WW II Veteran. My partner was a togglier with the 91st Bomb Group/8th Air Force.
We strongly believe that this site serves a much needed purpose, and your stories are
the key to our efforts
defend liberty. The journals contained herein describe, as closely as possible,
the experiences and memories of the veterans in their own words.
It is our hope that this site may, in time, become a fitting tribute to all the
Veterans to whom we all owe so much. We also hope that this site may help to remind those of us who were not there what the true cost of freedom is.
We still need you !!!
will never forget the true cost of Freedom.
In cases where the Veteran has passed away, family and friends may submit an entry/story in the Veteran's name and it will be dedicated to their memory. Thank you!
We look forward to hearing from you.
site by clicking on the LINK below.
to go to:
"TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE"
www.costoffreedom.org
Hope to see you there!
Thank God for men like Mr. Crawford!
By Colonel James E. Moschgat, Commander of the 12th Operations Group, 12th
Flying Training Wing, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas
William "Bill" Crawford certainly was an unimpressive figure, one you could easily
overlook during a hectic day at the U.S. Air Force Academy. Mr.Crawford, as most
of us referred to him back in the late 1970s, was our squadron janitor.
While we cadets busied ourselves preparing for academic exams, athletic events,
Saturday morning parades and room inspections, or never-ending leadership classes,
Bill quietly moved about the squadron mopping and buffing floors, emptying trash
cans, cleaning toilets, or just tidying up the mess 100 college-age kids can leave in a
dormitory. sadly, and for many years, few of us gave him much notice, rendering
little more than a passing nod or throwing a curt, "G'morning" in his direction as we
hurried off to our daily duties.
Why? Perhaps it was because of the way he did his job-he always kept the squadron
area spotlessly clean, even the toilets and showers gleamed. Frankly, he did his job so
well, none of us had to notice or get involved. After all, cleaning toilets was his job,
not ours. Maybe it was is physical appearance that made him disappear into the
background. Bill didn't move very quickly and, in fact, you could say he even
shuffled a bit, as if he suffered from some sort of injury. His gray hair and wrinkled
face made him appear ancient to a group of young cadets. And his crooked smile,
well, it looked a little funny. Face it, Bill was an old man working in a young person's world. What did he have to offer us on a personal level?
Finally, maybe it was Mr. Crawford's personality that rendered him almost invisible to
the young people around him. Bill was shy, almost painfully so. He seldom spoke to
a cadet unless they addressed him first, and that didn't happen very often. Our janitor
always buried himself in his work, moving about with stooped shoulders, a quiet gait,
and an averted gaze. If he noticed the hustle and bustle of cadet life around him, it
was hard to tell. So, for whatever reason, Bill blended into the woodwork and became
just another fixture around the squadron. The Academy, one of our nation's premier
leadership laboratories, kept us busy from dawn till dusk. And Mr. Crawford...well, he was just a janitor.
That changed one fall Saturday afternoon in 1976. I was reading a book about
World War II and the tough Allied ground campaign in Italy, when I stumbled across an incredible story. On September 13, 1943, a Private William Crawford from Colorado, assigned to the 36th Infantry Division, had been involved in some bloody fighting on Hill 424 near Altavilla, Italy.
The words on the page leapt out at me: "In the face of intense and overwhelming
hostile fire ... with no regard for personal safety ...on his own initiative, Private
Crawford single-handedly attacked fortified enemy positions." It continued, "for
conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty,
the President of the United States ..."
"Holy cow!" I said to my roommate, you're not going to believe this, but I think our
janitor is a Medal of Honor winner. We all knew Mr. Crawford was a WWII Army
vet, but that didn't keep my friend from looking at me as if I was some sort of alien
being. Nonetheless, we couldn't wait to ask Bill about the story on Monday.
We met Mr. Crawford bright and early Monday and showed him the page in
question from the book, anticipation and doubt in our faces. He starred at it
for a few silent moments and then quietly uttered something like, "Yep, that's me." Mouths agape, my roommate and I looked at one another, then at the
book, and quickly back at our janitor. Almost at once we both stuttered, "Why didn't you ever tell us about it?" He slowly replied after some thought, "That was one day in my life and it happened a long time ago."
I guess we were all at a loss for words after that. We had to hurry off to class and
Bill, well, he had chores to attend to. However, after that brief exchange, things were
never again the same around our squadron. Word spread like wildfire among the
cadets that we had a hero in our midst-Mr. Crawford, our janitor, had won the Medal! Cadets who had once passed by Bill with hardly a glance, now greeted him with a
smile and a respectful, "Good morning, Mr. Crawford." Those who had before left a mess for the janitor to clean up started taking it upon themselves to put things in order. Most cadets routinely stopped to talk to Bill throughout the day and we even began inviting him to our formal squadron functions. He'd show up dressed in a conservative dark suit and quietly talk to those who approached him, the only sign of his heroics being a simple blue, star-spangled lapel pin.
Almost overnight, Bill went from being a simple fixture in our squadron to one of our
teammates. Mr. Crawford changed too, but you had to look closely to notice the difference. After that fall day in 1976, he seemed to move with more purpose, his shoulders didn't seem to be as stooped, he met our greetings with a direct gaze and a stronger "Good morning" in return, and he flashed his crooked smile more often. The
squadron gleamed as always, but everyone now seemed to notice it more. Bill even
got to know most of us by our first names, something that didn't happen often at
the Academy. While no one ever formally acknowledged the change, I think we
became Bill's cadets and his squadron.
