VIETNAM - CRANE, WILLIAM RANDALL

Crane, William Randall

VIETNAM - CRANE, WILLIAM RANDALL
CRANE, WILLIAM RANDALL

Rank: First Lieutenant

Unit: I Troop, 3rd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment

MOS: 1204 – Armored Reconnaissance Unit Commander

Awards: Bronze Star Medal with Valor Device and Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart Medal Oak Leaf Cluster, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal

Unit awards: Valorous Unit Award, Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm device

Enlisted by: Reserve

Date of birth: 25-Jun-1946

Hometown: Portland, Oregon

Marital status: Married to Cecelia M. Crane, one daughter

Campaign: Vietnam Conflict

Entered service: 2-Jun-1968

Start of tour: 14-Jun-1969

Incident date: 18-Dec-1969

Date of casualty: 18-Dec-1969

Age at death: 23

Cause of death: Hostile, Died. Grenade. Multiple fragmentation wounds.
William Randall Crane  was killed while platoon leader on a military vehicle on a military mission when a hostile force was encountered. / Platoon leader on armored cavalry assault vehicle (ACAV) on reconnaissance mission.  Engaged hostile force in firefight.

Location of fatality: Binh Long, South Vietnam, XT 691 975

Place of interment: Willamette National Cemetery, Portland, Oregon, USA

View this soldier‘s Find a Grave page (opens in a new window)

Vietnam Veterans Memorial panel and row: 15W 069 (view Vietnam Veterans Memorial link in a new window)

 

BRONZE STAR MEDAL

BRONZE STAR MEDAL
WITH VALOR DEVICE

SECOND LIEUTENANT WILLIAM RANDALL CRANE, ARMOR
11 SEPTEMBER 1969
I TROOP, 3rd SQUADRON
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT

Second Lieutenant Crane distinguished himself by heroism in connection with ground operations against a hostile force on 11 September 1969 while serving as a platoon leader with Troop I, 3d Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date Troop I was located in a night defensive position when it suddenly came under an intense rocket-propelled grenade attack. Lieutenant Crane immediately aroused the members of his platoon and deployed them to defensive positions along the friendly perimeter. Exposing himself to the hostile fire, he moved from position to position, encouraging his men. He then returned to his own vehicle, employing all organic weapons against the enemy. He assisted several men in the treatment of their wounds and insured that they were safely evacuated out of the area. At one point he was wounded by grenade fragments, but he continued to resupply his men with ammunition, braving the enemy fire. Second Lieutenant Crane’s courageous leadership, devotion to duty and disregard for his own safety were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.
Headquarters, II Field Force Vietnam General Orders No. 3236 (24 October 1969)