World War II Honoree

Demas T. Craw

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Traverse City, Michigan

Honored By

Ralph Bozorth

WAS POSTHUMOUSLY AWARDED THE CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR. COLONEL, U.S. ARMY AIR CORPS. PLACE AND DATE: NEAR PORT LYAUTEY, FRENCH MOROCCO, NOVEMBER 8, 1942. ENTERED SERVICE AT: MICHIGAN. CITATION: 'FOR CONSPICUOUS GALLANTRY AND INTREPIDITY IN ACTION ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY. ON 8 NOVEMBER 1942, NEAR PORT LYAUTEY, FRENCH MOROCCO, 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. THIS REQUEST WAS FIRST REFUSED AS BEING TOO DANGEROUS BUT UPON THE OFFICER'S INS1STENCE 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, COLONEL 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, COLONEL CRAW WAS INSTANTLY KILLED BY A SUSTAINED BURST OF MACHINE-GUN FIRE AT POINT BLANK RANGE FROM A CONCEALED POSITION NEAR THE ROAD.'