[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 163 (2017), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 16610-16611]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING THE LIFE OF FALLEN MISSISSIPPI SOLDIER ARMY PRIVATE FIRST 
                     CLASS (PFC) CHRISTOPHER McCRAW

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TRENT KELLY

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 25, 2017

  Mr. KELLY of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in memory of 
Private First Class (PFC) Christopher McCraw, who paid the ultimate 
sacrifice while defending our great nation on October 14, 2008, during 
Operation Iraqi Freedom. PFC McCraw was killed by wounds sustained when 
he encountered small arms fire while on dismounted patrol in Nasar Wa 
Salam, Baghdad. PFC McCraw was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 21st 
Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield 
Barracks, Hawaii.
  PFC McCraw, a Columbia, Mississippi native, joined the Army in 
February 2006 and went to Basic Training at Fort Benning, Georgia where 
he graduated in June 2006. He deployed to Iraq in December of 2007. 
According to the Associated Press, PFC McCraw is remembered by his 
friends and family for having a jovial sense of humor. Wendy Bracey, 
PFC McCraw's Sunday school teacher described him as, ``a charmer, an 
all-around, happy-go-lucky kid.'' His father, Avon, recalled that their 
last conversation was over the phone, and that at the time PFC McCraw 
was laughing and in good spirits.
  PFC McCraw was laid to rest at Foxworth Cemetery, located in Marion 
County. According to the Associated Press, PFC McCraw's uncle, Jerry 
McCraw, remembers him as, ``always a happy kid, a bursting-with-energy-
type kid, I guess what you would call a perfect soldier.''
  PFC McCraw was awarded the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star, and the 
Good Conduct medal.
  PFC McCraw is survived by his parents, Avon McCraw and Cathy McCraw; 
his uncle, Jerry McCraw; his son, Issac; and his fiancee Brianna Bell.

[[Page 16611]]

  PFC McCraw proudly served our nation to protect the freedoms we all 
enjoy. His service will always be remembered.

                          ____________________