Robert Craig
Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army
Medal of Honor Recipient
World War II

Second Lieutenant Robert Craig (1919 - 11 July 1943) was a U.S. Army Infantry officer who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions during the Allied invasion of Sicily in World War II.

Robert Craig was born in Scotland in 1919 to William Craig, Sr. and Jane Craig (nee Montgomery). He had two siblings; William Craig, Jr. and Jane M. Craig; all three children were born in Scotland and emigrated with their parents to the U.S. where they settled in Toledo, OH.

Military Service

Craig entered the Army at Toledo, OH, during World War II and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant of infantry. He then served with the 15th Infantry of the Third Infantry Division.

On 11 July 1943 while leading troops in Operation Husky, the Allied invasion of Sicily, Craig set out to destroy an Italian Army machine gun nest that had halted the advance of his company, making his attempt following the wounding of three other officers who had tried to locate and silence that machine gun emplacement. Craig located the enemy position and snaked his way to a point within 35 yards of the gun before being discovered. Charging into the answering fire, Craig reached the machine gun and killed its three crewmen.

Shortly thereafter, as his company advanced further, Craig and his platoon, in a position devoid of cover and concealment on the forward (downhill) slope of a ridge, encountered the fire of approximately 100 enemy soldiers. Craig ordered his men to withdraw to the cover of the crest while he drew the enemy fire to himself, charging the enemy until he was within 25 yards of them. From a kneeling position, he killed five and wounded three enemy soldiers while providing the covering fire enabling his platoon to reach the cover of the crest. Although Lt. Craig was killed by enemy fire, his men carried on and his example is credited with spurring them to victory. For his heroic actions, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.

Medal of Honor

Rank and organization: Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army, 15th Infantry, 3rd Infantry Division.

Place and date: Near Favoratta, Sicily, 11 July 1943.

Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life, above and beyond the call of duty, on 11 July 1943 at Favoratta, Sicily. 2d Lt. Craig voluntarily undertook the perilous task of locating and destroying a hidden enemy machinegun which had halted the advance of his company. Attempts by 3 other officers to locate the weapon had resulted in failure, with each officer receiving wounds. 2d Lt. Craig located the gun and snaked his way to a point within 35 yards of the hostile position before being discovered. Charging headlong into the furious automatic fire, he reached the gun, stood over it, and killed the 3 crew members with his carbine. With this obstacle removed, his company continued its advance. Shortly thereafter while advancing down the forward slope of a ridge, 2d Lt. Craig and his platoon, in a position devoid of cover and concealment, encountered the fire of approximately 100 enemy soldiers. Electing to sacrifice himself so that his platoon might carry on the battle, he ordered his men to withdraw to the cover of the crest while he drew the enemy fire to himself. With no hope of survival, he charged toward the enemy until he was within 25 yards of them. Assuming a kneeling position, he killed 5 and wounded 3 enemy soldiers. While the hostile force concentrated fire on him, his platoon reached the cover of the crest. 2d Lt. Craig was killed by enemy fire, but his intrepid action so inspired his men that they drove the enemy from the area, inflicting heavy casualties on the hostile force.

Honors

During construction of the Interstate highway system, a drawbridge along Interstate 280 crossing the Maumee River at Toledo, OH, was named the Craig Memorial Bridge in his honor.

The U.S. Army ship USAT Lt. Robert Craig which operated in the Pacific Ocean at the end of World War II was named in his honor.

Death and Burial

Second Lieutenant Robert Craig was killed in action on 11 July 1943. He is buried at Toledo Memorial Park in Sylvania, Lucas County, OH.