My name is Tony Nadal. I commanded "A" Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry during the battle of LZ Xray. It was my wounded soldiers (among others) that Bruce and Ed Freeman were rescuing. I have the highest regard for Bruce and can assure any readers of this entry that many of the soldiers recovered and flew back to the aid station would have died if not for Bruce's valor and determination to save their lives. X-Ray was not the only instance in which Bruce came to my company's rescue. A few months letter my company was engaged in a nighttime battle on the edge of a village in Bong Son when some of my soldiers were wounded. To rescue them required a night helicopter descent into a small clearing in the village. It was dark and the rice paddy was under enemy fire. I heard Bruce on the radio and asked him to take my wounded out. Although not his assigned mission, Bruce made two flights into that small rice paddy under fire and pulled out six of my wounded soldiers Although the Army did not give him the medal for which I recommended him, the International Space and Flight Writers Association gave him a medal for THE MOST VALOROUS ACT OF THE YEAR INVOLVING HELICOPTER FLIGHT IN 1966. He is a great human being and friend.
Col Nadal Wow! I'm in deep awe and respect of the service and sacrifices that you, and your unit and all the men of 1/7 endured and that I read about in LTG Moore's books. I did not serve in Vietnam, but I joined in '76 and there were certainly several NCOs and officers that served there and they were just the best examples for me as a young soldier. I still think of them often. Best wishes to you and yours.
Why assume we don't have Soldiers/Marines/Airmen/Sailors equal in dedication to the mission and abilities given similar circumstances. Heroism is the product of opportunity. Read a few books about the experiences of battles and the troops who fought. Someone said there is nothing more dangerous than a pissed off 19 year old Marine with a weapon.
@@charliekendall4288 I may be wrong but I think he's speaking more on the basis of civilians. Meaning we have too many pussies. Might want to clarify before getting offended.
I was in Nam a couple of years later. We heard the stories but I knew deep inside that pilot deserved the CMOH. Continuously flying fresh in,ammo runs, aiding med Evans right to the end. Unlike other officers that gave themselves medals, he earned that. Of course as an enlisted man, we hated officers. Hell, I still do 55 years later. I often wonder about the door gunners. I knew at one time the losses.There were guys ready and willing to climb on his and other birds going out to help keep the NVA off their backs. Again, were any awards given them because they damned sure deserved something! That whole unit was amazing.
I was a medic, worked in the operating room, in saigon.... I agree with him, you don't need to kill everyone.....just those that are an immediate threat to you. Listen to his last few minutes of the interview. Great Man... I always admired the chopper pilots, and what they did. I salute you , Sir.
I’m very sorry all of you had to go to war. People always jump on libs for being anti troops. We’re not. We’re anti-war. And it seems to me that if you really loved the troops so much the right be anti war too. Because being pro war is only going to hurt the men and women they claim to love so much. I’m sorry. I may not have had an easy life but at least I was never forced by my government to fight a war for/against people I have nothing against. My father was a part of that generation. The few friends of his that survived the war came back fucked up. I often wonder what America would be like if we never went to that war. Or Korea. What would the men who died have done with their lives? How would the ones who survived have been different? I am honored to live in a country full of good men like you. But ashamed I live in a nation that throws young men to die for the wars of old men.
@@jackroyaltea5034 President Harry Truman did nothing to really help the French resist Communism, so the French were on their own. Then President Eisenhower deploys the Military Advisors to train help train the Republic of Vietnam Army. President Kennedy started sending "TROOPS" in country, then LBJ sent even more "TROOPS". So I am confused by your comment, Jack? Do you prefer Communism? What policies or policy do you like of Biden's? In the last few months, Biden has shown nothing but weakness, which has opened the doors to conflict around the world. What are you ashamed of Jack? Being a coward or not really understanding what really toke place in history, or both? Just imagine if big government starts to babysit your entire existence, similar to what is happening in China by the CCP! Merry CCP Biden Holiday to you, JACK...ars
@@jackroyaltea5034 never known or heard of anyone in or out of the military that is pro war? Nobody likes war, left or right, especially those serving. Sometimes it needs to be done, and done quickly with the least damage.
This man’s courage, calm, and intelligence! God keep him safe and sound as he lives his life from here on. He saved many, many boys in that awful Wartime.
"You kill my kids, I'm gonna be pissed at ya." Such a true statement. Thank you for your service, and heroism. Great Americans like you are few, and really, really, far between.
When you take the time to realize that he flew 22 trips into the jaws of death were no other pilot dare venture and kept this up till until darkness and survived. Hal Moore stated that if it wasn't Crandall we would have all died in that place.
@@Lowgold And to think that a chopper pilots life expectancy was between 13 and 30 days or so in Vietnam and he pulled off 900 combat missions makes that stat twice as impressive. Speaking of pilots Dust Off pilots those guys are truly incredible. They pulled off miracles in rescuing wounded. Some of the tales of what they were able to do under fire to get soldiers out of harms way defies logic.
