7 Lessons I learned In Researching Bill Crawford Medal of Honor Recipient

Who was Bill Crawford? An Army Private in WW II, A Medal of Honor Recipient, Presumed Killed in Action in Italy, A Prisoner of War, Master Sergeant and a Janitor at The Air-force Academy.

The story begins in 1977 when a Cadet at The Air-force Academy is reading an after-action report on a battle in 1943 in Italy in that an Army Private (Bill Crawford) single handedly takes out 3 German gun emplacements. Bill along with his CO went forward to take out a gun emplacement. His CO was hit and killed so Bill continued on his own. He took out the 1st one, motioned to his fellow soldiers to advance and immediately went after the second gun. In the process another soldier is hit and killed but Bill was never hit. Bullets were hitting all around him and through his legs, but he was never hit.

Upon taking out the 3rd gun he is captured by the Germans and sent to a POW camp. Bill was presumed Killed In Action so his Father receives the Medal of Honor.

Fast forward to 1977. The Cadet turns to his roommate and says, I think our janitor won the Medal of Honor. The two students go to their janitor Bill Crawford and ask him if this is him? Bill simply says “Yes, and that was one day a long time ago” see the video links below for more.

Here are the 7 Lessons I learned from studying Bill Crawford.

1.    If you see an opportunity Jump on It. Don’t wait to be told to do it. Be aggressive. Bill knew these guns needed to be taken out in order to advance. He saw the opportunity and jumped on it.

2.    If you see an opportunity to do more. Keep charging. Don’t Stop. After taking out the first gun Bill took out two more guns even though others had been killed trying to do so.

3.    If others are getting shot. Run Faster. When Bill saw his fellow soldiers getting shot, he ran faster. He did not give up; he did not go for cover.

4.    If someone is disrespecting, you. Let them know they picked the wrong guy to give hell to. Bill punched out a German Guard who was belittling him as a prisoner. Had it not been for a sympathetic German Doctor. Bill would have been executed for assaulting a guard. Bill stood up for himself.

5.    Hard work pays off. Bill stayed in the Army for 30 years and reached the rank Master Sargent.

6.    No Job is too small or beneath you. Bill could have enjoyed his retirement as a Master Sergeant and a Medal of Honor recipient. He would never need to buy a meal or a drink again for the rest of his life. He wanted to work and contribute. He cleaned toilets and moped floors and enjoyed doing so.

7.    We all make an impact every day with our actions. Bill was a very humble man but when the opportunity presented itself, he was up for the task!

I posted this video on Bill Crawford Memorial Day Weekend and was contacted by Ethan Crawford, Bill’s Great Grandson thanking me for the video. We began to trade emails and learned more about Bill from Ethan. Ethan sent me the attached photos along with their descriptions.

When posting our videos, we may ask ourselves does it really matter? This is a great example of how your video may only touch one person but, it makes a big difference to that One Person.

Here is to Private Bill Crawford. Medal of Honor Recipient, Master Sergeant and Janitor.