|
A Janitor's 10 Lessons in Leadership
By Col. James Moschgat, 12th Operations Group Commander, graduate USAFA
class of 1977
William "Bill" Crawford certainly was an unimpressive figure, one
you could easily overlook during a hectic day at the U.S. Air Force Academy. Mr. Crawford, as most of us referred to him back in the late
1970s, was our squadron janitor. While we cadets busied ourselves preparing for academic exams,
athletic events, Saturday morning parades and room inspections, or never-ending leadership classes, Bill quietly moved about the squadron
mopping and buffing floors, emptying trash cans, cleaning toilets, or just tidying up the mess 100 college-age kids can leave in a dormitory.
Sadly, and for many years, few of us gave him much notice, rendering little more than a passing nod or throwing a curt,
"G'morning!" in his direction as we hurried off to our daily duties. Why? Perhaps it was because of the way he did his job-he always
kept the squadron area spotlessly clean, even the toilets and showers gleamed. Frankly, he did his job so well, none of us had to notice or
get involved. After all, cleaning toilets was his job, not ours. Maybe it was his physical appearance that made him disappear into the
background. Bill didn't move very quickly and, in fact, you could say he even shuffled a bit, as if he suffered from some sort of injury. His
gray hair and wrinkled face made him appear ancient to a group of young cadets. And his crooked smile, well, it looked a little funny. Face it,
Bill was an old man working in a young person's world. What did he have to offer us on a personal level? Finally, maybe it was Mr. Crawford's
personality that rendered him almost invisible to the young people around him. Bill was shy, almost painfully so. He seldom spoke to a cadet
unless they addressed him first, and that didn't happen very often. Our janitor always buried himself in his work, moving about with stooped
shoulders, a quiet gait, and an averted gaze. If he noticed the hustle and bustle of cadet life around him, it was hard to tell. So, for
whatever reason, Bill blended into the woodwork and became just another fixture around the squadron. The Academy, one of our nation's premier
leadership laboratories, kept us busy from dawn till dusk. And Mr. Crawford...well, he was just a janitor.
That changed one fall Saturday afternoon in 1976. I was reading a
book about World War II and the tough Allied ground campaign in Italy, when I stumbled across an incredible story. On Sept. 13, 1943, a Private
William Crawford from Colorado, assigned to the 36th Infantry Division, had been involved in some bloody fighting on Hill 424 near
Altavilla, Italy. The words on the page leapt out at me: "in the face of intense
and overwhelming hostile fire ... with no regard for personal safety ... on his own initiative, Private Crawford single-handedly attacked
fortified enemy positions." It continued, "for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty, the
President of the United States ..." "Holy cow," I said to my roommate, "you're not going to believe this, but I think our janitor is a Medal of
Honor winner." We all knew Mr. Crawford was a WWII Army vet, but that didn't keep my friend from looking at me as if I was some sort of alien
being. Nonetheless, we couldn't wait to ask Bill about the story on Monday. We met Mr. Crawford bright and early Monday and showed him the
page in question from the book, anticipation and doubt on our faces. He starred at it for a few silent moments and then quietly uttered something
like, "Yep, that's me." Mouths agape, my roommate and I looked at one another, then at the book, and quickly back at our janitor. Almost at
once we both stuttered, "Why didn't you ever tell us about it?" He slowly replied after some thought, "That was one day in my life and it
happened a long time ago." I guess we were all at a loss for words after that. We had to hurry off to class and Bill, well, he had chores to
attend to. However, after that brief exchange, things were never again the same
around our squadron. Word spread like wildfire among the cadets that we had a hero in our
midst-Mr. Crawford, our janitor, had won the Medal! Cadets who had once passed by Bill with hardly a glance, now
greeted him with a smile and a respectful, "Good morning, Mr. Crawford."
Those who had before left a mess for the "janitor" to clean up started
taking it upon themselves to put things in order. Most cadets routinely stopped to talk to Bill throughout the day and we even began inviting him
to our formal squadron functions. He'd show up dressed in a conservative dark suit and quietly talk to those who approached him, the only sign of
his heroics being a simple blue, star-spangled lapel pin. Almost overnight, Bill went from being a simple fixture in our squadron to one
of our teammates. Mr. Crawford changed too, but you had to look closely to notice the difference. After that fall day in 1976, he seemed to move
with more purpose, his shoulders didn't seem to be as stooped, he met our greetings with a direct gaze and a stronger "good morning" in return, and
he flashed his crooked smile more often. The squadron gleamed as always, but everyone now seemed to notice it more. Bill even got to know most of
us by our first names, something that didn't happen often at the Academy. While no one ever formally
acknowledged the change, I think we became Bill's cadets and his squadron. As often happens in life, events sweep
us away from those in our past. The last time I saw Bill was on graduation day in June 1977. As I walked out of the squadron for the
last time, he shook my hand and simply said, "Good luck, young man." With that, I embarked on a career that has been truly lucky and blessed.
