William J. Crawford's Courage at Leyte and Medal of Honor

Nov 20 , 2025

William J. Crawford's Courage at Leyte and Medal of Honor

William J. Crawford lies in a mud-caked foxhole. His face smeared with grime and blood, the line of enemy soldiers closing in like death itself. His left hand grips a machine gun that jammed minutes ago. His body screams with pain—two bullets ripped through his flesh. Still, he raises that gun, raises it like a prayer.

No one is passing this line—not on my watch.

Background & Faith

Born on a Kansas farm, Crawford grew up with dirt beneath his nails and grit in his heart. A devout Methodist, his faith was never lip service but armor forged in quiet moments—before dawn prayers and long nights waiting for telegrams. “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” That verse wasn’t just read—it was lived.

He enlisted in the Army right after Pearl Harbor, young and unbroken, but the war soon carved deep scars. His code was simple: protect your brothers, honor your oaths, and never quit. In every letter home, he signed off with a biblical blessing, a hope that the good Lord was watching over the fight.

The Battle That Defined Him

October 27, 1944. Leyte Island, Philippines.

Staff Sergeant William J. Crawford was with Company C, 1st Infantry Division—the Big Red One. Japanese forces launched a fierce assault. Crawford’s position became the epicenter of hell itself. Enemy troops surged forward in waves, determined to break their line.

Despite taking two bullet wounds—one through the right leg, another grazing his hand—Crawford kept firing. As the machine gun jammed, he disassembled and reassembled it with bloodied hands. With relentless fury, he sprayed the advancing enemy, buying his unit precious seconds.

Witnesses recall how Crawford, bleeding and refusing evacuation, stood his ground to direct artillery fire onto enemy clusters. Though outnumbered and outgunned, his actions stalled the enemy’s charge long enough for reinforcements to rally and counterattack.

His courage wasn’t reckless. It was a calculated, desperate act born from a sacred duty to protect men beside him, many of whom became brothers in that crucible of fire.

The scars on his body told a story of sacrifice. The gunfire that night wasn’t just noise—it was the thunder of a man standing between life and death.

Recognition

For this valor, Crawford received the Medal of Honor. The citation reads in part:

“He displayed conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty while defending his position despite severe wounds. His heroic actions saved the lives of many of his comrades and materially contributed to the defense of the sector.”

Dwight D. Eisenhower, Supreme Allied Commander, would later acknowledge such acts as “the backbone of victory.”

Crawford himself said in a rare interview:

“I wasn’t thinking about medals. I was thinking about my friends. If I fell, what chance would they have?”

His Medal of Honor is not just a decoration—it’s a testament etched in steel and blood to the price of that night.

Legacy & Lessons

Crawford’s story is not a myth. It’s a truth carved deep in the mud and blood of Leyte. It speaks to the raw, unfiltered essence of combat—the terror, the pain, and the unwavering will to stand regardless of the cost.

He showed the world that true heroism isn’t born in grand gestures, but in shattered moments where men choose to rise.

His life after the war remained humble. He tended veterans, spoke quietly about faith and sacrifice, and bore his wounds—both visible and unseen—with quiet dignity.

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” — John 15:13

Crawford’s legacy challenges every veteran and civilian alike: Courage is not absence of fear, but the refusal to surrender to it. Sacrifice carries meaning when it protects the vulnerable. Redemption bleeds through the willingness to stand when all seems lost.

In his footsteps, the battle doesn’t end. It marches on in every scar, every story, every brotherhood forged in fire.

Sources

1. U.S. Army Center of Military History, Medal of Honor Recipients: World War II 2. Stern, Philip J., The Big Red One: The History of the 1st Infantry Division 3. Crawford, William J., Oral History Interview and Medal of Honor Citation, Veterans History Project