Among the greats but unfortunately lesser known is medal of honor recipient Roy Benavidez .... there are a couple videos you can find on RUclips about his life and time in the jungle... I can't promise you won't get choked up a bit.
"I'm putting you in for OCS because you are so screwed up you might make corporal eventually and I can't have that on my conscience." I spit my coffee when he said that. One of the most ... original reasons I ever heard. hahahaha
This dude is a legend....100% a legend of the highest order, Absolutely love his title of the book he hopefully writes....D.A.D....May his memory last forever.....How the hell can the government take away the financial aid that these guys absolutely deserve....in fact the veterans should NEVER have to go hungry or homeless and should be treated like hero's.......
You contrast guys who have been in it with the stories of exposed stolen valor frauds and the differences in tone and conviction are obvious. What they choose to talk about after their nuts and bolts personal action narrative makes it obvious who the real deals are.
These tales from our vets are so important, very hard to hear sometimes but so appreciated by those of us who know, and should be required for our kids in school too, never forget! I've heard of course of Mr Crandall, America's best!
Thank you sir for what you have done! As a grunt on the ground you instill confidence that when SHTF somebody is coming after you! Chopper pilots take a hell of a lot more fire than us grunts do yet you keep coming back time after time to the rescue! Four courageous men in a helicopter that will risk their lives for folks they have never heard of! You are the best of the best!
Well, I do hope there's a part 2. This was too good to end like this. I love it when the veteran just talks and tell his story and not a lot of questions asked.
This is a Real American hero! Why? because he doesn't brag about what he did. He just did what he had to do! Many soldiers have this man to thank if they lived through that battle.
you mean like those Seal Team 6 pukes who were part of the OBL capture/kill who went PUBLIC, WROTE BOOKS, TRIED to parlay BIG BUCKS, like any MERCENARY WOULD?????????
This man continues to serve. He has given us a gift by this interview -- the gift of his wisdom borne by EXPERIENCE. This has been one of the most interesting, insightful, and EYE OPENING interviews I have ever had the pleasure to watch. Thank you Col. Crandall, for your service and for sharing your wisdom with us.
*"We should have used chainsaws instead of machetes." Common sense is not common. Everytime Col. Randall smiled I felt like he knew things could have been different than they turned out to be. Vietnam was a winnable cause if the powers that be wanted it to be. Respect to all who served there.*
@@oldbatwit5102 History only proves that politicians still get young and old men killed at astounding rates. Did you ever read up on some of the Rules of Engagement these men had to fight under during Vietnam? The bullshit rules those politicians made these soldiers fight under? Don’t shoot unless shot at. No don’t bomb that depot- with missiles that kill your brothers. Don’t bomb over there- the enemy is there. Again, history only proves that politicians don’t belong in warfare.
@@chloehennessey6813 You are full of crap and, plainly, have no idea what happened over there. There are loads of really good accounts written by men who served in Vietnam and I suggest you read a bunch of them. It was never winnable, as almost anybody who served will tell you. Goodbye.
I love these stories. Perspectives that are getting more rare as time marches on. A big thank you to American Veterans Center and others for preserving our history.
Col. Crandall shared so much wisdom after telling his story: “Don’t kill ‘em (the ‘enemy’ soldiers) we need to convert ‘em, get ‘em to help us. We don’t need a million more Arabs hating us. Go after Saddam Hussein, OK, that’s who we needed to kill.” He knows as much as anyone, though, that war is hell and too many good lives are lost in one. He’s so right too about “breaking up the units,” to send soldiers out of Nam & back home. So much harm came from that alone. It only created the isolation and the alienation so many Vietnam veterans felt on their return to the States, and increased the trauma so many experienced after returning.Welcome home, sir!
I wish we could get the name of the Camp Holloway Officers Club bartender who refused to serve Crandall, Mills and Hal Moore based on Hal Moore being "Too Dirty after 3 days at LZ X-Ray
@@knarftrakiul3881 True. However we messed up by disbanding the infrastructure of the party. Those people needed better governance not democracy. If we had left that governing infrastructure in place we would have avoided sectarian and later religious infighting.
As Col. Crandall says here about his lovely wife, "She knew I loved to fly!" Thank God for wives who support us as we military aviators feed our habit.
One common thing I've found about combat veterans like Crandall is they're always so understated. They'll tell you all about their experience, the horrors of war, and never try to embellish. - A video I watch earlier about LZ Ray and one vet talked about losing many friends in terrible ways on the first day and the last thing he said was, "It was a difficult situation." -
My childhood mentor was at LZ X-ray with B 1/5 Cavalry. They had to jump from the helicopters because of all the ground fire. Those helicopter pilots deserved every decoration they received especially Mr. Crandall.