Mr. Crawford continued to work at the Academy and eventually retired in his native Colorado where he resides today, one of four Medal of Honor
winners living in a small town. A wise person once said, "It's not life that's important, but those you meet along the way that make the
difference." Bill was one who made a difference for me. While I haven't seen Mr. Crawford in over twenty years, he'd probably be surprised to
know I think of him often. Bill Crawford, our janitor, taught me many valuable, unforgettable leadership lessons. Here are ten I'd like to
share with you.
-
Be Cautious of Labels. Labels you place on people may define your
relationship to them and bound their potential. Sadly, and for a long time, we labeled Bill as just a janitor, but he was so much more.
Therefore, be cautious of a leader who callously says, "Hey, he's just an
Airman." Likewise, don't tolerate the O-1, who says, "I can't do that,
I'm just a lieutenant."
-
Everyone Deserves Respect. Because we hung the "janitor" label on
Mr. Crawford, we often wrongly treated him with less respect than others
around us. He deserved much more, and not just because he was a Medal of
Honor winner. Bill deserved respect because he was a janitor, walked among us, and was a part of our team.
-
Courtesy Makes a Difference. Be courteous to all around you,
regardless of rank or position. Military customs, as well as common courtesies, help bond a team. When our daily words to Mr. Crawford
turned from perfunctory "hellos" to heartfelt greetings, his demeanor and
personality outwardly changed. It made a difference for all of us.
-
Take Time to Know Your People. Life in the military is hectic, but
that's no excuse for not knowing the people you work for and with. For
years a hero walked among us at the Academy and we never knew it. Who
are the heroes that walk in your midst?
-
Anyone Can Be a Hero. Mr. Crawford certainly didn't fit anyone's
standard definition of a hero. Moreover, he was just a private on the
day he won his Medal. Don't sell your people short, for any one of them
may be the hero who rises to the occasion when duty calls. On the other
hand, it's easy to turn to your proven performers when the chips are down, but don't ignore the rest of the team. Today's rookie could and
should be tomorrow's superstar.
-
Leaders Should Be Humble. Most modern day heroes and some leaders
are anything but humble, especially if you calibrate your "hero meter" on
today's athletic fields. End zone celebrations and self-aggrandizement
are what we've come to expect from sports greats. Not Mr. Crawford-he
was too busy working to celebrate his past heroics. Leaders would be well-served to do the same.
-
Life Won't Always Hand You What You Think You Deserve. We in the
military work hard and, dang it, we deserve recognition, right? However,
sometimes you just have to persevere, even when accolades don't come your
way. Perhaps you weren't nominated for junior officer or airman of the
quarter as you thought you should - don't let that stop you.
-
Don't pursue glory; pursue excellence. Private Bill Crawford didn't
pursue glory; he did his duty and then swept floors for a living. No Job
is Beneath a Leader. If Bill Crawford, a Medal of Honor winner, could
clean latrines and smile, is there a job beneath your dignity? Think about it.
-
Pursue Excellence. No matter what task life hands you, do it well.
Dr. Martin Luther King said, "If life makes you a street sweeper, be the
best street sweeper you can be." Mr. Crawford modeled that philosophy
and helped make our dormitory area a home.
Life is a Leadership Laboratory. All too often we look to some
school or PME class to teach us about leadership when, in fact, life is a leadership laboratory. Those you meet everyday will teach you enduring
lessons if you just take time to stop, look and listen. I spent four years at the Air Force Academy, took dozens of classes, read hundreds of
books, and met thousands of great people. I gleaned leadership skills from all of them, but one of the people I remember most is Mr. Bill
Crawford and the lessons he unknowingly taught. Don't miss your opportunity to learn. Bill Crawford was a janitor. However, he was also
a teacher, friend, role model and one great American hero. Thanks, Mr. Crawford, for some valuable leadership lessons.
And now, for the rest of the story.........
Pvt William John Crawford was a platoon scout for 3rd Platoon of Company L 142nd Regiment 36th Division (Texas National Guard) and won the Medal
Of Honor for his actions on Hill 424, just 4 days after the invasion at Salerno. You can read his citation at
www.army.mil/cmh-pg/mohiia1.htm.
On Hill 424, Pvt Crawford took out 3 enemy machine guns before darkness fell, halting the platoon's advance. Pvt Crawford could not be found and
was assumed dead. The request for his MOH was quickly approved. MG Terry Allen presented the posthumous MOH to Bill Crawford's father,
George, on 11 May 1944 in Camp (now Fort) Carson, near Pueblo. Nearly two months after that, it was learned that Pvt Crawford was alive in a
POW camp in Germany. During his captivity, a German guard clubbed him with his rifle. Bill overpowered him, took the rifle away, and beat the
guard unconscious. A German doctor's testimony saved him from severe punishment, perhaps death. To stay ahead of the advancing Russian army,
the prisoners were marched 500 miles in 52 days in the middle of the German winter, subsisting on one potato a day. An allied tank column
liberated the camp in the spring of 1945, and Pvt Crawford took his first hot shower in 18 months on VE Day. Pvt Crawford stayed in the army
before retiring as a MSG and becoming a janitor. In 1984, President Ronald Reagan officially presented the MOH to Bill Crawford. |
