Medal of Honor recipient Bruce P. Crandall starter for Indianapolis 500
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| MOH Bruce P. Crandall |
Medal of Honor
recipient Bruce P. Crandall has been named honorary starter for the
100th Anniversary Indianapolis 500 Mile Race on Sunday, May 29, waving
the green flag to begin racing for the field of 33 drivers at the
Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Retired Col. Crandall, who flew more
than 900 missions as a helicopter pilot during the Vietnam War,
received the Medal of Honor – the highest military
decoration awarded by the United States government – in 2007.
“I’m
thrilled and honored to be selected as the honorary starter for the
Indianapolis 500 in its 100th anniversary year,” Crandall said. “The
race is an American tradition, and I’m very grateful for the continued
tributes to the U.S. Armed Forces during the pre-race ceremonies every
year. I can’t wait to get into the starter’s stand.”
Crandall was
honored for his leadership, heroism and courage during the Battle of Ia
Drang on Nov. 14, 1965. He led the first major division operation of
airmobile troops into Landing Zone X-Ray in the Ia Drang Valley and is
credited with evacuating some 70 wounded comrades with his wing man and
fellow Medal of Honor recipient Major Ed Freeman. The two also flew in
the ammunition needed for the 1/7th Cavalry to survive. The craft
Crandall was flying was unarmed. On February 26, 2007, Crandall received the Medal of Honor from President George W. Bush in a ceremony in the East Room of the White House for his actions on November 14.
During his military career,
Crandall also received a Bronze Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross, a
Presidential Unit Citation and a Purple Heart among numerous other
citations.
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| Crandall’s UH-1 Huey dispatching infantry in the Ia Drang operation |
“It’s a great honor to welcome Bruce Crandall to serve
as the honorary starter of the 100th Anniversary Indianapolis 500,”
said Jeff Belskus, Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corporation president and
CEO. “The Indianapolis 500 has paid tribute to the service and
sacrifice of our Armed Forces since its inception on Memorial Day
weekend in 1911, and it’s a privilege for a true American hero to send
the field of 33 on its way toward Victory Lane at such a historic race.”
The
2002 movie We Were Soldiers was based on the operation for which
Crandall was awarded the Medal of Honor, with 1997 Academy Award Best
Supporting Actor nominee Greg Kinnear appearing as Crandall.
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