I was just a teenager during the Vietnam War but everyone I knew was either being drafted or enlisting. All the boys I knew who went to Nam came home missing pieces or were killed. Thank you Sir for sharing your truths. You are a hero. God bless you and your family.
as was I myfriend. I was 19 went I was over there. It seems like a lifetime ago....maybe it was. I appreciate Life more .... and the need to remain strong as a Country. @@barotraumabruce4245
Col. Crandall, I salute you sir. Thank you for your sacrifices and your wisdom in battle. You are one in ten million, we need a lot more of men like you, you're awesome. God bless you and America.
in reference to the above comment by Mr. Ramon Nadal { or Tony } Just Googled this pilot using Medal of Honor Pilot Bruce Crandall in Wikipedia and it mentions this mission you talk about, Operation Masher 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". 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. The soldiers were pinned down in a tight perimeter. The unit was led by Captain Tony Nadal, his friend and fellow veteran of the Battle of la Drang.[9] Crandall refueled and flew to the area. He learned that the pick-up zone was surrounded by trees on three sides, and he was told that the Medevac had refused to land there. To minimize the chances of hitting the trees, he decided to descend vertically. The night was pitch dark with an overcast sky, making flying extremely difficult.[9] He wanted to avoid giving the enemy an illuminated target and risk back-lighting the soldiers defending the landing zone and the wounded soldiers. Instead of using search or landing lights, he instructed Nadal to point a flashlight up in the center of the touchdown area. He landed twice under intense enemy fire and successfully evacuated all 12 wounded soldiers.[9 Just an old 67N huey mechanic in the 70's and 80's but thought you would find this interesting
I read Hal Moore's book at least 5,6 times when it came out. Just couldn't put it down. I didn't want to miss a thing. It was then I learned of Bruce Crandell. I'm in awe of his exploits. I'm so glad he received the recognition he deservedly got although years later. So many heroes never got recognized but died in those early battles of the Vietnam War. Thank you Bruce for your fine example! God bless you and yours!
Read Chickenhawk by Robert Mason. Mason was also at Ia Drang as a slick pilot and the book contains many references to "Too Tall" Freeman and major Crandall, and their incredible heroism. You won't want to put it down, I guarantee it.
I enjoyed that book. After I finished reading it, I watched the movie We Were Soldiers to see how it compared to the book. Hollywood did its thing as always but it was still a great movie and Greg Kinnear did a good portrayal of Col Moore, in my opinion.
This man is exceptional. He speaks the truth by living it, by experiencing it. He talks about how the rewards he treasures are the lives saved, not the medals or how many he killed but how many he defended. This guy is a true hero.
This man came to my high school when I was jr. Back in 2009a I just so happen to have the book we were soldiers on me that day. I was re reading it. I was pretty star struck listing to him talk.
Everything he said about the pentagon and command structure was totally true and mapping for oil companies, man if only people like him were in command.
I just wanted to thank you guys for this video. I also want to say thank you for your service to this country. I am a Vietnam Era Veteran. I was in basic training in September 1972 so I just missed Vietnam. I proudly served with the 2/11 Armored Cavalry Regiment in Bad Kissingen, Germany from 3/1973- 8/1975. I feel honored to call you my brothers. God Bless you all.
in October 1994 this is how the villagers of the Ia Drang Valley felt about you and your team Bruce, as your two Cavalry buddies myself and our Vietnamese driver traveled along the dirt road out of the valley at dusk villagers began to appear in silhouette lining the road clapping and cheering you and your buddies, the further we traveled along the road the more villagers silhouettes appeared and the louder and more excited the clapping and cheering became, it became a spontaneous avenue of honor,
@@susanblake9994 Melvin (Mel) J Allen 1/7th ( cant remember exactly maybe 2/7th) X-Ray veteran, Reginald Bud Davis 1/7th Engineers Anh Khe, Myself 1st tourist to visit X Ray since conflicts end, The villagers lined the road at days end and cheered and clapped us out of the Ia Drang valley as we departed from the return to X-Ray, 1994, October. Gary Owen.
I was enlisted. This great sir was I'm sure in his units was called the old man. If the old man says we are going to hell to fight we follow him. He loves his men and they love him. Never mess with a unit that works like that. You will lose.
I must say his philosophy in the last 3 minutes of this video is exceptional and from someone that has never been in war nor understands the vast majority of how things go I am humbled by his words, honesty and point of view.
Col. Crandall has so many life experiences and what makes him such a great leader is he uses all of those experiences to draw out a good decision. A no BS leader and if it hurts then eat it! I get the feeling he would never expect anyone to do something he wouldn't do. Glad he made it out!
I had the honor and privilege of playing a round of golf with Crandall at Barbers Point NAS many years ago. True to form, he scored an eagle on a par-5 by holing out his third shot. An amazing shot by an amazing hero.
My Uncle Chuck Christman was at Inchon at barely 18 years old. He was a Navy enlisted and then a civilian contractor who developed something of a reputation for his electronic warfare and radar work. Had an encounter with a VC hand grenade in a latrine in Vietnam one auspicious day. I was Army for a few quick years but I think Chuck would have loved to talk with someone like this great veteran.
