[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 175 (Tuesday, December 6, 2016)]
[House]
[Pages H7245-H7246]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
COLONEL DEMAS T. CRAW VA CLINIC
Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (S. 3492) to designate the Traverse City VA Community-
Based Outpatient Clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs in
Traverse City, Michigan, as the ``Colonel Demas T. Craw VA Clinic''.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
S. 3492
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. DESIGNATION OF COLONEL DEMAS T. CRAW VA CLINIC IN
TRAVERSE CITY, MICHIGAN.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
(1) Demas T. Craw was born on April 9, 1900, in Long Lake
Township, Michigan.
(2) While residing in Traverse City, Michigan, Demas T.
Craw enlisted in the United States Army at Columbus Barracks,
Ohio, on April 18, 1918, and trained with the 12th Cavalry at
Camp Stanley, Texas.
(3) Colonel Craw achieved the position of senior pilot and
was awarded--
(A) the Medal of Honor for action in North Africa;
(B) the World War I Victory Medal;
(C) the World War II Victory Medal;
(D) the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal;
(E) the Mexican Service Medal;
(F) the American Defense Service Medal;
(G) the Purple Heart;
(H) the Royal Order of George I; and
(I) the Observer Badge.
(4) Colonel Craw's citation for the Medal of Honor said,
``For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action above
and beyond the call of duty. On November 8, 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
insistence 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.''.
(5) Colonel Craw was killed in action on November 8, 1942,
while attempting to deliver a message to broker a cease fire
with France.
(b) Designation.--The Traverse City VA Community-Based
Outpatient Clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs in
Traverse City, Michigan, shall after the date of the
enactment of this Act be known and designated as the
``Colonel Demas T. Craw VA Clinic''.
(c) Reference.--Any reference in any law, regulation, map,
document, paper, or other record of the United States to the
community-based outpatient clinic referred to in subsection
(b) shall be considered to be a reference to the Colonel
Demas T. Craw VA Clinic.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Tennessee (Mr. Roe) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Takano) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Tennessee.
General Leave
Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all
Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their
remarks and add extraneous material.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Tennessee?
There was no objection.
Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 3492, a bill to designate
the Department of Veterans Affairs Community-Based Outpatient Clinic in
Traverse City, Michigan, as the Colonel Demas T. Craw VA Clinic.
I thank the bill's sponsor, Senator Gary Peters from Michigan, for
his efforts in introducing this bill.
I also want to thank my colleague, friend, and the chairman of the
Subcommittee on Health, Congressman Dan Benishek, from Michigan, for
his work on the House side to ensure that Colonel Craw is honored.
Demas T. Craw was born and raised in Long Lake Township, Michigan. He
enlisted in the United States Army at just 18 years old and went to
serve both in World War I and World War II, eventually earning the
position of senior pilot. Colonel Craw served our country valiantly
until he was tragically killed in combat.
In 1942, Colonel Craw volunteered to accompany the leading wave of
assault boats to shore in Operation Torch, the Allied invasion of north
Africa. The mission was to pass through the enemy lines to locate the
French commander with a view to suspending hostilities. Sadly, during
the course of that mission, Colonel Craw was instantly killed by a
sustained burst of machine-gun fire at pointblank range from a
concealed position near the road.
During his illustrious time in the Army, Colonel Craw accumulated
numerous awards, including the World
[[Page H7246]]
War I Victory Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, and the Purple
Heart. He also received our Nation's highest honor, the Medal of Honor,
for his valiant actions in north Africa.
Colonel Demas Craw was a Michigan native and Traverse City resident
who served our country with courage. It is only appropriate that the
community-based outpatient clinic in Traverse City be named in his
honor.
S. 3492 satisfies the committee's naming criteria and is supported by
the Michigan congressional delegation as well as numerous veterans
organizations, including the Disabled American Veterans, the Veterans
of Foreign Wars of the United States, and the American Legion.
Once again, I am grateful to Congressman Benishek for sponsoring the
companion to this legislation. I urge all of my colleagues to join me
in supporting it.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I rise today in support of this legislation sponsored by my
colleague, Dr. Benishek. This bill will name the Traverse City,
Michigan, Community-Based Outpatient Clinic the Colonel Demas T. Craw
VA Clinic.
