Notable vet Bruce Crandall to lead Mesa veterans parade

• Retired Lt. Col. Bruce Crandall to serve as Grand Marshal at the East Valley Veterans Parade Nov. 8
• The parade starts at 11 a.m. at North Center and Seventh streets in Mesa and travels south to First Avenue
• Information%3A www.EastValleyVeteransParade.com or 480-684-2324

Bruce Crandall understandably is proud of his military record — he is a Medal of Honor recipient — but he also is proud of the work he has done and the life he has led since serving in the Army.

Lt. Col. Crandall, now retired, is grand marshal of the annual East Valley Veterans Parade on Saturday, Nov. 8. While many will come out to commemorate his military service, Crandall will be happy to return to Mesa to visit with family and friends he made while the city's public-works manager.

"Coming back to Mesa is all good for me," Crandall said from his home in Washington. "I really loved it when I was there. I have a son and a couple of grandchildren there. I have nothing but good memories of my time with the city."

Crandall was asked to be the parade's grand marshal because of his service as an Army helicopter pilot, particularly during the Vietnam War. Crandall few 909 combat missions during two tours of duty in Vietnam. A mission in 1965 resulted in him receiving the Medal of Honor.

On Nov. 14, 1965, Crandall, then a major, was credited with evacuating 70 wounded soldiers from battle in the Ia Drang Valley. Under heavy fire, Crandall repeatedly led his unit into that battle zone to resupply the soldiers and rescue the wounded. He completed 14 landings in an unarmed helicopter and did not stop until the last man had left the battlefield.

"It is an honor to have him," said Jim Monroe, president of the East Valley Veterans Parade Association. "I tried to get him about three years ago but was unsuccessful. Things just fell into place this year. He has a storied history, and we're pleased to get him."

Crandall received the Medal of Honor in 2007. He was among three men in that battle to receive the honor.

He said it was only fitting that his wing man and friend, Ed Freeman, was honored first. Freeman received his medal in 2001.

"That was very important to me," said Crandall, 81. "He was really the only volunteer. I was the commander, I didn't have a choice, in my judgment. I had to do what I did. When I asked for volunteers, he was the only one to volunteer. He really deserved it."

Joe Marm, a young officer, who was on the ground during that battle, was also honored.

That battle was the subject of a book, "We Were Soldiers Once ... and Young," and later a movie titled "We Were Soldiers." Crandall was an aviation consultant for the movie and was portrayed in the film by actor Greg Kinnear.

"I really enjoyed being on the set," Crandall said. "All of those guys were really nice people. They were a pleasure to be around and very professional. Greg Kinnear was a good man. A good friend."

Crandall retired from the Army in 1977. He earned a master's degree in public administration and was city manager of Dunsmuir, Calif., for three years.

He was considering studying law in Arizona when he and his wife, Arlene, moved to Mesa.

"I applied for the job of city engineer and building services director," Crandall said. "I ended up getting it, which was amazing to me. I stayed on and got promoted a couple times."

Crandall went on to become public-works manager, retiring in 1994. He returned to his native Washington shortly after retiring.

He said he missed the cooler weather in Washington but also joked that it was not a good idea to stick around too long in a city after being public-works manager.

"People remember how many times you tore up their streets," Crandall said. "But, what the hell, I tore my street up, too. When a water main breaks, you have to do something."

Since receiving the Medal of Honor, Crandall has been active in the Congressional Medal of Honor Society and is vice president of the group. He travels around the country promoting its character-development program for high-school and junior-high-school students.

He is pleased that the program is active in Mesa schools.

"We want that in every school by the time we're finished," Crandall said. "We want to teach young people that courage isn't just a combat thing. Everyone has it to some extent or another. Also, service isn't just for the military, it's something you do in your community. And integrity is something we all have."

Crandall said the Medal of Honor is both an honor and a burden.

"It's a great honor, but it's also something you have to pay attention to for the rest of your life," Crandall said. "You wear that remembering all the other guys that didn't come home. That's the way we all feel about it."

Southeast Valley Veterans Day events

Mesa: Parade starts at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 8. Route begins at North Center and Seventh streets and travels south to First Avenue.

Gilbert: 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 6, at the Gilbert Civic Center Campus (Gilbert Road south of Warner Road). Event includes lunch and is open to the public. There is no admission charge. Arizona Department of Veterans Services Director Ted Vogt is the keynote speaker.

Tempe: 10 am. Tuesday, Nov. 11. Parade will begin at Mill Avenue and Curry Road and travel south along Mill to ASU Gammage at Arizona State University.