He shared a lot of extremely useful practical wisdom in this interview. Helluva commander. When I was in the USAF in the late 70’s I provided weather support to a PA Army Air National Guard unit at Ft Indiantown Gap, PA. To a man, they were almost all Vietnam combat helicopter pilots, and the best men I served with anywhere.
Western Lebanon County, Right near Hershey and the Dauphin County line. I have fond childhood memories fishing in a lake near there on Saturday mornings and hearing and seeing the A-10s on the range doing strafing runs. Caught some cool memories there. Not many fish, though. Additionally, my paternal grandparents are buried in the National Cemetery at the Gap.
I love listening to these. I have so much respect for anyone who served. Just hearing this information right from someone who lived it is so awesome. Thank all of you who served.
My name is Tony Nadal. I commanded "A" Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry during the battle of LZ Xray. It was my wounded soldiers (among others) that Bruce and Ed Freeman were rescuing.
I have the highest regard for Bruce and can assure any readers of this entry that many of the soldiers recovered and flew back to the aid station would have died if not for Bruce's valor and determination to save their lives. X-Ray was not the only instance in which Bruce came to my company's rescue. A few months letter my company was engaged in a nighttime battle on the edge of a village in Bong Son when some of my soldiers were wounded. To rescue them required a night helicopter descent into a small clearing in the village. It was dark and the rice paddy was under enemy fire. I heard Bruce on the radio and asked him to take my wounded out. Although not his assigned mission, Bruce made two flights into that small rice paddy under fire and pulled out six of my wounded soldiers
Although the Army did not give him the medal for which I recommended him, the International Space and Flight Writers Association gave him a medal for THE MOST VALOROUS ACT OF THE YEAR INVOLVING HELICOPTER FLIGHT IN 1966. He is a great human being and friend.
Ramon Nadal. I don't know what company my dad was in when he was there. You may have been his CO.
Thanks for such an impressive additional insight into Col Crandall.
Welcome home sir and thank you for doing what i couldnt
Col Nadal
Wow! I'm in deep awe and respect of the service and sacrifices that you, and your unit and all the men of 1/7 endured and that I read about in LTG Moore's books.
I did not serve in Vietnam, but I joined in '76 and there were certainly several NCOs and officers that served there and they were just the best examples for me as a young soldier. I still think of them often.
Best wishes to you and yours.
Thank you sir for your service. The company of great men you knew and served with is legendary.
Medal or not... What a hell of a guy. We sure need more like him these days.
@@goldenmanuever1176 We need a country that is worthy of his sacrifice and efforts.
Why assume we don't have Soldiers/Marines/Airmen/Sailors equal in dedication to the mission and abilities given similar circumstances. Heroism is the product of opportunity. Read a few books about the experiences of battles and the troops who fought. Someone said there is nothing more dangerous than a pissed off 19 year old Marine with a weapon.
Amen and amen. 🙏🏼💛
@@charliekendall4288 I may be wrong but I think he's speaking more on the basis of civilians. Meaning we have too many pussies. Might want to clarify before getting offended.
Ohh we have em, look about we are here, we hold doors, stand up for others and do or have done what others today can refuse to do.
Met him when I was stationed at Fort Hood, Texas at a unit dinner. He autographed a 1st Cav patch for me. A wonderful guy indeed!!! Much respect!!!
Thank you ao
I'm sorry they sent you to the hood lol
@@stephenF250 FT Hood was okay wasn’t the best assignment but I made the most of it when I was there
Thank you for your Service!
Good ol’ Killeen Tx…😂
“We lost 301 dead”…after all this time, that number is still there on his mind. My heart goes out to this guy I’ve never met.
I was an army brat in Germany and remember reading about that battle. I figured I was headed there.
I was in Nam a couple of years later. We heard the stories but I knew deep inside that pilot deserved the CMOH. Continuously flying fresh in,ammo runs, aiding med Evans right to the end. Unlike other officers that gave themselves medals, he earned that. Of course as an enlisted man, we hated officers. Hell, I still do 55 years later. I often wonder about the door gunners. I knew at one time the losses.There were guys ready and willing to climb on his and other birds going out to help keep the NVA off their backs. Again, were any awards given them because they damned sure deserved something! That whole unit was amazing.
What a ballsy guy. I served during dessert Storm. This guy saved so many of our Brothers in arms. God Bless you sir. You stand alone
I was a medic, worked in the operating room, in saigon.... I agree with him, you don't need to kill everyone.....just those that are an immediate threat to you. Listen to his last few minutes of the interview. Great Man... I always admired the chopper pilots, and what they did. I salute you , Sir.
Great, awesome to see respect for others, when your exploits, may have been.... underappreciated, you are not, your steel man.
I’m very sorry all of you had to go to war.
People always jump on libs for being anti troops. We’re not. We’re anti-war. And it seems to me that if you really loved the troops so much the right be anti war too.
Because being pro war is only going to hurt the men and women they claim to love so much.
I’m sorry. I may not have had an easy life but at least I was never forced by my government to fight a war for/against people I have nothing against.
My father was a part of that generation. The few friends of his that survived the war came back fucked up.
