Vietnam Vet Honored, 40 Years Later

In November 1965, North Vietnamese forces had American troops surrounded in a bloody firefight in the Ia Drang Valley. Two gutsy chopper pilots, best friends Bruce Crandall and Ed Freeman flew into the thick of it, CBS News correspondent Jerry Bowen reports.

It was chaotic. In fact, "it was worse than chaotic," Crandall says.

In fact, it was suicidal. "They shot my crew chief through the throat. Got a radio operator from the infantry, killed him," Crandall explains.

"People would come up to our helicopter loading the wounded, and they would shoot them down standing in front of the helicopter," says Ed Freeman, a fellow pilot in Vietnam.

And yet, on the worst day of the fighting, Maj. Crandall and Capt. Freeman kept flying, bringing ammo in and the wounded out. It was 22 missions in 14 hours for Crandall.

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Only On The Web: Watch more of Jerry Bowen's interview with Bruce Crandall.

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The two friends saved the lives of 70 wounded soldiers who most certainly would have died had they not been airlifted from the battle.

"If we hadn't been good, we would have been dead," Freeman says.

The story of their battle became a movie, based on the book "We Were Soldiers Once...And Young."

Crandall now lives on Puget Sound. Freeman retired to Boise, Idaho. Forty years later, they still joke over who was the best pilot.

"Ed was the second-best helicopter pilot in the Army at the time," Crandall says.

"Bruce is a good pilot, don't get me wrong. But he is the second-best pilot," Freeman counters.

Five years ago, Freeman was awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroism that day, in part because Crandall had campaigned hard for his friend. Though only one man was honored, it was a great day for both.

Today was an even better day for these old pals, because after years of paperwork delays, Crandall finally received own Medal of Honor.

"Today, the story comes to its rightful conclusion: Bruce Crandall receives the honor he always deserved," President Bush said at the presentation ceremony.

Indeed, they were soldiers once, and young. Now, they are among the nation's finest war heroes — and always, the best of friends.

[neoconrcrazy]

xxx

[zootallures2]

But from Bill Clinton and Bush, we can easily see that draft dodgers are far more honored in the US and A.

[bm6005]

The speed boat affair taught me that.
Posted by hennighg

By this comment I take it you mean the Karl Rove school of lying? Did you know they Swiftboated McCain in 2000? Did you know they questioned the patriotism of a man who lost 3 limbs in Viet Nam. Aaaarrrgggghhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[hennighg]

Crandall should have settled for just telling people that he did something heroic. Since 2004 -- ever since the Bush/Kerry presidential campaigns -- I know that the actual hardware that a person owns means nothing. Whereas I used to assume if someone had a medal in his possession that he must have done something to earn it, I know since then that medals can be spuriously earned and are therefore worth little or nothing at all. How do I know that Crandall didn't fudge the facts to get this one? I simply never can accept medals on face value as I used to. The speed boat affair taught me that.

[bm6005]

Neocon04

Bushes entire administration, with the exception of Colin Powell, was not in 'Nam. Rumsfeld was a pilot instructor. Most of the admin had deferments. I call that draft dodging as well as Clinton.

[neocon04]

First, I would like to thank Col. Crandall for a well deserved medel which was long overdue.
Second I would like to reply to crater7 who asked where President Bush was 40 years ago. You seem to imply that the President is a coward because though he was in the military, he did not go to Nam. My brother joined the Navy in 1967 and even though he put in for Nam he ended up serving his tour of duty in Norfolk, VA. Are you calling my brother a coward? I joined the Navy in 1977 when there was no war and served my tour of duty also in Norfolk. Are you calling me a coward? And if you are going to ask where President Bush was 40 years ago, then you need to ask the same question of President Clinton who not only was not in Nam but never served in the military.

[bm6005]

Medal-Of-Honor reciepient standing next to draft dodger. Quite a picture when you read between the lines. This occurred the month I was drafted. Mr. Crandall, congratulations!!

[us_infidel]

Men with stones. Cheers Mssrs. Crandall and Freeman.
Posted by freeinusa7 at 05:49 AM : Feb 27, 2007

I 2nd this sentiment.

[clouc]

when I saw this story on this morning's news and then just reading it now, I knew it had to be the chopper pilots from "We were Soldiers Once and Young", what a great story. The movie (with Mel Gibson)took me back to the days growing up on a Marine base, some really bittersweet memories.
These men and others like them, should not have had to wait 40 years to be recognized for their bravery. Maybe that's the only thing we have learned since Viet Nam, to honor our soldiers now, not decades later. Read the book, watch the movie, pray for those that died then, and are fighting for us now.

[mygramma]

Why in hell isn't this at the top of the news instead of buried beneath a ton of worthless ***? A third grader could tally the number of recipients of the medal of honor, they are so rare -- and it doesn't make top news? What does it take? Being blonde, having big **** and dying young?

Messrs Crandall and Freeman honor us all by their heroic acts in Nam. My regret is that their awards were draped upon their necks by the most dishonorable sleaze to ever occupy the White House.