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Philip Matt Crane II

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craneSecond Lieutenant Philip Matt Crane II was born on January 29, 1947 to Mrs. Howard P. Gragg and the late Philip M. Crane of Ypsilanti. Philip played the accordian when he was very small. He played Little League Baseball. Philip is a 1965 graduate of Ypsilanti High School where he played on the varsity tennis team, was a member of the varsity debate team, and a member of the National Honor Society. He worked all during High School and College at the A&P Store. He went on to attend the University of Michigan until he enlisted in the Army on February 1, 1967. He completed Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia.

Second Lieutenant Crane began his tour in Vinh Long Province, South Vietnam on May 14, 1968 serving as a Tactical Intelligence Staff Officer on Advisory Team 52, Headquarters, Military Assistance Command Vietnam (MACV).

Lieutenant Crane was flying in a helicopter as a special observer when a flare ignited inside the aircraft causing him to fall from the aircraft on June 26, 1968. He was "In-Country" for one month and 11 days.
 

Philip Matt Crane II is survived by his mother, his wife, and a sister. He lived 21 years, 4 months and 27 days. He is resting in Crestwood Memorial Gardens in Flint, Michigan. Philip's name is listed on the Vietnam Memorial in Ypsilanti Township under Ypsilanti. His name also appears on the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, DC on Panel 54W Line 002.

The Wall rubbing by John Kinzinger

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John Graham
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His captain, the S2, Advisor
I was, with him on, that fatal night. I miss him and blame myself, for his death, everyday. This is, what happened. The poem, is called, "Two Words, on a Summer, Night, in Vietnam."

"They found him, in a gray, mud crater made, from his fall, his body broken, by a vicious thud, against a horizontal, earthen wall.

His face was, calm, or so they said, as though, he dreamed another fate, than being, counted combat dead, without a shot fired once, in hate.

The new guy, he asked, what he should do if fire broke out, as it had, done, one night in the 'copter where the crew tossed flares as bright, as midnight suns.

'Jump out,' two words, said mostly in fun, killed him as dead as could fire, or a gun.

Phil was enthusiastic, intelligent and full, of life. His first Firefly mission, should never have, been, his last. An asbestos curtain, had been placed, between the cockpit and the back seat, to protect against the stack, of magnesium flares, should they start, to burn. It seemed unlikely, and we joked, about it. But, it happened. He will always be, in my thoughts and I pray, for his family and ask, for their forgiveness.
Tuesday, July 24, 2001

The above comment from www.thewall-usa.com

View Name on Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington DC

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