I often wonder what America would be like if we never went to that war. Or Korea.
What would the men who died have done with their lives? How would the ones who survived have been different?
I am honored to live in a country full of good men like you. But ashamed I live in a nation that throws young men to die for the wars of old men.
@@jackroyaltea5034 President Harry Truman did nothing to really help the French resist Communism, so the French were on their own. Then President Eisenhower deploys the Military Advisors to train help train the Republic of Vietnam Army. President Kennedy started sending "TROOPS" in country, then LBJ sent even more "TROOPS". So I am confused by your comment, Jack? Do you prefer Communism? What policies or policy do you like of Biden's? In the last few months, Biden has shown nothing but weakness, which has opened the doors to conflict around the world. What are you ashamed of Jack? Being a coward or not really understanding what really toke place in history, or both? Just imagine if big government starts to babysit your entire existence, similar to what is happening in China by the CCP! Merry CCP Biden Holiday to you, JACK...ars
Well said. This man is a hero and also a very intelligent person. He sees the bigger picture. I salute as well
@@jackroyaltea5034 never known or heard of anyone in or out of the military that is pro war? Nobody likes war, left or right, especially those serving. Sometimes it needs to be done, and done quickly with the least damage.
This guy is the real deal. No BS. Hardcore. I have max respect
max respect for Bruce is an insult to the man! , 💥 Total Admiration is a start! , ✨
@@darrellmay4502 calm down sparky
@@tnelly1295 Got it but damn!
Straight "Bad assery" right there.
Just listening to this Hero make my heart beat a little faster. Proud to be an American. He's the real deal.
This man makes a lot of sense. The kind of sense you get from actual experience.
This man’s courage, calm, and intelligence! God keep him safe and sound as he lives his life from here on. He saved many, many boys in that awful Wartime.
"You kill my kids, I'm gonna be pissed at ya."
Such a true statement. Thank you for your service, and heroism. Great Americans like you are few, and really, really, far between.
And there's a lot of people pissed at Americans
They can get oved it. Better pissed off than pissed on!!@davymyboy7966
You remind me of my Dad. He served in WWII and Korea. In WWII he was in China, Burma, India theater and was in Burma. He was Master Sergeant.
When you take the time to realize that he flew 22 trips into the jaws of death were no other pilot dare venture and kept this up till until darkness and survived.
Hal Moore stated that if it wasn't Crandall we would have all died in that place.
I know this is old, but another Medal of Honor recipient once said the true Medal of Honors are those who gave it all
A real HERO ..Bruce Crandall must stand Tall with ( Ed Freeman) amongst the Best Helicopter Pilots in the vietnam conflict ..
This legend flew 900 combat missions. Just wow.
@@Lowgold And survived
@@Lowgold And to think that a chopper pilots life expectancy was between 13 and 30 days or so in Vietnam and he
pulled off 900 combat missions makes that stat twice as impressive. Speaking of pilots Dust Off pilots those guys are
truly incredible. They pulled off miracles in rescuing wounded. Some of the tales of what they were able to do under fire
to get soldiers out of harms way defies logic.
This man's action/ideas saved many generations. Thank you. God bless.
One of the greatest and bravest soldiers of Vietnam along with Ed Freeman.
Among the greats but unfortunately lesser known is medal of honor recipient Roy Benavidez .... there are a couple videos you can find on RUclips about his life and time in the jungle... I can't promise you won't get choked up a bit.
Don't forget hal moore
@@zachmorgan3680 or CSM Basil Plumley
They were all brave men
Joe Ronnie Hooper
"I'm putting you in for OCS because you are so screwed up you might make corporal eventually and I can't have that on my conscience." I spit my coffee when he said that. One of the most ... original reasons I ever heard. hahahaha
This dude is a legend....100% a legend of the highest order, Absolutely love his title of the book he hopefully writes....D.A.D....May his memory last forever.....How the hell can the government take away the financial aid that these guys absolutely deserve....in fact the veterans should NEVER have to go hungry or homeless and should be treated like hero's.......
Badass AMERICAN HERO. 🇺🇸 You don't have to kill everybody. Wisdom Right There.
You contrast guys who have been in it with the stories of exposed stolen valor frauds and the differences in tone and conviction are obvious. What they choose to talk about after their nuts and bolts personal action narrative makes it obvious who the real deals are.
Pure leadership. You can recognize it but is difficult to describe.
I’d buy this brave man a drink🇺🇸
Godspeed Sir🇺🇸
I'd buy this guy a Distillery...
This guy did good a no bs he did it his way
@@brianpeters7847 If you'd do that I'd start drinking his brand. What a man
These tales from our vets are so important, very hard to hear sometimes but so appreciated by those of us who know, and should be required for our kids in school too, never forget!
I've heard of course of Mr Crandall, America's best!
My Honor from a German Soldier. Awesome and unbelievebale. Great Service Sir!!!!
A man who speaks from experience should not be confused with one who just speaks his mind.
Well said....
Experience can be misleading. Especially if you have lots of positive reinforcement.
