[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.

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