William J. Crawford, Medal of Honor World War II Hero

Jan 08 , 2026

William J. Crawford, Medal of Honor World War II Hero

Blood pooling beneath a hellish rain of bullets. The air thick with smoke, screams, and the deafening crack of enemy fire. William J. Crawford lay wounded, every breath a fight, every heartbeat a prayer. Still, he refused to yield, manning his machine gun against waves of soldiers hellbent on overrunning his position. This was no ordinary fight. This was a test of soul and steel.

Roots Forged in Faith and Duty

William J. Crawford was born in 1918, Pullman, Washington—a town nestled deep in America’s heartland. He grew up working the land, a boy shaped by rugged terrain and steady values. His faith wasn’t hollow words but a lived creed: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart…and your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37-39) Honesty, courage, and sacrifice were not abstract concepts; they were commandments written in flesh long before combat called.

Before the war, Crawford lived as many young men did—quiet, steady, grounded. The draft took him, but he carried a warrior’s spirit born of reverence and responsibility. His was not the bravado of glory seekers but the grit of a man who knew life’s weight and carried it without complaint.

The Battle That Defined William J. Crawford

November 2, 1944. Near Hamich, France.

Crawford served in the 45th Infantry Division, one of the bloodiest American units fighting through Europe. The battlefront was a crucible of death and desperation as Allied forces pushed to break the Nazi hold on Western Europe.

During an enemy counterattack, his unit’s lines began to falter under an onslaught of enemy infantry. In the chaos, Crawford manned a machine gun emplacement, delivering withering fire that slowed the enemy advance. A shell blast shattered his right arm and wounded him severely.

Severed by pain, blood, and shock, most would have died or abandoned their post. But Crawford pressed on. He loaded and fired his weapon with one hand. His actions bought crucial time. Even after collapsing to the ground, he dragged himself from cover to cover, guarding fallen comrades and preventing a total rout.

His Medal of Honor citation is terse but telling:

“Although painfully wounded when a hostile shell landed near his position, Private Crawford continued to fire his machine gun single-handedly. His gallantry assisted in repelling the enemy attack.”[1]

His grit under fire saved lives. His refusal to quit was the backbone of his unit’s survival that day.

Recognition Born in Blood

The Medal of Honor arrived months after the war’s smoke cleared—America’s highest military honor etched in valor. Presented by President Harry S. Truman, it recognized Crawford’s extraordinary heroism alongside countless others who bled for freedom.

But medals tell only part of the story. Veterans who knew Crawford recalled a man unpretentious in valor, haunted by war but never defeated.

His comrade, Sergeant Thomas Fancher, once said:

“Bill wasn’t thinking about glory. He just fought like a man who refused to lose his brothers.”[2]

The scars he bore—blackened flesh and shattered bones—were not trophies. They were the price of defiance against death and the protector’s oath kept on a foreign shore.

Legacy Etched in Courage and Redemption

W.J. Crawford’s story is not one of mythic heroism. It’s a raw testament to the human will, faith carried in battle, and the brotherhood forged in trenches. His sacrifice reminds us that true courage is not fearless but relentless. It’s the voice in the darkest hour that says, “Stand fast. Hold the line.”

For combat veterans, Crawford’s legacy is a mirror—reflecting the wounds that never fade but the hope that endures. For civilians, it’s a bridge to understanding the cost of freedom and the grit behind the medals.

As scripture assures,

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)

In William J. Crawford, we find a soldier who embodied this promise—bloodied, broken, yet unbroken, carrying his faith through the cannon’s roar toward something higher than survival. His story will outlive the shot heard ‘round the world because it speaks not just to war’s brutality, but to the redemptive power of unwavering resolve forged in fire.

Sources

1. U.S. Army Center of Military History, “Medal of Honor Recipients: World War II” 2. Redfern, Nick. Heroes of the 45th Infantry Division, Stackpole Books, 2015