A foolish man speaks cause he has to say something.
A wise man speaks cause he has something to say.
Love his point blank honesty!
Thank you sir for what you have done! As a grunt on the ground you instill confidence that when SHTF somebody is coming after you! Chopper pilots take a hell of a lot more fire than us grunts do yet you keep coming back time after time to the rescue! Four courageous men in a helicopter that will risk their lives for folks they have never heard of! You are the best of the best!
RGT you call.
Well, I do hope there's a part 2. This was too good to end like this. I love it when the veteran just talks and tell his story and not a lot of questions asked.
I thought it was an excellent interview for the same reasons .
This is a Real American hero! Why? because he doesn't brag about what he did. He just did what he had to do! Many soldiers have this man to thank if they lived through that battle.
That they do!
you mean like those Seal Team 6 pukes who were part of the OBL capture/kill who went PUBLIC, WROTE BOOKS, TRIED to parlay BIG BUCKS, like any MERCENARY WOULD?????????
@TRUTH HURTS, DELETE IT. playing call of duty doesn't count kid
@R3act Sorry to hear that. Aren’t there better places to reveal that information than a RUclips comment section?
@@derianschmidt7252 How else are people to know. The media is too busy covering these things up. 1/2 million kids were starved there.
This man continues to serve. He has given us a gift by this interview -- the gift of his wisdom borne by EXPERIENCE. This has been one of the most interesting, insightful, and EYE OPENING interviews I have ever had the pleasure to watch. Thank you Col. Crandall, for your service and for sharing your wisdom with us.
One of the best I've ever watched.This Colonel exuded COMMON SENSE!!
*"We should have used chainsaws instead of machetes." Common sense is not common. Everytime Col. Randall smiled I felt like he knew things could have been different than they turned out to be. Vietnam was a winnable cause if the powers that be wanted it to be. Respect to all who served there.*
. . . 'if the powers to be, wanted it '!
. . . that be
It was never winnable, as history proved.
@@oldbatwit5102 History only proves that politicians still get young and old men killed at astounding rates.
Did you ever read up on some of the Rules of Engagement these men had to fight under during Vietnam? The bullshit rules those politicians made these soldiers fight under?
Don’t shoot unless shot at.
No don’t bomb that depot- with missiles that kill your brothers.
Don’t bomb over there- the enemy is there.
Again, history only proves that politicians don’t belong in warfare.
@@chloehennessey6813 You are full of crap and, plainly, have no idea what happened over there.
There are loads of really good accounts written by men who served in Vietnam and I suggest you read a bunch of them.
It was never winnable, as almost anybody who served will tell you.
Goodbye.
Bruce I met with you a few times at our reunions ...much respect for what you did to save many of our men during those awful days
I cooked for his VFW Post in Oak Harbor, WA... Close as I'll lever come to giving my thanks to him.
Did you shoot your special sauce all over his food?
Thank you for your Service, Sir... 1969 1CAV veteran
Welcome home and thank you for doing what i could not
What an honourable gentleman.
Another American hero! I salute you, sir! May God make His light shine upon you.
I love these stories. Perspectives that are getting more rare as time marches on. A big thank you to American Veterans Center and others for preserving our history.
Col. Crandall shared so much wisdom after telling his story: “Don’t kill ‘em (the ‘enemy’ soldiers) we need to convert ‘em, get ‘em to help us. We don’t need a million more Arabs hating us. Go after Saddam Hussein, OK, that’s who we needed to kill.”
He knows as much as anyone, though, that war is hell and too many good lives are lost in one.
He’s so right too about “breaking up the units,” to send soldiers out of Nam & back home.
So much harm came from that alone. It only created the isolation and the alienation so many Vietnam veterans felt on their return to the States, and increased the trauma so many experienced after returning.Welcome home, sir!
I wish we could get the name of the Camp Holloway Officers Club bartender who refused to serve Crandall, Mills and Hal Moore based on Hal Moore being "Too Dirty after 3 days at LZ X-Ray
Cant convert an ideology
@Bryce McQueen baath party was formed from nazi party believe it or not
@@knarftrakiul3881 True. However we messed up by disbanding the infrastructure of the party. Those people needed better governance not democracy. If we had left that governing infrastructure in place we would have avoided sectarian and later religious infighting.
It gives me hope that there are men out there like this...they are the real hero's!
As Col. Crandall says here about his lovely wife, "She knew I loved to fly!" Thank God for wives who support us as we military aviators feed our habit.
My steadiest longest salute to this soldier Veteran! Thank you for your service.
One common thing I've found about combat veterans like Crandall is they're always so understated. They'll tell you all about their experience, the horrors of war, and never try to embellish. - A video I watch earlier about LZ Ray and one vet talked about losing many friends in terrible ways on the first day and the last thing he said was, "It was a difficult situation." -
My childhood mentor was at LZ X-ray with B 1/5 Cavalry. They had to jump from the helicopters because of all the ground fire. Those helicopter pilots deserved every decoration they received especially Mr. Crandall.
