Thursday, November 15, 2012
Issue 58, Volume 121
Medal of Honor veteran recognized at UT R.J.Vogt News Editor The Medal of Honor is the highest military honor that the United States awards — only 80 recipients are alive today. UT students and faculty gave one of those recipients, Col. Bruce Crandall, a standing ovation in the University Center Ballroom yesterday morning. “Every one of us who wears the medal, and there’s 80 of us, every one of us has the same sense — that we did nothing that we weren’t expected to and supposed to do. It is our duty,” Crandall said, in a gravelly voice that belied the life he’s led. “Everyone that wears the medal knows that others who would be in that situation would have done the same. I could not have left those people.” Forty-seven years ago to the day, Crandall was a U.S. Army helicopter pilot stationed near the VietnamCambodia border. As the Battle of Ia Drang broke out, Crandall made 22 flights in unarmed helicopters into an intensely hot landing zone. He delivered supplies and ammunition to infantryman on the ground; he also saved the lives of more than 70 wounded soldiers.
“We were in the air for 14 and a half hours total, we changed aircraft five times,” Crandall said. “During our fifth lift out of the landing zone, the landing zone was closed by the infantry commander. On the way back ... I knew we were gonna be in trouble, leaving the infantry on the ground without any ammo … I had eight other aircraft coming in, they were cancelled at the same time. So I asked volunteers to go with me as soon as we got back.” Crandall’s first helicopter was damaged early in the day, and when he called ahead to get a new helicopter, they pulled the new helicopter’s doors off, replacing them with his original doors. Crandall’s doors had a snake coiled in the form of a six. “I was the only one dumb enough to have something like that on the doors — I was a target. They were trying to see how long I could last with those doors,” he said. “Every time we got shot up, I would call ahead and they’d crack another aircraft and I’d be ready to go as soon as I hit the ground.” Crandall’s visit culminated UT’s Veterans Day celebrations, which included the playing of “Taps” by the Ayres Hall chimes on Monday and a reading of the names of those veterans
who were killed in action. The celebrations were coordinated by the Safety, Environment and Education Center and the Veterans at UTK group. Crandall’s visit also served as a prelude to the 2014 Congressional Medal of Honor Convention, to be held in Knoxville. Don Nabb from the Congressional Medal of Honor Executive Committee said that the decision to hold the convention in Knoxville was popular with the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. “We live in Knoxville, and we petitioned and (were) able to win the honor to host the convention,” he said. “We made our pitch to the Society … they unanimously selected Knoxville to host the 2014 convention.” A large section of the crowd wore military uniforms, as both Air Force and Army ROTC members listened intently to Crandall’s stories. Kyle Buck, senior in political science and member of the Army’s ROTC program, noted the uniqueness of the program. “It means a lot, it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity for most people,” • AP Photo/Kitsap Sun, Larry Steagall Buck said. “I don’t know if I’ll get a chance to actually see someone as The 2002 film “We Were Soldiers” features a characterization of Col. honorable (as) Crandall again.” Bruce Crandall. He was awarded the Medal of Honor by President George W. Bush on Feb. 26, 2007.
Economist addresses fiscal cliff Blair Kuykendall Editor-in-Chief Judging by the turnout for Adam Davidson’s lecture on Tuesday evening, what you have heard is true: Americans are concerned about the economy. Recognizing this interest, the Issues Committee brought Davidson to campus to discuss the approaching fiscal cliff. “To be honest with you, I hate talking about the fiscal cliff ... ,” Davidson said. “It’s a ginned up mistake; it’s an act of political theater ... We do face some fundamental questions about debt and the government’s role in our society: those are real issues.” Davidson hosts “Planet Money,” a podcast devoted to analyzing economic issues in an accessible way. He also contributes a column to the New York Times Magazine devoted to discussing pressing economic issues. “It’s something that people without an economics degree can understand,” Sarah Lucas, senior in deaf education, said of Davidson’s program in her introduction. Davidson believes that the next four years will be a pivotal period in economic history. “We still have a financial system that’s on life support,” Davidson said. “The fiscal cliff has some clear, short-term, real danger. If Europe and the rest of the world were not in a mess already, we would expect the world’s investors would already be taking their money out
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we have an unusual mix of severe risks in the global economy. China may or may not be in the middle of a severe slowdown. ...Europe may or may not be in the middle of an economic break up ... it’s an ugly and confusing mix. ...You don’t want Congress creating artificial deadlines for the future.” Davidson is not optimistic about the fiscal cliff’s resolution. “Most people believe it will be resolved in a ‘kick the can down the road’ kind of way,” Davidson said. “The big decision in 2013 is the question about how we will address our debt and tax future. Greece has a November 2012 problem, we have a 15-20 year problem. We will have a problem if we don’t start addressing things soon.” Despite the need for eventual debt reduction, Davidson is not alarmed about America’s present situation. “As a general rule, governments can carry a fair amount of debt,” Davidson said. “Generally, a government can hold a large amount of debt practically forever. Debt is a very manageable thing up until around 90 percent debt of GDP. You reach a point where really scary things start to happen. People get • Photo courtesy of NPR nervous around 90 percent of GDP.” Davidson believes that America must U.S.” Congress will help dictate which foster growth in learning to overcome its economic challenges. course the U.S. takes moving forward. “Economic growth was fueled by “When they decided to put off raising the debt ceiling, they put in place this education ... ,” Davidson said. “All we threat that if you don’t resolve this by need is for our elected officials to jump 2012 there are going to be deep military on board and be reasonable, so it’s obviand domestic spending cuts. Right now ously not going to happen.” of the US economy and putting it elsewhere. But because we are the least bad choice for global investors ... , we are not having the flight of that capital from the
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S.E.E. Center holds event on quitting tobacco use
• Photo courtesy of Reinald Kirchner
Cody Woodside Contributor The Safety Environment and Education Center aims to help UT students breathe easier through “The Great American Smokeout” today on Pedestrian Walkway. For Rosa Thomas, a coordinator for the S.E.E. Center, giving up smoking is a celebratory matter. “It gives you more birthdays,” Thomas said. The S.E.E. Center hopes to encourage students to give up tobacco, even if it is just for one day, through “The Great American Smokeout.” This event is taking place on Pedestrian Walkway today from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. “The Great American Smokeout” is a nationwide initiative used to get as many people as possible to give up tobacco products. All the sponsors of the event ask for is one day. If you feel better without tobacco
following this first day, they encourage you to keep it up. “I think any kind of advertising like that against smoking is helpful for people that do or don’t smoke,” said undecided junior Allen Rice, an admitted occasional smoker. “ ... Anything like this that encourages you to stop couldn’t be anything but beneficial or indifferent for those that listen to it.” According to the American Cancer Society, quitting can lower your heart rate and blood pressure within twenty minutes. Students who pass Rosa and the S.E.E. today will receive an anti-tobacco gift bag complete with information on how to quit, the benefits of quitting, and even a pin to wear to show that they are tobacco free. The informational gift bag also includes pamphlets on the shocking costs of smoking, secondhand smoke, and the dangers of smokeless tobacco. See SMOKING on Page 3
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