In November of that same year, less than two months after his arrival in Vietnam, his company was operating in the Hiep Duc Valley area when they came upon an ambush where several bunkers were being utilized. Machine gun fire erupted from one and immediately killed two men. Crescenz grabbed an M-60 machine gun and jumped into action. He rushed the bunker and killed both men inside. He then rushed the next bunker and did the same. Then a third bunker with the same results. Others of his company had been wounded and medics were trying to attend to them in the middle of the firefight. Crescenz rushed a fourth, camouflaged bunker that was firing and put himself in between it and the medics trying to help the others. He was able to get within 20 feet or so before he was hit and killed by machine gun fire from the bunker he was trying desperately to silence. His actions saved more than a few people that day and led to his company being able to continue forward and defeat the enemy they had encountered.
For his incredibly heroic actions that day, he was awarded the Medal of Honor. His citation reads:
Citation: Cpl. Crescenz distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a rifleman with Company A. In the morning his unit engaged a large, well-entrenched force of the North Vietnamese Army whose initial burst of fire pinned down the lead squad and killed the 2 point men, halting the advance of Company A. Immediately, Cpl. Crescenz left the relative safety of his own position, seized a nearby machine gun and, with complete disregard for his safety, charged 100 meters up a slope toward the enemy's bunkers which he effectively silenced, killing the 2 occupants of each. Undaunted by the withering machine gun fire around him, Cpl. Crescenz courageously moved forward toward a third bunker which he also succeeded in silencing, killing 2 more of the enemy and momentarily clearing the route of advance for his comrades. Suddenly, intense machine gun fire erupted from an unseen, camouflaged bunker. Realizing the danger to his fellow soldiers, Cpl. Crescenz disregarded the barrage of hostile fire directed at him and daringly advanced toward the position. Assaulting with his machine gun, Cpl. Crescenz was within 5 meters of the bunker when he was mortally wounded by the fire from the enemy machine gun. As a direct result of his heroic actions, his company was able to maneuver freely with minimal danger and to complete its mission, defeating the enemy. Cpl. Crescenz's bravery and extraordinary heroism at the cost of his life are in the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit on himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.
Micheal was buried in a hometown cemetery to follow the wishes of his parents. Years later, after they both passed, he was moved to Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors. Corporal Crescenz has been honored in several ways, including having a VFW post named after him, and more recently, the VA hospital in Philadelphia, after a lengthy process and effort by many was renamed in his honor as well.
Michael Crescenz will surely never be forgotten and we are proud to do what we can to help others learn about him and the sacrifice he made so that others could live this day, 47 years ago.
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