The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting
The NAVY CROSS to
Aviation Machinist’s Mate Second Class Ernie LaRue Crawford, United States Navy
For service as set forth in the following
CITATION

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Ernie LaRue Crawford, Aviation Machinist’s Mate Second Class, U.S. Navy, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving as crewman in a helicopter engaged in a Sea Air Rescue mission from the U.S.S. Rochester (CA-124) on 22 January 1952 in the Hungnam area of Korea. With courageous efficiency, Aviation Machinist Mate Second Class Crawford entered the near-freezing water within range of enemy shore batteries and small arms fire in order to rescue a downed pilot who, through exposure, had become unable to assist himself. When Crawford’s hands became too numb for him to cut the parachute loose from the downed pilot, he attached the pilot to the rescue sling and remained in the water for twenty minutes while the helicopter delivered the unconscious pilot to a nearby ship and returned. Aviation Machinist’s Mate Second Class Crawford was well aware of the danger to himself from both exposure and enemy gunfire. In the opinion of the attending medical officer, the pilot’s life was saved only by this promptness of Crawford’s action. Aviation Machinist’s Mate Second Class Crawford’s gallant devotion to duty, maintained with complete disregard for his own personal safety, was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

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