Demas T. Craw
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| Demas Thurlow Craw | |
|---|---|
| April 9, 1900 – November 8, 1942 (aged 42) | |
 Demas T. Craw, Medal of Honor recipient |
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| Place of birth | Traverse City, Michigan |
| Place of death | near Port Lyautey, French Morocco |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/branch | United States Army Air Forces |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Battles/wars | World War II *Operation Torch |
| Awards | Medal of Honor |
Demas Thurlow Craw (April 9, 1900 – November 8, 1942) was a United States Army Air Forces officer and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in World War II.
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[edit] Biography
Craw joined the Army from his birth state of Michigan and by November 8, 1942 had risen to the rank of colonel. On that day, he participated in Operation Torch, the Allied invasion of French North Africa. He volunteered to go behind enemy lines and meet with the French commander near Port Lyautey, French Morocco, to broker a cease fire. After landing on the beach under hostile fire, Craw, his interpreter Major Pierpont M. Hamilton, and a driver approached the French headquarters in a light truck. They came under machine gun fire, leaving Craw dead and Hamilton captured. Craw was awarded the Medal of Honor four months later, on March 4, 1943, for his part in the mission. Although imprisoned, Hamilton succeeded in persuading the French to surrender; he was also awarded the Medal of Honor in 1943.
[edit] Medal of Honor citation
Colonel Craw's official Medal of Honor citation reads:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action above and beyond the call of duty. On 8 November 1942, near Port Lyautey, French Morocco, Col. Craw volunteered to accompany the leading wave of assault boats to the shore and pass through the enemy lines to locate the French commander with a view to suspending hostilities. This request was first refused as being too dangerous but upon the officer's ins1stence that he was qualified to undertake and accomplish the mission he was allowed to go. Encountering heavy fire while in the landing boat and unable to dock in the river because of shell fire from shore batteries, Col. Craw, accompanied by 1 officer and 1 soldier, succeeded in landing on the beach at Mehdia Plage under constant low-level strafing from 3 enemy planes. Riding in a bantam truck toward French headquarters, progress of the party was hindered by fire from our own naval guns. Nearing Port Lyautey, Col. Craw was instantly killed by a sustained burst of machinegun fire at pointblank range from a concealed position near the road.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- Medal of Honor Recipients - World War II (A-F). Medal of Honor Citations. U.S. Army Center of Military History (July 16, 2007). Retrieved on 2008-02-19.
