[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 34 (Thursday, March 23, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E403]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING A MILITARY HERO

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JOEL HEFLEY

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 23, 2000

  Mr. HEFLEY. Mr. Speaker, today I pay tribute to my constituent, Bill 
Crawford, who was one of our Nation's distinguished military heroes and 
one of my community's great treasures. Bill passed away on March 15 at 
the age of 81, having led an exemplary life that took him from being a 
small-town grocery delivery boy to a recipient of the nation's highest 
military honor.
  As an Army private in the fall of 1943, Bill was on a scouting 
mission near Altavilla, Italy when he encountered an enemy machine-gun 
nest prepared to fire at his platoon. Without orders, Bill advanced to 
within yards of the German fighters, threw a grenade into the pit from 
which they were firing and saved his platoon.
  Private Crawford then turned his valor on not one, but two, 
additional machine-gun nests firing at American soldiers. He was able 
to overtake both German encampments and turn the captured machine-guns 
on fleeing German soldiers.
  When United States forces moved ahead, Crawford stayed behind to care 
for a friend who had been injured. He was captured by German soldiers 
and spent 19 months as a prisoner of war.
  Presumed dead, Crawford was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously 
on May 11, 1944. Maj. Gen. Terry Allen presented the award to Bill's 
grieving father at Camp Carson, just 30 miles from Bill's hometown of 
Pueblo, CO.
  Two months after Private Crawford's Medal of Honor was presented to 
his father, the family received news that Bill was alive. One year 
later, Private Crawford was released from prison.
  After his release, Bill returned to his Colorado roots. He met and 
married his wife Eileen, and began a family that eventually included 
two children, five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. He 
returned to military service, much of it as an Army recruiter in his 
home town of Pueblo.
  Bill ended his career at the U.S. Air Force Academy, where he worked 
as a janitor and served as a mentor to the students. The cadets at the 
Academy loved Bill and paid tribute to his distinguished military 
career by asking him each spring to present the ``Outstanding Cadet'' 
award to a member of the graduating class.
  On May 30, 1984, Bill was presented with an honor of his own. 
President Ronald Reagan was the commencement speaker that day at the 
graduation ceremonies at the U.S. Air Force Academy. During his speech, 
President Reagan turned his attention to Bill, who was crisply dressed 
in his military uniform, and hung the Medal of Honor around his neck. 
Seventeen years after his retirement from the military, and 40 years 
after his heroism at Altavilla, Bill was finally presented with his 
Medal of Honor award.
  As a Medal of Honor recipient, Bill distinguished himself through 
exemplary service to this nation. He answered the call to arms and 
bravely faced hazardous duty, hand to hand combat and imprisonment by 
the German army.
  He was also dedicated to his family and his community. He was an 
extraordinary man, who displayed humility, kindness and love in all 
that he did. We will miss this gentle man in Colorado Springs, and we 
extend to his family our sincere condolences.
  Our Nation bids farewell to one of her great heroes and I bid 
farewell to a friend.

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