It really does not matter what each veteran did during his period of service. The fact is, whether a veteran fought on the front lines during horrific battles or ran the kitchen at a training post, they chose to serve and we should be thankful for their commitment. Assignments are made based on the needs of the service. But each service member must decide how he will perform his assigned duties.
An unlikely and humble servant
William T. Crawford was born in Pueblo in May, 1918. Like many young men at the time, at the outbreak of World War II, he joined the United States Army in 1942. After basic training, he was assigned to the 142nd Infantry Regiment 36th Infantry Division operating in southern Italy.
On the 13th of September 1943, Crawford was acting as a scout, when his company attached Hill 424 in southern Italy. His company was pinned down twice by heavy enemy fire. Crawford, using hand grenades and his rifle destroyed several machinegun nests that had blocked their progress.
After the battle, Crawford was missing in action and presumed dead. Due to his heroic actions that enabled his squad to advance, he was posthumously awarded a Medal of Honor.
The Medal of Honor Citation
“For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty in action with the enemy near Altavilla, Italy, 13 September 1943. When Company I attacked an enemy-held position on Hill 424, the 3rd Platoon, in which Pvt. Crawford was a squad scout, attacked as base platoon for the company. After reaching the crest of the hill, the platoon was pinned down by intense enemy machine-gun and small-arms fire.
Locating 1 of these guns, which was dug in on a terrace on his immediate front, Pvt. Crawford, without orders and on his own initiative, moved over the hill under enemy fire to a point within a few yards of the gun emplacement and single-handedly destroyed the machine-gun and killed 3 of the crew with a hand grenade, thus enabling his platoon to continue its advance.
When the platoon, after reaching the crest, was once more delayed by enemy fire, Pvt. Crawford again, in the face of intense fire, advanced directly to the front midway between 2 hostile machine-gun nests located on a higher terrace and emplaced in a small ravine. Moving first to the left, with a hand grenade he destroyed 1 gun emplacement and killed the crew; he then worked his way, under continuous fire, to the other and with 1 grenade and the use of his rifle, killed 1 enemy and forced the remainder to flee. Seizing the enemy machine gun, he fired on the withdrawing Germans and facilitated his company’s advance.” [“Medal of Honor recipients – World War II (A–F)”. Medal of Honor citations. United States Army Center of Military History.]
Crawford was actually alive but never formally recognized for his heroism
In fact, Crawford had been captured and was held as a prisoner of war, having been rescued after 19 months.
In 1945, William Crawford married his wife, Ellen Bruce. He re-enlisted in the Army in 1947 and served another 20 years, retiring in 1967 at the rank of Master Sergeant.
A new assignment
Following his retirement, he got a job as a janitor at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado, and later became the director of the Lucretia Vaile Museum in Palmer Lake, Co.
His Medal of Honor
What followed was an amazing tale of grit, fortitude and lessons for us all. It was captured in a great story captured by Col Moschgat when he was commander at the 12th Operations Group at Randolph AFB in 2001.
While working as a janitor at the Air Force Academy, he had shared stories about World War II and the battles in Italy, although he never spoke specifically about his personal experience. One of the Cadets, researching information on World War II came across a reference to a Medal of Honor winner, Private William Crawford who was presumed dead. When asked by the cadets about the reference, he admitted “Yep, that’s me.”
When students later asked him about the Medal of Honor, he replied, “That was one day in my life, and it happened a long time ago.”
According to one report, Crawford later mentioned to students and coworkers at the Air Force Academy that he had never received the Medal of Honor.
The cadets at the USAF Academy decided to change this. In 1984, Crawford was a guest of the graduating class. Many past graduates, generals and VIPs attended the graduation of the Class of 1984. President Ronald Reagan arrived and presented the Medal of Honor to Crawford and formally recognized Crawford’s action. See the Crawford’s Obituary. Included in his comments was a reference to “Leadership Lessons” that had been learned from their decorated janitor.
For more than 40 years, Crawford never had a single ceremony or recognition regarding his Medal of Honor award.
Former cadet, later Col Bill Crawford, explained that their janitor had “taught me many valuable, unforgettable leadership lessons. Here are ten I’d like to share with you.” You can read all ten lessons here.
