World War II Medal of Honor Recipient. He received the award posthumously on May 26, 1944, for his actions as a 2nd Lieutenant with the 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, U.S. Army, on July 11, 1943, near Favoratta, Sicily. Born in Scotland, he emigrated with his family to the U.S., settling in Toledo, Ohio. He entered the U.S. Army in February 1941 and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant. In July 1943, while participating with the Allied Forces in Operation Husky, he was killed in a firefight with Italian soldiers, for which he was awarded the Medal of Honor, The U.S. Army ship, USAT Lt. Robert Craig, was named in his honor.
His Medal of Honor citation reads, "For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidly at the risk of life, and above the call of duty, on 11 July 1943 at Favoratta, Sicily, Sec. Lieut. Robert Craig. Infantry, United States Army. Lieutenant Craig voluntarily undertook the perilous task of locating and destroying a hidden enemy machine gun which had halted the advance of his company. Attempts by three other officers to locate the weapon had resulted in failure, with each officer receiving wounds. Lieutenant 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 three crew members with his carbine. With this obstacle removed, his company continued its advance. Shortly thereafter, while advancing down the forward slope on a ridge, Lieutenant 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 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 five and wounded three enemy soldiers. While the hostile forces concentrated fire on him, his platoon reached the cover of the crest. Lieutenant 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 forces."
His Medal of Honor citation reads, "For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidly at the risk of life, and above the call of duty, on 11 July 1943 at Favoratta, Sicily, Sec. Lieut. Robert Craig. Infantry, United States Army. Lieutenant Craig voluntarily undertook the perilous task of locating and destroying a hidden enemy machine gun which had halted the advance of his company. Attempts by three other officers to locate the weapon had resulted in failure, with each officer receiving wounds. Lieutenant 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 three crew members with his carbine. With this obstacle removed, his company continued its advance. Shortly thereafter, while advancing down the forward slope on a ridge, Lieutenant 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 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 five and wounded three enemy soldiers. While the hostile forces concentrated fire on him, his platoon reached the cover of the crest. Lieutenant 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 forces."
World War II Medal of Honor Recipient. He received the award posthumously on May 26, 1944, for his actions as a 2nd Lieutenant with the 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, U.S. Army, on July 11, 1943, near Favoratta, Sicily. Born in Scotland, he emigrated with his family to the U.S., settling in Toledo, Ohio. He entered the U.S. Army in February 1941 and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant. In July 1943, while participating with the Allied Forces in Operation Husky, he was killed in a firefight with Italian soldiers, for which he was awarded the Medal of Honor, The U.S. Army ship, USAT Lt. Robert Craig, was named in his honor.
His Medal of Honor citation reads, "For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidly at the risk of life, and above the call of duty, on 11 July 1943 at Favoratta, Sicily, Sec. Lieut. Robert Craig. Infantry, United States Army. Lieutenant Craig voluntarily undertook the perilous task of locating and destroying a hidden enemy machine gun which had halted the advance of his company. Attempts by three other officers to locate the weapon had resulted in failure, with each officer receiving wounds. Lieutenant 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 three crew members with his carbine. With this obstacle removed, his company continued its advance. Shortly thereafter, while advancing down the forward slope on a ridge, Lieutenant 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 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 five and wounded three enemy soldiers. While the hostile forces concentrated fire on him, his platoon reached the cover of the crest. Lieutenant 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 forces."
His Medal of Honor citation reads, "For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidly at the risk of life, and above the call of duty, on 11 July 1943 at Favoratta, Sicily, Sec. Lieut. Robert Craig. Infantry, United States Army. Lieutenant Craig voluntarily undertook the perilous task of locating and destroying a hidden enemy machine gun which had halted the advance of his company. Attempts by three other officers to locate the weapon had resulted in failure, with each officer receiving wounds. Lieutenant 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 three crew members with his carbine. With this obstacle removed, his company continued its advance. Shortly thereafter, while advancing down the forward slope on a ridge, Lieutenant 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 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 five and wounded three enemy soldiers. While the hostile forces concentrated fire on him, his platoon reached the cover of the crest. Lieutenant 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 forces."
Bio by: William Bjornstad
Inscription
IN MEMORY OF
LT. ROBERT CRAIG
HOLDER OF CONGRESSIONAL
MEDAL OF HONOR
KILLED AT FAVORATTA-SICILY
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