LTC Bruce Crandall grew up in Olympia, Washington. He attended public schools and became an All-American baseball player in high school. He attended the University of Washington in Seattle until being drafted into the United States Army in 1953 during the Korean War.
LTC Crandall was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions as a pilot during the Battle of Ia Drang on 14 November 1965, in South Vietnam.
During the battle, he flew 22 missions in a Bell Huey helicopter into enemy fire to evacuate more than 70 wounded and bring ammunition and supplies to United States forces. By the end of the Vietnam War, he had flown more than 900 combat missions.
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. He later moved to and now lives in Arizona. PS: His nickname is “Snake”!