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Orson Leon Crandall (February 2, 1903 – May 10, 1960) was a
Orson Crandall's official Medal of Honor citation is as follows:
United States Navy
The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...
diver and a recipient of America's highest military decoration - the Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest military decoration and is awarded to recognize American soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, guardians and coast guardsmen who have distinguished themselves by acts of valor. ...
.
Biography
Orson Crandall was born on February 2, 1903, inSaint Joseph, Missouri
St. Joseph is a city in and the county seat of Buchanan County, Missouri. Small parts of St. Joseph extend into Andrew County. Located on the Missouri River, it is the principal city of the St. Joseph Metropolitan Statistical Area, which inclu ...
. He enlisted in the Navy from Connecticut in June 1922, serving in several ships over the next decade. Trained as a diver in 1932–33 and designated a Master Diver in March 1939, he was serving in when she supported the rescue and salvage effort on the sunken submarine from May to September 1939. Chief Boatswain's Mate Crandall was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions as Master Diver during that operation.
During World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
, Crandall became a commissioned officer and served in a variety of salvage and diving-related positions. He transferred to the Fleet Reserve in June 1946 and retired in December 1952.
Lieutenant Orson L. Crandall died on May 10, 1960, and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery is one of two national cemeteries run by the United States Army. Nearly 400,000 people are buried in its 639 acres (259 ha) in Arlington, Virginia. There are about 30 funerals conducted on weekdays and 7 held on Sa ...
in Arlington County, Virginia
Arlington County is a County (United States), county in the Virginia, Commonwealth of Virginia. The county is situated in Northern Virginia on the southwestern bank of the Potomac River directly across from the Washington, D.C., District of Co ...
.
Namesake
''USS Crandall'' (YHLC-2), 1967–1993, was named in honor of Lieutenant Crandall.Medal of Honor citation
Orson Crandall's official Medal of Honor citation is as follows:
For extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession as a master diver throughout the rescue and salvage operations following the sinking of the U.S.S. Squalus on 23 May 1939. His leadership and devotion to duty in directing diving operations and in making important and difficult dives under the most hazardous conditions characterize conduct far above and beyond the ordinary call of duty.
See also
* List of Medal of Honor recipients *List of Medal of Honor recipients during Peacetime
Prior to 1963, the Medal of Honor could be awarded for actions not involving direct combat with "an enemy of the United States" or "opposing foreign force (actions against a party in which the U.S. is not directly engaged in war with).DoD Award ...
Notes
References
: * {{DEFAULTSORT:Crandall, Orson Leon 1903 births 1960 deaths United States Navy personnel of World War II Burials at Arlington National Cemetery United States Navy Medal of Honor recipients United States Navy officers Non-combat recipients of the Medal of Honor Military personnel from Connecticut