Colonel Demas Thurlow "Nick" Craw, an airman in the U.S. Army Air Corps, was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for gallantry on November 8, 1942 near Port Lyautey, French Morocco during World War II. At the time he was serving with XII Ground Air Support Command. Craw was 42 years old.
Craw was killed in the action for which his medal was awarded. 2 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day.
Craw was born on April 9, 1900 in Traverse City, Grand Traverse County, Michigan. His Medal of Honor is credited to Michigan. He is buried at Cremated ashes scattered over Weisbaden in Germany 24 June 1949.
Craw is one of 474 Medal of Honor recipients from World War II and one of 112 credited to Michigan.
Official Medal of Honor citation
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action above and beyond the call of duty. On 8 November 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 of 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 shellfire from shore batteries, Col. Craw, accompanied by one officer and one soldier, succeeded in landing on the beach at Mehdia Plage under constant low-level strafing from three 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 machine-gun fire at point- blank range from a concealed position near the road.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Wounds and death in action
- Killed in action during the act for which the medal was awarded (November 8, 1942).
- Age at death: 42
- Resting place: Cremated ashes scattered over Weisbaden
Other decorations and honors
Besides the Medal of Honor, Demas Thurlow "Nick" Craw received:
Source: Wikidata. Gold chips link to our guide to that decoration.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: World War II.
Life beyond the battlefield
- Education: Air Corps Tactical School, Traverse City Central High School, United States Military Academy
Source: Wikidata.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Michigan →
Timeline
- April 9, 1900Born in Traverse City, Grand Traverse County, Michigan
- November 8, 1942Act of valor — near Port Lyautey, French MoroccoAge 42. XII Ground Air Support Command Killed in action.
- Resting placeCremated ashes scattered over Weisbaden
Biography
Demas Thurlow "Nick" Craw (April 9, 1900 – November 8, 1942) was a United States Army Air Forces officer and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in World War II. Craw and Maj. Pierpont M. Hamilton were the first Army Air Forces recipients of the Medal in the European-Mediterranean theater of World War II and the only AAF members to be awarded that decoration for valor not involving air combat.
From the Wikipedia article “Demas T. Craw”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