Thank you for your service sir. You guy’s are my HEROES
If we had men in the Pentagon today with this mans character, our Nation wouldnt be in the position it is today!
We do. The civilian leadership is to blame for where we are today. The military has never been as professional and effective as it is today.
The military has never been as dysgenic and gay as it is today. Is that why they fought?
@@davereiland9921 You served where and when? Proud veteran here, so screw you and your unhelpful homophobic views
@@Walant55 i purposely did not serve israel in the us military.
Trust me we do
An incredible incredible man. Thank God men like him lived.
I met him after a presentation he gave at city hall in Auburn Washington. What a good guy he was. Salute, Sir!
I was just a teenager during the Vietnam War but everyone I knew was either being drafted or enlisting. All the boys I knew who went to Nam came home missing pieces or were killed. Thank you Sir for sharing your truths. You are a hero. God bless you and your family.
I was a teenager IN the Vietnam war.
as was I myfriend. I was 19 went I was over there. It seems like a lifetime ago....maybe it was. I appreciate Life more .... and the need to remain strong as a Country. @@barotraumabruce4245
Col. Crandall, I salute you sir. Thank you for your sacrifices and your wisdom in battle. You are one in ten million, we need a lot more of men like you, you're awesome. God bless you and America.
I never thought about it this way until he actually spoke the words.He is spot on about the right targets and the wrong targets.
in reference to the above comment by Mr. Ramon Nadal { or Tony }
Just Googled this pilot using
Medal of Honor Pilot Bruce Crandall in Wikipedia and it mentions this mission you talk about,
Operation Masher
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". 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. The soldiers were pinned down in a tight perimeter. The unit was led by Captain Tony Nadal, his friend and fellow veteran of the Battle of la Drang.[9]
Crandall refueled and flew to the area. He learned that the pick-up zone was surrounded by trees on three sides, and he was told that the Medevac had refused to land there. To minimize the chances of hitting the trees, he decided to descend vertically. The night was pitch dark with an overcast sky, making flying extremely difficult.[9] He wanted to avoid giving the enemy an illuminated target and risk back-lighting the soldiers defending the landing zone and the wounded soldiers. Instead of using search or landing lights, he instructed Nadal to point a flashlight up in the center of the touchdown area. He landed twice under intense enemy fire and successfully evacuated all 12 wounded soldiers.[9
Just an old 67N huey mechanic in the 70's and 80's but thought you would find this interesting
One of the few channels where you can spend some time reading the comments and feel better for it
I read Hal Moore's book at least 5,6 times when it came out. Just couldn't put it down. I didn't want to miss a thing. It was then I learned of Bruce Crandell. I'm in awe of his exploits. I'm so glad he received the recognition he deservedly got although years later. So many heroes never got recognized but died in those early battles of the Vietnam War. Thank you Bruce for your fine example! God bless you and yours!
Probably the best book I have ever read.
Read Chickenhawk by Robert Mason. Mason was also at Ia Drang as a slick pilot and the book contains many references to "Too Tall" Freeman and major Crandall, and their incredible heroism. You won't want to put it down, I guarantee it.
@@philholyman9036 I agree I've read the book more than once over the years, the best book ever about the Vietnam war
I enjoyed that book. After I finished reading it, I watched the movie We Were Soldiers to see how it compared to the book. Hollywood did its thing as always but it was still a great movie and Greg Kinnear did a good portrayal of Col Moore, in my opinion.
@@justlucky8254Kinnear played Crandall. Moore was played by Mel Gibson.
Truly a good and decent man. What a Man
I can't imagine the PTSD and nightmares he suffers. Could you live with that? Believe. There are great men and then there are men like Col. Crandall.
I've been watching these all night. This guy is a straight shooter with wisdom and character in spades.
RN 🇬🇧
What a great example of humble and effective leadership!
Words of true wisdom at the end.
A man of true valor, who saved many brothers lives at his own peril time and again .
This man is a national treasure. 🗽
So very grateful for Bruce and so many others. We needed you then and we need you and more like you and Hal Moore now. Welcome Home!
I appreciate that the interviewer let him talk. I always wish these interviews were longer. When the vets are gone, they’re gone
This man is exceptional. He speaks the truth by living it, by experiencing it. He talks about how the rewards he treasures are the lives saved, not the medals or how many he killed but how many he defended. This guy is a true hero.
Thank you for your service, and God bless!
I believe all Vets deserve a hero's title with deep respect. I thank you all for your service and sacrifice. God bless all of you.
These Heroes shall never be forgotten ......
This man came to my high school when I was jr. Back in 2009a I just so happen to have the book we were soldiers on me that day. I was re reading it. I was pretty star struck listing to him talk.
Everything he said about the pentagon and command structure was totally true and mapping for oil companies, man if only people like him were in command.
Only a 180,000 views of this video tells me what’s wrong with our country...
Look again
Most of them are probably Boomers because that was in our time.👍
This is a thinking soldier. An asset truly.
