United States Army Second Lieutenant Robert Craig was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for heroic service as an infantry officer during the invasion of Sicily in World War II. The United States Army is the largest branch of the United States armed forces and has primary responsibility for land-based military operations. ... Second Lieutenant is the lowest commissioned rank in many armed forces. ... For the computer game, see Medal of Honor (computer game). ... Infantry of the Royal Irish Rifles during the Battle of the Somme in World War I. Infantry are soldiers who fight primarily on foot with small arms in organized military units, though they may be transported to the battlefield by horses, ships, automobiles, skis, or other means. ... An officer is a member of a military or naval service who holds a position of responsibility. ... The decision to invade Sicily was agreed by the Western Allies at the Casablanca Conference in January 1943. ... Combatants Major Allied powers: United Kingdom Soviet Union United States Republic of China and others Major Axis powers: Nazi Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Harry Truman Chiang Kai-Shek Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tojo Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead...

Early life

Robert Craig was born in Scotland, emigrating with his family to the United States and settling in Toledo, Ohio. Motto: (Latin for No one provokes me with impunity)1 Anthem: Multiple unofficial anthems Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow Official language(s) English, Gaelic, Scots 2 Government Constitutional monarchy  - Queen Queen Elizabeth II  - Prime Minister of the UK Tony Blair MP  - First Minister Jack McConnell MSP Unification    - by Kenneth I... Nickname: The Glass City Location in the state of Ohio Country United States State Ohio County Lucas Mayor Carty Finkbeiner (D) Area    - City 217. ... Official language(s) None Capital Columbus Largest city Columbus Largest metro area Cleveland Area  Ranked 34th  - Total 44,825 sq mi (116,096 km²)  - Width 220 miles (355 km)  - Length 220 miles (355 km)  - % water 8. ...

Military service

Craig entered the United States Army during World War II and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant of infantry. Lt. Craig served with the 15th Infantry of the Third Infantry Division. The United States Army is the largest branch of the United States armed forces and has primary responsibility for land-based military operations. ... Combatants Major Allied powers: United Kingdom Soviet Union United States Republic of China and others Major Axis powers: Nazi Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Harry Truman Chiang Kai-Shek Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tojo Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead... Second Lieutenant is the lowest commissioned rank in many armed forces. ... Infantry of the Royal Irish Rifles during the Battle of the Somme in World War I. Infantry are soldiers who fight primarily on foot with small arms in organized military units, though they may be transported to the battlefield by horses, ships, automobiles, skis, or other means. ... Many armies have or have had a 3rd Infantry Division. ...

On 11 July 1943, during his service 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. July 11 is the 192nd day (193rd in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 173 days remaining. ... Combatants United States United Kingdom Canada Germany Italy Commanders Harold Alexander Alfredo Guzzoni Strength  ? 365,000 Italians 40,000Germans Casualties USA: 2,237 killed 6,544 wounded British: 2,721 killed 10,122 wounded Canada: 562 killed 1,848 wounded Total:23,934 Casualties Germany: ? killed ? wounded Italy: ? killed ? wounded... Ariete Tanks of the Italian Ariete Tank Brigade on exercise Three Bersaglieri ride in a Dardo The Italian Army has recently become a professional all-volunteer force of 112,000 active duty personnel. ... A machine gun is a fully-automatic firearm that is capable of firing bullets in rapid succession. ... A company is a military unit, typically consisting of 100-200 soldiers. ...

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. Lt. Craig was killed by enemy fire, but his men carried on. His example is credited with spurring them to victory. ^[1] Platoon is a term from military science. ...

Posthumous honors

On 26 May 1944, Lt. Craig was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life, above and beyond the call of duty." ^[1] May 26 is the 146th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (147th in leap years). ... For the computer game, see Medal of Honor (computer game). ...

During construction of the Interstate highway system, a drawbridge along Interstate 280 crossing the Maumee River at Toledo, Ohio was named the Craig Memorial Bridge in his honor. The Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, commonly called the Interstate Highway System, is a network of freeways in the United States. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Bascule bridge. ... Interstate 280 is the name of four distinct spur routes of Interstate 80 in the United States. ... The Maumee River at Grand Rapids, Ohio. ... Nickname: The Glass City Location in the state of Ohio Country United States State Ohio County Lucas Mayor Carty Finkbeiner (D) Area    - City 217. ...

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Congressional Medal of Honor Citation for Robert Craig. United States Army (1944-05-26). Retrieved on 2006-12-11.