[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 12] [House] [Pages 15884-15885] [From the U.S. 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 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. [[Page 15885]] 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. ____________________