As often happens in life, events sweep us away from those in our past. The last time
I saw Bill was on graduation day in June 1977. As I walked out of the squadron for
the last time, he shook my hand and simply said, "Good luck, young man." With that, I
embarked on a career that has been truly lucky and blessed. Mr. Crawford continued to
work at the Academy and eventually retired in his native Colorado where
he resides today, one of four Medal of Honor winners living in a small town.
A wise person once said, "It's not life that's important, but those you meet along the
way that make the difference." Bill was one who made a difference for me. While I
haven't seen Mr. Crawford in over twenty years, he'd probably be surprised to know I
think of him often. Bill Crawford, our janitor, taught me many valuable, unforgettable
leadership lessons.
Here are ten I'd like to share with you.
1. Be Cautious of Labels. Labels you place on people may define your relationship
to them and bound their potential. Sadly, and for a long time, we labeled Bill as just
a janitor, but he was so much more. Therefore, be cautious of a leader who callously
says, "Hey, he's just an Airman". Likewise, don't tolerate the O-1, who says, "I
can't do that, I'm just a lieutenant.
2. Everyone Deserves Respect. Because we hung the "janitor" label on Mr.
Crawford, we often wrongly treated him with less respect than others around us.
He deserved much more, and not just because he was a Medal of Honor winner. Bill
deserved respect because he was a janitor, walked among us, and was a part of our
team.
3. Courtesy Makes a Difference. Be courteous to all around you, regardless of
rank or position. Military customs, as well as common courtesies, help bond a team.
When our daily words to Mr. Crawford turned from perfunctory "hellos" to heartfelt
greetings, his demeanor and personality outwardly changed. It made a difference for
all of us.
4. Take Time to Know Your People. Life in the military is hectic, but that's no
excuse for not knowing the people you work for and with. For years a hero walked
among us at the Academy and we never knew it. Who are the heroes that walk in
your midst?
5. Anyone Can Be a Hero. Mr. Crawford certainly didn't fit anyone's standard
definition of a hero. Moreover, he was just a private on the day he won his Medal.
Don't sell your people short, for any one of them may be the hero who rises to the
occasion when duty calls. On the other hand, it's easy to turn to your proven
performers when the chips are down, but don't ignore the rest of the team. Today's
rookie could and should be tomorrow's superstar.
6. Leaders Should Be Humble. Most modern day heroes and some leaders are
anything but humble, especially if you calibrate your hero meter on today's athletic
fields. End zone celebrations and self-aggrandizement are what we've come to
expect from sports greats. Not Mr. Crawford-he was too busy working to celebrate
his past heroics. Leaders would be well-served to do the same.
7. Life Won't Always Hand You What You Think You Deserve. We in the
military work hard and, dang it, we deserve recognition, right? However, sometimes
you just have to persevere, even when accolades don't come your way. Perhaps you
weren't nominated for junior officer or airman of the quarter as you thought you
should; don't let that stop you.
8. Don't pursue glory; pursue excellence. Private Bill Crawford didn't pursue glory;
he did his duty and then swept floors for a living. No job is beneath a Leader. If Bill
Crawford, a Medal of Honor winner, could clean latrines and smile, is there a job beneath your dignity? Think about it.
9. Pursue Excellence. No matter what task life hands you, do it well. Dr. Martin
Luther King said, "If life makes you a street sweeper, be the best street sweeper you can be. Mr. Crawford modeled that philosophy and helped make our dormitory area
a home.
10. Life is a Leadership Laboratory. All too often we look to some school or PME
class to teach us about leadership when, in fact, life is a leadership laboratory. Those
you meet everyday will teach you enduring lessons if you just take time to stop, look
and listen. I spent four years at the Air Force Academy, took dozens of classes, read
hundreds of books, and met thousands of great people. I gleaned leadership skills
from all of them, but one of the people I remember most is Mr. Bill Crawford and
the lessons he unknowingly taught. Don't miss your opportunity to learn. Bill
Crawford was a janitor. However, he was also a teacher, friend, role model and one
great American hero. Thanks, Mr. Crawford, for some valuable leadership lessons.
Dale Pyeatt, Executive Director of the National Guard Association
of Texas, comments: And now, for the rest of the story;:
Pvt William John Crawford was a platoon scout for 3rd Platoon of Company L, 1
42nd Regiment 36th Division (Texas National Guard) and won the Medal of Honor for his actions on Hill 424, just 4 days after the invasion at Salerno. On Hill 424, Pvt Crawford took out 3 enemy machine guns before darkness fell, halting the platoon's
advance. Pvt Crawford could not be found and was assumed dead. The request for
his MOH was quickly approved. Major General Terry Allen presented the
posthumous MOH to Bill Crawford's father, George, on 11 May 1944 in Camp (now
Fort) Carson, near Pueblo.
Nearly two months after that, it was learned that Pvt Crawford was alive in a
POW camp in Germany. During his captivity, a German guard clubbed him with his
rifle. Bill overpowered him, took the rifle away, and beat the guard unconscious. A
German doctor's testimony saved him from severe punishment perhaps death. To
stay ahead of the advancing Russian army, the prisoners were marched 500 miles in
52 days in the middle of the German winter, subsisting on one potato a day. An allied
tank column liberated thecamp in the spring of 1945, and Pvt Crawford took his first
hot shower in 18 months on VE Day. Pvt Crawford stayed in the army before retiring as a MSG and becoming a janitor.
In 1984, President Ronald Reagan officially presented the MOH to Bill Crawford.
William Crawford passed away in 2000. He is the only U.S. Army veteran and sole
Medal of Honor winner to be buried in the cemetery of the U.S. Air Force Academy
GOD BLESS AMERICA and all freedom loving nations!
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