he pressed forward. From there he went to fly L-19 Birddogs and L-20 Beavers in Alaska, again for topographic studies. Bruce enjoyed singing in the choir and occasional trumpet and hand bell performances at both churches. A dual. Crandall evacuated more than 75 casualties in his helicopters, during a flight day that started at 6 am and ended at 10:30 pm, more than 16 hours later. Your email address will not be published. Bruce eventually identified and traced the final resting places of over 3,200 descendants of Elder John who served on both sides during the Civil War. I know how much you both meant to each other. Feb 7, 2020. Preceding Bruce in death were his parents, Grace and Theo Crandall; parents-in-law, Maxine and S.M. A dual national Brazilian American, he loved his heritage and remained fluent in Portuguese throughout his life. As the youngest of three brothers, his older siblings, Joseph and Allan, pun-ished him with jokes and frivolity from an early age. A burial was held on Tuesday, April 18th 2023 at the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cemetery (1 - 99 North St, Granville, NY 12832). A new version of the original resolution was submitted which called for a memorial to all eight alumni who received the Medal of Honor. Bruce was a committed and active member of the Peekskill United Methodist Church for over 20 years.