[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3492 Enrolled Bill (ENR)]
S.3492
One Hundred Fourteenth Congress
of the
United States of America
AT THE SECOND SESSION
Begun and held at the City of Washington on Monday,
the fourth day of January, two thousand and sixteen
An Act
To designate the Traverse City VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinic of
the Department of Veterans Affairs in Traverse City, Michigan, as the
``Colonel Demas T. Craw VA Clinic''.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. DESIGNATION OF COLONEL DEMAS T. CRAW VA CLINIC IN TRAVERSE
CITY, MICHIGAN.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
(1) Demas T. Craw was born on April 9, 1900, in Long Lake
Township, Michigan.
(2) While residing in Traverse City, Michigan, Demas T. Craw
enlisted in the United States Army at Columbus Barracks, Ohio, on
April 18, 1918, and trained with the 12th Cavalry at Camp Stanley,
Texas.
(3) Colonel Craw achieved the position of senior pilot and was
awarded--
(A) the Medal of Honor for action in North Africa;
(B) the World War I Victory Medal;
(C) the World War II Victory Medal;
(D) the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal;
(E) the Mexican Service Medal;
(F) the American Defense Service Medal;
(G) the Purple Heart;
(H) the Royal Order of George I; and
(I) the Observer Badge.
(4) Colonel Craw's citation for the Medal of Honor said, ``For
conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action above and beyond
the call of duty. On November 8, 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 to 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 shell fire from shore batteries, Col. 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, Col. Craw was instantly killed by a sustained burst
of machinegun fire at pointblank range from a concealed position
near the road.''.
(5) Colonel Craw was killed in action on November 8, 1942,
while attempting to deliver a message to broker a cease fire with
France.
(b) Designation.--The Traverse City VA Community-Based Outpatient
Clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Traverse City,
Michigan, shall after the date of the enactment of this Act be known
and designated as the ``Colonel Demas T. Craw VA Clinic''.
(c) Reference.--Any reference in any law, regulation, map,
document, paper, or other record of the United States to the community-
based outpatient clinic referred to in subsection (b) shall be
considered to be a reference to the Colonel Demas T. Craw VA Clinic.
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Vice President of the United States and
President of the Senate.