Browse > Home / Warrior Spotlight / Warriors Past Inspire Warriors Present

Warriors Past Inspire Warriors Present

October 4, 2008

The last few days at Fort Hood, have been inspiring to many of our current warriors, as they were able to meet and spend time with two decorated warriors from the Vietnam era. Often, when young men and women make the choice to enlist in the military, they’re inspired by stories they’ve heard of warriors from past wars, those who’s names are engraved upon the memories of many Americans, because of their brave acts. Two of those warriors recently visited Fort Hood and their visits made a huge impact on the Soldiers serving there.

One of those warriors, Lt. Col. (retired) Bruce Crandall’s name is one that is known by many. His actions, which 32 years after the fact earned him the Medal of Honor, which I wrote about almost two years ago, spent two days at Fort Hood, visiting with 1st Cavalry Soldiers, touring the post and attending a meeting of the Phantom Corps Chapter of the Army Aviation Association. Crandall’s heroics were also portrayed in the book by then Lt. Col. (retired) Hal Moore, entitled “We Were Soldiers Once … And Young” as well as in a major motion picture by the same name. Crandall was able to also spend time with currently serving aviation Troops as well as other Troops at Fort Hood. The highlight for Crandall was when he visited the aviation Troops at Hood Army Airfield and was able to do something that will always be in his blood …. fly a UH-1 Huey helicopter, once again. This is only the 2nd time, since 1968, that Crandall has flown. The rest of his flight time was during combat. Crandall’s visit made a lasting impression on the Soldiers and Veterans who had the opportunity to meet him.

Retired Lt. Col. and Medal of Honor recipient, prepares to take off in a UH-1 Huey helicopter. Crandall served as a Huey pilot in the Vietnam War. (photo by Sgt. Nathan Hoskins, 1st ACB, 1st Cav. Div. PAO)

““Mr Crandall’s visit was nothing short of superb in all aspects. Just being around him and his wife, Arlene, was like walking with royalty,” Bill Mobley, a retired Army Aviation major said.1

“Flying with Lt Col Crandall was an experience that I’ll never forget,” CWO2 David Facio said. “I got to teach a legend about current aircraft and the advances that have happened since Vietnam. A few more flights in the simulator and he would have been ready for the real thing.”2

Facio had the pleasure of meeting with Crandall and taking him through the AH-64D Longbow Apache attack helicopter simulator and the Longbow Crew Trainer as well as the CH-47F Chinook Tranportable Proficiency Simulator. Following the simulator training, Crandall was able to go to the airfield and fly a Huey. He donned a flight suit and helmet and climbed behind the controls, alongside CWO5 Rolf Giesler, the UH-1 Huey Instructor pilot with 21st Aviation.

Fort Hood Troops, had the pleasure of meeting yet another warrior from the Vietnam era, former Sgt Jim Greenwalt. His story is one that hasn’t been in the media, yet, his actions in Vietnam saved the lives of the men serving beside him and earned him a nomination and eventual award of the Bronze Star Medal with V device.

(Living, BSM-V recipient) Former Sgt. Jim Greenwalt (left) received his Bronze Star Medal with V device nearly 39 years after defending his fellow Soldiers against a Viet Cong attack. Lt. Gen. Rick Lynch presented the medal to Greenwalt Tuesday in a ceremony in the West Atrium of III Corps Headquarters.

Greenwalt was a Sgt and light weapons advisor on a Military Assistance Command, Vietnam mobile advisory team in January 1970. The teams were supposed to have 5 members but Greenwalt’s team included himself, a 1 Lt and a medic. On one mission, his team was attacked by the Viet Cong at Rach Ban outpost. Greenwalt defended his team with a .50 calibre gun that his team had borrowed from the Navy. Following the incident, his 1Lt nominated him for the Bronze Star with V device for his actions in battle. Greenwalt wasn’t aware of this and ultimately the paperwork got lost. In 2003, he found his former 1Lt Gary Findlay, who asked if he’d ever received his medal. When Greenwalt told him that he hadn’t, they resubmitted the paperwork in 2004. Eventually, with the help of Greenwalt’s congressman, he was approved for his medal. On Tuesday, September 30th, Greenwalt was awarded his Bronze Star with “V” device at Fort Hood.

“Ordinary men find themselves in extraordinary circumstances, in the worst of conditions doing what our nation has asked them to do … and then doing something more,” said Lt. General Rick Lynch, commanding general of III Corps and Fort Hood, at the award ceremony. “In the heat of battle, men are not fighting for lofty ideals. When the bullets are flying, the mortars are landing and people are dying, what Soldiers fight for are their buddies on their right and left.”3

Greenwalt agreed with what General Lynch said and said that’s exactly what he was doing, fighting to ensure that his buddies survived the attack.

“I was more than scared,” he said. “I was terrified. I really didn’t think we’d survive that attack.”4

Greenwalt’s only regret, when he was presented with his award, was that his father was not still alive to see it happen. He says that his father would have really been proud of him.

Soldiers like Crandall and Greenwalt and the type of men, ordinary men, who inspire today’s generation of Soldier and who will continue to inspire the Soldiers of the future. As Lt. General Lynch said, ordinary men who found themselves in extraordinary circumstances. Men who were willing to do whatever it took to ensure that their buddies survived. Both men were an inspiration to everyone they met and they will continue to be so. Many of our Soldiers now serving, will one day be looked upon like Bruce Crandall and Jim Greenwalt, as people that future Soldiers hope to emulate. Unfortunately I was unable to meet either of these men, wish I had.

  1. http://www.forthoodsentinel.com/articles/2008/10/03/news/living/living01.txt [↩]
  2. http://www.forthoodsentinel.com/articles/2008/10/03/news/living/living01.txt [↩]
  3. http://www.forthoodsentinel.com/articles/2008/10/03/news/living/living02.txt [↩]
  4. http://www.forthoodsentinel.com/articles/2008/10/03/news/living/living02.txt [↩]

Written by Terri · Filed Under Warrior Spotlight 

Comments

4 Responses to “Warriors Past Inspire Warriors Present”

  1. Mobile » hoành tráng ?êm ??i nh?c h?i i-muzik on October 20th, 2008 11:08 pm

    [...] Warriors Past Inspire Warriors PresentGreenwalt was a Sgt and light weapons advisor on a Military Assistance Command, Vietnam mobile advisory team in January 1970. The teams were supposed to have 5 members but Greenwalt’s team included himself, a 1 Lt and a medic. … [...]

    Reply - Quote
  2. Mobile » warriors past inspire warriors present on October 23rd, 2008 11:06 pm

    [...] warriors past inspire warriors presentgreenwalt was a sgt and light weapons advisor on a military assistance command, vietnam mobile advisory team in january 1970. the teams were supposed to have 5 members but greenwalt’s team included himself, a 1 lt and a medic. … [...]

    Reply - Quote
  3. Mobile » Apps for Symbian S60v3 [1] on November 9th, 2008 12:08 am

    [...] warriors past inspire warriors presentgreenwalt was a sgt and light weapons advisor on a military assistance command, vietnam mobile advisory team in january 1970. the teams were supposed to have 5 members but greenwalt’s team included himself, a 1 lt and a medic. … [...]

    Reply - Quote
  4. stephen brazil on February 8th, 2009 5:54 pm

    IM LOOKING FOR ANY BODY ,THAT WAS IN ADVISORY TEAM 38 BETWEEN, AUG69 TOJULY70 BAO LOC LAMDON PROVIENCE VIETNAM………..

    Reply - Quote

Got something to say?