Colonel Craw had a distinguished military career. He dropped out of
high school to enlist in the Army during World War I. He was furloughed
and discharged when the war ended, but he soon reenlisted. After being
promoted to corporal, he continued to work to advance in the Army. He
earned an appointment to West Point in 1920 and graduated in 1924 as a
second lieutenant.
After being assigned to the Army Air Corps, then First Lieutenant
Craw served around the world and the United States. Upon entering World
War II, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel and assigned to north
Africa in 1942. On his last mission, Colonel Craw volunteered to
approach the French forces to negotiate a ceasefire when Allied forces
began their assault.
Colonel Craw earned the Medal of Honor for his actions on his last
mission. As the citation reads:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action above
and beyond the call of duty . . . Colonel 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 . . . Encountering
heavy fire . . . Colonel Craw, accompanied by one officer and
one soldier, succeeded in landing on the beach under constant
strafing from three enemy planes. Riding toward French
headquarters, progress of the party was hindered by fire from
U.S. naval guns. Nearing his destination, Colonel Craw was
instantly killed by a sustained burst of machine-gun fire at
pointblank range from a concealed position near the road.
Not only was Colonel Craw awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions,
but the officer accompanying him, Major Pierpont M. Hamilton, who was
captured before ultimately succeeding in suspending the hostilities,
was also awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in this mission.
I am honored to support this bill to name the VA facility in Traverse
City, Michigan, the Colonel Demas T. Craw VA Clinic.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, it is indeed an honor to yield 3
minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Benishek), a great friend
and colleague.
Mr. BENISHEK. Mr. Speaker, I thank Dr. Roe.
I rise today in support of legislation to name the Traverse City VA
Clinic after Colonel Demas T. Craw, a Medal of Honor recipient from my
district in Traverse City.
As I soon will be retiring from Congress, I quickly want to say that
it has been quite an honor for me to work with the chairman, Jeff
Miller, and all the members of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee
over the last 6 years. It hasn't been an easy fight, but I believe we
have made real progress toward a better VA for the men and women who
have fought for our freedom.
This sacred work must continue, as they still deserve much better. I
have faith that the next chairman of the committee, my friend, Dr. Phil
Roe, will be able to continue this progress and break new ground in the
fight for our Nation's heroes.
I have been very pleased to assist in the effort to honor Colonel
Craw in the House, along with a dedicated team of veterans and
patriotic citizens. Led by retired Lieutenant Colonel Terry Hawn and
Dr. Dan Lathrop, they worked to gather the over 2,000 signatures needed
and build support within the community to honor this truly deserving
local hero.
Born near Traverse City in 1900, Colonel Craw served in the U.S. Army
during both world wars. As a United States Army Air Forces officer in
World War II, he served as a U.S. adviser to the Royal Air Force prior
to American entry to the war, and was captured and interned by German
forces for 6 weeks in 1941.
He was killed in action, described previously, on November 8, 1942,
after volunteering to lead a dangerous and, ultimately, successful
mission behind enemy lines. He received the Medal of Honor posthumously
for ``conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action above and beyond
the call of duty.''
We couldn't have done this without the support of the entire Michigan
congressional delegation, as well as the Grand Traverse Area Veterans
Coalition, the American Legion Department of Michigan, the Veterans of
Foreign Wars of Michigan, and many other veteran service organizations.
I want to thank Senator Gary Peters for introducing the Senate
version of this legislation that we are considering today.
I urge my colleagues to help honor this American hero and pass S.
3492.
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers.
Before I close, I want to offer a word of praise and affection for my
good friend Dr. Benishek for his long service to this body and to the
committee. I also want to congratulate his intrepidity for saying the
word ``intrepidity'' on the floor of the House.
I am very pleased to support this legislation, and I encourage my
colleagues to join me in passing S. 3492.
I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
In closing, it is a great privilege for all of us to be here on the
floor of this incredible House to speak. We would not be able to do
that if it weren't for the heroics of people like Colonel Craw and the
sacrifice that he and his family made.
We are entering the Christmas season, and I think about our Armed
Forces that are stationed around the world, young men and women today,
that are out there protecting our Nation's freedoms and others'
freedoms. So it is a great honor--and I think one of the things that I
have enjoyed doing the most--naming and hearing about the incredible
heroics of some of these men and women that have been before us. I want
to encourage all Members to support this legislation wholeheartedly.
I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Roe) that the House suspend the rules and
pass the bill, S. 3492.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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