The Olympian/file
After a highly decorated military flying career, Vietnam War veteran Bruce Crandall finds himself the subject of the movie "We Were Soldiers," starring Mel Gibson.

Olympia native sees his military career re-enacted in movie

ROSS RAIHALA, THE OLYMPIAN

Originally published Tuesday, February 26, 2002

Now that Hollywood has made a film about him, it makes sense that Bruce Crandall is living the life of a star.

The Olympia native and his wife, Arlene, attended the Los Angeles premiere of "We Were Soldiers" Monday.

Tonight the couple will dine at the White House and attend a special screening of the film with President Bush.

"It's pretty overwhelming," said Crandall during a phone interview Monday from his hotel in Los Angeles. "I didn't expect any of this. It's kind of like having Christmas come more than once."

A 1951 Olympia High School graduate and helicopter pilot during the Vietnam War, Crandall plays a vital role in "We Were Soldiers," which opens in theaters Friday.

"We Were Soldiers" tells the story of the first major battle between the United States and the North Vietnamese Army in 1965. Mel Gibson stars as Lt. Col. Hal Moore, who co-wrote the book on which the film is based.

Oscar-nominated actor Greg Kinnear plays Crandall in the $100 million movie, which was written and directed by "Braveheart" scribe Randall Wallace. Crandall also served as a helicopter adviser for the film, which was shot last year on military bases in Georgia and California.

Crandall, who lives on Puget Sound near Port Orchard, has viewed the film several times, including a screening with cadets at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

"It's a very emotional movie, it was tough for me to see," said Crandall. "It didn't get any easier the second time. A lot of people are going to think the blood and gore stuff was just Hollywood, but it was very true."

Arlene Crandall shared similar feelings about "We Were Soldiers," which graphically depicts bloody wartime battles.

"I was talking to Barbara Geoghegan (played by Keri Russell in the film) about it and, beyond the tears, I was sick to my stomach at times. That was my reaction," said Arlene Crandall.

Still, Bruce Crandall said the end result is a mostly accurate portrayal of what he and his fellow soldiers endured in the Vietnam War.

"Mel Gibson is a star, so he's sort of the John Wayne of the movie, that's to be expected," said Crandall. "And they did overplay my part. Late in the movie, I come to the rescue with guns blazing and I was a little uncomfortable with that.

"But I've talked (to other veterans) who think it's somewhere between 70 and 80 percent accurate and 20 and 30 percent Hollywood. I think it's more like 80 percent accurate and 40 percent Hollywood, but I don't think my high school teachers would appreciate my math."

Ross Raihala covers entertainment for The Olympian and can be reached at 360-754-5406 or rraihala@olympia. gannett.com.

'We Were Soldiers'

Olympia native and Vietnam War hero Bruce Crandall is a primary character in "We Were Soldiers," a $100 million film that opens in theaters Friday. Mel Gibson stars and Greg Kinnear plays Crandall in the film, which was written and directed by "Braveheart" scribe Randall Wallace.

Crandall was interviewed for Seattle's KING-5 "Evening Magazine" for a report that is scheduled to air at 7 p.m. today. He also participated in a special program about the film that will air at 7 p.m. Sunday on the History Channel.

Crandall's sons have created an extensive site devoted to his life and accomplishments at www.xav8er.com.

The Olympian Copyright 2002

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