Everything about Robert Craig totally explained
United States Army Second Lieutenant Robert Craig (1919 - 1943) was awarded the
Medal of Honor for heroic service as an
infantry officer during the
Allied invasion of
Sicily in
World War II.
Early life
Robert Craig was born in
Scotland, emigrating with his family to the
United States and settling in
Toledo,
Ohio. He had two siblings; William Craig, Jr. and Jane M. Craig. All three children were born in Scotland and immigrated to the United States (Toledo) with their parents; William Craig, Sr. and Jane (Montgomery) Craig.
Military service
Craig entered the
United States Army during
World War II and was commissioned a
Second Lieutenant of
infantry. Lieutenant Craig served with the 15th Infantry of the
Third Infantry Division.
On
11 July 1943, during his service leading troops in
Operation Husky, the Allied invasion of Sicily, Craig set out to destroy an
Italian Army machine gun nest that had halted the advance of his
company, making his attempt following the wounding of three other officers who had tried to locate and silence that machine gun
emplacement. Craig located the enemy position and snaked his way to a point within 35 yards of the gun before being discovered. Charging into the answering fire, Craig reached the machine gun and killed its three crewmen.
Shortly thereafter, as his company advanced further, Craig and his
platoon, in a position devoid of cover and concealment on the forward (downhill) slope of a ridge, encountered the fire of approximately 100 enemy soldiers. Craig ordered his men to withdraw to the cover of the crest while he drew the enemy fire to himself, charging the enemy until he was within 25 yards of them. From a kneeling position, he killed five and wounded three enemy soldiers while providing the covering fire enabling his platoon to reach the cover of the crest. Lt. Craig was killed by enemy fire, but his men carried on. His example is credited with spurring them to victory.
Posthumous honors
On
26 May 1944, Lt. Craig was posthumously awarded the
Medal of Honor for "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life, above and beyond the call of duty."
During construction of the
Interstate highway system, a
drawbridge along
Interstate 280 crossing the
Maumee River at
Toledo, Ohio was named the
Craig Memorial Bridge in his honor.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Robert Craig'.
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