Medal of Honor Recipient Bruce Crandall, Whose Heroism Was Chronicled in ‘We Were Soldiers Once,’ Dies at 93

Medal of Honor recipient and legendary Vietnam War helicopter pilot ‘Old Snake’ has died

Retired Army Col. Bruce Perry Crandall helped save the lives of about 70 wounded soldiers during the 1965 Battle of Ia Drang.

Medal of Honor recipient Bruce Crandall, whose heroism was chronicled in ‘We Were Soldiers Once,’ dies at 93

Ret. Col. Bruce Crandall received the Medal of Honor for repeatedly flying his helicopter into intense enemy fire to evacuate dozens of wounded troops.

Vietnam War Medal of Honor recipient Bruce 'Snake' Crandall dies at 93

For many Americans, their first introduction to Bruce Crandall was his portrayal by Greg Kinnear in the 2002 film “We Were Soldiers.” While the film depicts the actions for which Crandall earned the Medal of Honor, the Army aviator had a distinguished career beyond his service in Vietnam.Also Read: How to get a name rubbing from the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall Born in Olympia, Washington in February 1933, Crandall was an All-American high sch…

Bruce Crandall, Vietnam helicopter pilot and Medal of Honor recipient, dies at 93

Col. Bruce Crandall, who received the Medal of Honor in 2007 for his actions as a Vietnam helicopter pilot during the Battle of Ia Drang, died at 93.

Vietnam War Hero, Medal of Honor Recipient Dies

Vietnam War Hero, Medal of Honor Recipient Dies jlieberher Mon, 06/01/2026 - 18:01 Retired Col. Bruce Crandall, who received the Medal of Honor for repeatedly flying his helicopter under intense enemy fire to save dozens of wounded troops in Vietnam, died on May 31. He was 93. Crandall, a native of Olympia, Washington, received the nation’s highest award for valor for his actions on Nov. 14, 1965. On that day, he flew 22 flights into Vietnam’s I…