b. 02/02/1903 St Joseph, Missouri. d. 10/05/1960 St Petersburg, Florida.
DATE OF MOH ACTION: 23/05/1939 Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
Orson L Crandall MOH
Orson Crandall was born on February 2, 1903 in St. Joseph, Missouri. 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 USS Falcon (ASR-2) when she supported the rescue and salvage effort on the sunken submarine USS Sailfish 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. He was presented with his Medal by the Secretary of the Navy, Charles Edison, on 19 January 1940 at the White House.
During World War II, 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.
MOH CITATION:
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.
BURIAL LOCATION: ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY, ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA.
SECTION 48 LOT 2004
LOCATION OF MEDAL: UNKNOWN.