I just wanted to thank you guys for this video. I also want to say thank you for your service to this country. I am a Vietnam Era Veteran. I was in basic training in September 1972 so I just missed Vietnam. I proudly served with the 2/11 Armored Cavalry Regiment in Bad Kissingen, Germany from 3/1973- 8/1975. I feel honored to call you my brothers. God Bless you all.
My father was a huey pilot with both Siler and bronze stars. God bless all that have fought to defend us all!!!!
in October 1994 this is how the villagers of the Ia Drang Valley felt about you and your team Bruce,
as your two Cavalry buddies myself and our Vietnamese driver traveled along the dirt road out of the valley at dusk villagers began to appear in silhouette lining the road clapping and cheering you and your buddies, the further we traveled along the road the more villagers silhouettes appeared and the louder and more excited the clapping and cheering became,
it became a spontaneous avenue of honor,
HUH?
@@susanblake9994 Melvin (Mel) J Allen 1/7th ( cant remember exactly maybe 2/7th) X-Ray veteran, Reginald Bud Davis 1/7th Engineers Anh Khe, Myself 1st tourist to visit X Ray since conflicts end,
The villagers lined the road at days end and cheered and clapped us out of the Ia Drang valley as we departed from the return to X-Ray,
1994, October.
Gary Owen.
Thank you, Snake! For making sense and being who you are......
I thank all veterans and current military soldiers for their efforts and protecting our nation.
Thank You for fighting for my country!. May God always be with You,!.
If you see or know a Vietnam vet, please thank them. They were treated horribly when they returned to the USA.
I was at 1st cav ft.hood 80's! god bless!!!
I was enlisted. This great sir was I'm sure in his units was called the old man. If the old man says we are going to hell to fight we follow him. He loves his men and they love him. Never mess with a unit that works like that. You will lose.
Welcome home and thank you
Thank you for your service and sacrifices! Welcome home.
This man lived an amazing life. Thank you for your service.
I must say his philosophy in the last 3 minutes of this video is exceptional and from someone that has never been in war nor understands the vast majority of how things go I am humbled by his words, honesty and point of view.
Thank you for your service to our country sir !
What an extraordinary man , one of the best veteran interviews I’ve seen
Colonel thank you for your service and sacrifice.
I wish there was more people like you on this planet God bless you
Thank you for your service and being so honest! Thank you very much for mentioning the other LZ’s and the units that had so many casualties.
Without a doubt. If Bruce Crandall took command of the Vietnam war we would have won. I salute you sir!
Ps don't forget about Hal Moore. George Washington, U.S. Grant, (insert any other name) couldn't polish his boots........
I flew c model guns and d model slicks for the 11th Cav in 68- 69
I agree with everything you said.
This man is a true warrior battles the enemy and incompetent decisions by people who are out of the situational reality.
What a fine sweet human being. Brave and real. Pragmatist and clear. Practical and steady handed. Men like this. Thank you, Sir. Bless you.
Col. Crandall has so many life experiences and what makes him such a great leader is he uses all of those experiences to draw out a good decision. A no BS leader and if it hurts then eat it! I get the feeling he would never expect anyone to do something he wouldn't do. Glad he made it out!
This is an American I have the highest regard for. He went above and beyond . America was too slow giving this hero his much deserved rewards.
I had the honor and privilege of playing a round of golf with Crandall at Barbers Point NAS many years ago. True to form, he scored an eagle on a par-5 by holing out his third shot. An amazing shot by an amazing hero.
🇺🇸❣️👍🏽A charming man with a reluctant beautiful smile and gentleman’s spirit❣️🇺🇸👍🏽
I was a very young paratrooper and these chopper pilots were amazing !
What a Walking, Talking National Treasure we have in this Man. Welcome Home Sir and Thank You for your Service !!!
thank you for your service you deserve that medal and the respect that goes along with it sir
My Uncle Chuck Christman was at Inchon at barely 18 years old. He was a Navy enlisted and then a civilian contractor who developed something of a reputation for his electronic warfare and radar work. Had an encounter with a VC hand grenade in a latrine in Vietnam one auspicious day. I was Army for a few quick years but I think Chuck would have loved to talk with someone like this great veteran.
This Hero saved lives - far greater award awaits this great American!
He shared a lot of extremely useful practical wisdom in this interview. Helluva commander. When I was in the USAF in the late 70’s I provided weather support to a PA Army Air National Guard unit at Ft Indiantown Gap, PA. To a man, they were almost all Vietnam combat helicopter pilots, and the best men I served with anywhere.
Western Lebanon County, Right near Hershey and the Dauphin County line. I have fond childhood memories fishing in a lake near there on Saturday mornings and hearing and seeing the A-10s on the range doing strafing runs. Caught some cool memories there. Not many fish, though.
Additionally, my paternal grandparents are buried in the National Cemetery at the Gap.
Sir I honour your service and heroism
I love listening to these. I have so much respect for anyone who served. Just hearing this information right from someone who lived it is so awesome. Thank all of you who served.