[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 39 (Thursday, April 11, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E503-E504]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     IN HONOR OF MR. THOMAS A. CRAIGG, JR., SERGEANT, USMC RETIRED

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. WALTER B. JONES

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 11, 2002

  Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to stand 
before you and my colleagues today as I talk to you about a man who, in 
accordance with his great service to our nation, will receive two 
honors that have been years in coming.
  In 1940, Mr. Thomas Craigg enlisted in the Marine Corps. When War 
broke out in 1941, Private First Class Thomas Craigg was on the 
Philippine Island of Luzon and Marines were under Army command 
distributed along the Bataan Peninsula.
  On the morning of February 24, 1942, ``the Commanding Officer of 
Charlie Battery, mounted a patrol of 75 Marines and Sailors to 
investigate an enemy Japanese force. The patrol encountered an enemy, 
which was far superior in number and well equipped troops with heavy 
machine guns and supporting mortars. The Commanding Officer dispatched 
a runner to the nearest antiaircraft battery for reinforcements with 
instructions for the gun captain to report to the commanding officer's 
position on the bluff overlooking Lapiay Point. Private First Class 
Craigg arrived with his 13-man squad and engaged two enemy gun 
emplacements, which had the main body pinned down and were dropping 
mortar and howitzer rounds among the patrol. With complete disregard 
for his personal safety, Private First Class Craigg repeatedly exposed 
himself to

[[Page E504]]

enemy fire providing clear and concise guidance to his squad and 
effectively eliminated one gun position. He laid down covering fire, 
which enabled the patrol to disengage from the main enemy force and 
withdraw to another position.''
  Following Private First Class Craigg's heroic actions, his Commanding 
Officer informed him that he was going to officially recommend him for 
the Silver Star Medal. Unfortunately, Mr. Craigg's Commanding Officer 
was killed in action before this recommendation could be made. 
Thankfully, Mr. Speaker, while Mr. Craigg's Commanding Officer could no 
longer retell the story of his courageous actions that Day in 1942, 
others never forgot what he did, and as a result, I am proud to say 
that on March 30th, Mr. Craigg will be awarded the Silver Star Medal 
for ``extraordinary heroism in the face of extreme danger.''
  Amazingly enough Mr. Speaker, Mr. Craigg's story does not end here. 
Shortly after this battle, Private First Class Craigg would be captured 
by Japanese forces on the Bataan Peninsula only to escape a short time 
later and make his way via boat to the island of Corregidor where he 
would engage the enemy in battle once again.
  After 28 days of further fighting however, the Marines and Sailors on 
Corregidor were ordered to surrender and they were taken back to Bataan 
where Private First Class Craigg would survive the infamous Bataan 
death march. Mr. Craigg was eventually sent on a brutal trip to Japan 
where he would spend more than two years working in coal mines while 
enduring severe starvation and beatings. As a result of the beatings he 
received, Mr. Craigg will also be receiving his third award of the 
Purple Heart on March 30th.
  Despite his traumatic experience as a prisoner of war, Mr. Craigg 
returned to the ranks and participated in the historic American 
invasion at Inchon, Korea with the 7th Marine Regiment. In October of 
1963, Mr. Craigg retired from the United States Marines Corps with the 
rank of Gunnery Sergeant.
  After his retirement, Mr. Craigg's passion for the armed service did 
not wane. He became very involved in his local chapter of the Disabled 
American Veterans and from 1981-1983 served as State Commander.
  Though born in Arkansas, Mr. Craigg made the wise decision of 
marrying a North Carolinian, the late Anne Toler. The Craigg family 
also includes 5 children: Beverly, Joan, David, Carroll Wayne and 
Thomas III. Mr. Craigg now resides in Jacksonville, which is also 
fittingly the home of Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune.
  There are few words to aptly praise the courage, sacrifice, and heart 
it takes to serve his country the way Mr. Craigg did during his twenty-
two years in the United States Marine Corps. As an American, I am 
deeply grateful for the sacrifices made all those years ago. As a man, 
I am awed by Mr. Craigg's dedication to his community, his country, 
and, of course, his family. And as a United States Congressman, I am 
humbled by the privilege of being allowed the opportunity to share the 
accomplishments of Gunnery Sergeant Thomas A. Craigg, Jr.
  We salute you, Mr. Craigg. Your most recent awards have been a long 
time in coming, but it is well deserved. God Bless you!

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