Just A Normal School Janitor
William Crawford was just a normal school janitor at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, until one day a cadet found out about his past...
A Discret Person
William "Bill" Crawford was born 1918 in Colorado.
After serving the Military for over 20 years and having served in World War II, he tried to stay anonymous about his past and was happy to work as a janitor at the US Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, which he considered as home.
The Discovery
Colonel Moschgat was the cadet who found out about Bill Crawfords past. Moschgat told the news, that he was reading a book about World War II, when he stumbled over an incredible story. While he continued reading the book he saw Crawford's name in big, bold letters.
The book talked about the Allied advance through Italy, as all of the sudden he found the story of a former trooper called William Crawford. It wasn't long before the entire class realized who he actually was.
Modesty
Moschgat decided to address the janitor directly, in matter to find out if he was really the hero he has just read about.
Bill didn't want to answer the question at first, but then he decided to just answer: "That was a long time ago and one day in my life." The cadet wanted to know the whole history and asked Bill for details, the whole class was interested in knowing the complete truth, the book might have missed something out.
The Front
Bill Crawford joined the U.S. Army in July of 1942. He fought on the front lines in southern Italy less than a year after his enlistment.
On September 13th 1943 he acted as a squad scout when his company was attacked near Altavilla Silentina. His whole company was pinned down by intense machine-guns fire and mortars, there was clearly no escape out of this terrible situation.
Central Role
Private Crawford had a central role against the German resistance. He was near the front, therefore had a clear visual and had the ability to locate the first of the gun positions that almost destroyed their company.
He didn't have time to wait for an order. Under heavy fire, he crawled forward to eliminate the threat single-handedly and within a few yards of the gun placement he lobbed a grenade directly on top of three of the enemies.
Danger Continues
Even though this brave move saved their lives at first, there was no time nor reason to celebrate. Soon their company was under fire again, from two additional machine gun nests.
Crawford took again initiative and set out to destroy the threat.
Crawford managed to come upon the first nest and again he was able to land a grenade right in their center, than moved to the second nest; in a very brave move he mastered to dissemble the gun completely. After he has destroyed 3 of the defenders positions, the rest of the enemies fled to avoid being face to face with the man who was able to do single-handedly such strong and dangerous move.
The Captivity
Landscape His heroic act brought him into great danger, he was now standing at the frontline of the attackers, really close to the enemy. So his position indeed lead to his capture by the Germans. His chances of survival were significantly low, once abducted by the enemy.
The whole company believed he was dead. Especially after there was no life signal sent, neither did their experience suggest that they will release him and have kept him alive during the whole period of captivity. They placed his name on a heroic pedestal for brave actions and he was posthumously honored by the Medal of Honor, the highest military honor existing.
The Unbelievable Happened
In US Army regulations, is suggested that when a medal of honor is awarded posthumously, a relative was supposed to accept the medal. In Bills case his father was supposed to accept the medal in 1944.
But then later in the year the unexpected happened, a group of soldier was rescued from german captivity, among them was William Crawford.
Personal Life
After World War II, Crawford decided to continue serving the military. Later in 1946 he married Eileen Bruce, one year later he re-enlisted in the Army.
But after more than 20 years of service he retired with the rank of master sergeant.
The Medal
During his entire military career he almost never wore his medal of honor, he didn't like wearing it because he felt unworthy.
Most veterans with such an remarkable military career, would feel degraded working as a janitor, but William was different, he felt fine with it and never complained.
Not Earning What He Deserves
As a janitor in the United States, salary ranges between $24k-$33k. Bill was dedicated to his job and honored it, but anyway he knew that he deserves more than that.
It was hard for him to cope with the fact that after serving his country for such a long time, the country was no longer serving him.
The Honor
Bill has been working as a janitor at the U.S. Air Force Academy, while he worked there he mentioned to some friends, that he actually never received the medal from the President personally, like he was supposed to receive it.
The year 1984, changed his life: He was invited to the academy for a graduation ceremony, but he had no idea what would happen there...
The President
As a huge surprise for William, President Reagan attended that very same graduation ceremony.
Finally Master Sergeant Crawford was formally awarded his Medal of Honor.
Leadership Lessons
In his speech President Reagan cited leadership lessons one could learn from Mr.Crawford. After this day everything changed for Crawford, as well as for his cadets who would never look at him the same way.
He isn't just a school janitor, he is an awarded war hero.
Respect
After a long emotional speech Reagan said: “Everyone deserves respect,”.
The Janitor Label
Then Moschgat (who discovered Bills history) explained that “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.”
A Hero Among Us
Moschgat added to his speech: “For years a hero walked among us at the Academy and we never knew it.
Who are the heroes that walk in your midst?” This was a very emotional moment for the shy and humble Bill.
The Example Among Us
Reagan continued his speech, claiming next: "leaders should be humble", he based this requirement on the fact that most modern day heroes and leaders are anything but modest. "Crawford should be a lesson to us all.
Crawford was too busy working to celebrate his past heroics, and was too invested in his job to let his ego deprive him from aiding his country even long past his retirement."
Excellence Over Glory
Reagan explained then: "it is better to pursue excellence than glory."
“No job is beneath a leader,” was the next lesson the President pointed out.
“If Bill Crawford, a Medal of Honor winner, could clean latrines and smile, is there a job beneath your dignity?”
A Big Change Towards Bill
“Things were never again the same around our squadron,” wrote Moschgat, “Mr. Crawford, our janitor, had been bestowed 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.'”
The Cadets Attitudes Changed Too
Usually most of them left a huge mess for the janitor to clean up, but this changed immediately because they realized that they made extra work for a heroic veteran.
So in fact they started to clean up their own mess.
“Almost overnight, Bill went from being a simple fixture in our squadron to one of our teammates,” said Moschgat.
The Personal Change
“Mr. Crawford changed too,” wrote Moschgat.
"He felt overwhelmed with the amount of praise and appreciative words and acts he received", further Moschgat realized that Crawford “seemed to move with more purpose, his shoulders not as stooped, met our greetings with a direct gaze and a stronger ‘good morning’ in return, and flashed his crooked smile more often. While no one ever formally acknowledged the change, I think we became Bill’s cadets and his squadron.”
His Death
Bill passed away in March 2000,at the age of 81. After his death, the Governor of Colorado ordered that all Colorado flags be lowered to half-staff in his honor.
He still is the only non-USAF enlisted man of the U.S. Army to be buried at the United States Air Force Academy Cemetery in Colorado Springs.
His Last Words
:
“I was just glad that I was doing my part,” he said. “I figured it was just a normal call of duty.
I happened to be at the right place at the right time.”