William J. Crawford and the Medal of Honor at Hürtgen Forest

Jan 08 , 2026

William J. Crawford and the Medal of Honor at Hürtgen Forest

William J. Crawford lay bleeding in a crater on a cold November night. Bullets zipped past, ripping through flesh and steel. Every breath burned. Yet, he stayed—clinging to his rifle, defying death to hold the line. When the enemy pushed, Crawford pushed harder. Wounded, exhausted, but unyielding. This was a soldier forged in fire.

Background & Faith

Born in Texas in 1918, William J. Crawford grew up on a farm steeped in grit and honest labor. The land taught him strength; the church, humility. His deep-rooted faith shaped his soul before war ever claimed him. A devout man, he carried Psalm 23 in his heart—

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.”

Crawford’s code was simple: stand for others, sacrifice when called. He enlisted in 1942, joining the 45th Infantry Division, known as the “Thunderbird” Division. The war would test every ounce of his faith and resolve.

The Battle That Defined Him

November 25, 1944—Hürtgen Forest, Germany. The mud, cold, and dense woods turned hellish. The 45th Infantry faced brutal German resistance in the bitterest part of the war. Suddenly, a bugle blast. Enemy troops launched a fierce counterattack. Crawford’s squad was in the thick of it, overwhelmed and pinned.

Amidst artillery and machine gun fire, Crawford manned a machine gun position. A grenade exploded nearby, shattering his left arm. Blood poured. Pain screamed through his body. Most men would have sought cover, perhaps succumbed. Not Crawford.

He refused to fall back. Dragging his shattered arm, he grabbed another weapon and kept firing. Twice wounded, once more in the leg, but the line held. His iron will blunted the enemy’s advance, buying crucial time for reinforcements. This wasn’t just bravery—it was sacrificial duty.

Recognition Amid Ruin

William J. Crawford received the Medal of Honor for these actions. The citation highlights his “conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty.” Fellow soldiers recalled a man who literally bled for his brothers-in-arms.

General Dwight D. Eisenhower later praised Crawford, saying,

“The courage of Sergeant Crawford set an example of self-sacrifice that helped turn the tide.”

This was no empty accolade. It was a testament earned in blood and fire.

Legacy & Lessons

Crawford’s wounds never fully healed, but his spirit remained unbroken. After the war, he returned to a quiet life—but the scars of battle ran deep. He became a living reminder that freedom demands costly sacrifice.

His story echoes the hardened truth: courage is forged in moments when retreat beckons but you stand firm anyway. It’s pain and faith walking hand in hand through the shadow of death. William J. Crawford carried that flame for every warrior who fights not for glory, but for survival, for honor, for hope.

“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21)

His legacy is not just a medal pinned to a chest. It is the unwavering spirit of one who faced hell, refused to quit, and returned to remind us all that the cost of peace is paid with blood, faith, and unbreakable will.

Sources

1. U.S. Army Center of Military History, Medal of Honor Recipients: World War II (M–Z) 2. Steven L. Ossad, Kraut’s Last Stand: The Battle of the Hürtgen Forest 3. General Eisenhower’s official correspondence on Medal of Honor recipients, 1945