[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 87 (Thursday, June 10, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1067-E1068]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     IN HONOR AND REMEMBRANCE OF CHARLES CRADDOCK, AN AMERICAN HERO

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                         HON. RODNEY ALEXANDER

                              of louisiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 10, 2010

  Mr. ALEXANDER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and remember 
Charles Craddock, a World War II Veteran and Prisoner of War. I offer 
most heartfelt thanks to Mr. Craddock for his selfless and heroic 
service to our nation and dedication to preserving our freedoms. It is 
with great appreciation that I share his story in hopes of inspiring 
today's generation of young men and women to live with the same sense 
of duty and purpose.
  In April of 1943, Mr. Craddock was drafted and sent to Ft. Sill, 
Okla., then to Fort Polk, La., for basic training. From there, he was 
transferred into the Air Force Cadet program and took basic training 
and classification at Sheppard Field, Texas. After completing basic 
training, he was sent to pre-flight training at Butler University in 
Indianapolis, Ind. He was then sent to Fort Bragg, N.C., for combat 
training in the infantry, then to Fort Meade, Md., and Fort Dix, N.J., 
for further training.
  After D-Day, Mr. Craddock traveled to Omaha Beach and joined units of 
the 3rd Army near Nancy, France. Mr. Craddock was assigned to the 137th 
D Infantry Regiment of the 35th Division. The first two weeks his unit 
spent in a defensive position, and then began a drive to the German 
border.
  After two months, his group made it to the border at Sarrguimens. 
They crossed the Bliss River at night to take some high ground. Five of 
the soldiers, including Mr. Craddock, in the company were picked to go 
on patrol to see what lay ahead. They were captured behind the German 
lines during this patrol.
  It was hard getting to the POW camp near Stuttgart, as the Air Force 
was all around. Most of the distance was covered by walking at night. 
After spending about a month in Stuttgart, the American forces were 
driving into this area from southern France, so the prisoners were led 
into box cars for a miserable trip to the next POW camp at Luckenwald. 
This train trip lasted about four days and nights for the train would 
not move during the day for fear of the American Air Force.
  During this trip, they never let the POWs out of the box cars and 
gave them very little food or water. After spending about two months in 
Luckenwald, the prisoners were broken up in small groups and marched 
for two days to a camp known as Altengrabow. Once again, in two months, 
they were told they had to move, and walked through the city of Berlin, 
which was in ruins from the American and British Air Force bombings.
  The group was sent to a small camp west of Berlin, where every night 
they watched the bombings of the city. They were given no news, but 
sensed the war was coming to an end.
  One morning, near the end of April 1945, they were told to move 
again. They marched about a day and then spent the night in a barn. 
During the night, the German guards left. A Russian patrol came by the 
next day, and escorted them to the American lines on the Elbe River. 
That was on May 8, 1945, almost six months after being captured.
  For his truly brave and fearless service, Mr. Craddock received the 
following decorations: Combat Infantry Badge, Bronze Star, European 
Theater with two Battle Stars, and Good Conduct.
  Our country and many more around the world are the beneficiaries of 
his courage and vigilance. On May 16, 2010, America lost a hero with 
the passing of Mr. Craddock. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join 
me in paying tribute to Charles Craddock and extending thanks from a 
grateful nation.

[[Page E1068]]



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