PFC JERRY P CRAIG's Obituary
PFC Jerry Pat Craig was 17 years and 11 months old when he was killed in action on the Eastern Shore of the Chosin Reservoir, "Heartbreak Ridge" North Korea on December 2, 1950. His Regimental Combat Team was attacked and overwhelmed by superior numbers of Chinese soldiers and the RCT was forced into a fighting withdrawal to more defensible positions south of the reservoir. Private Jerry Craig was one of the many men later reported as Missing In Action on December 2, 1950 as a result of the battle. His remains were exchanged by the Chinese and North Koreans in 1953, declared dead, and unidentified. In 1956 they were interred in Punch Bowl National Memorial Cemetery, Honolulu, Hawaii until his identification in September, 2013.
Born in Panhandle, Texas on December 19, 1932. He was a member of the Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 7th Division of the United States Army.. His name is engraved on the Courts of the Missing at the American Battle Monument in the Honolulu Memorial. Many people don't know that the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines each have a branch of Mortuary Service that are still looking for unaccounted soldiers to bring home from World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm and Iraq/Afghanistan. There are nine government agencies that are involved in this pursuit.
PFC Jerry Pat Craig was awarded the Purple Heart and Good Conduct Medals posthumously.
PFC Craig was preceded in death by his Parents: Carrie Dell Anderson Craig, Thomas Thaddeus (T.T.) Craig; Siblings: Thomas Craig, Royce Craig, Maureen Craig Bates, Millie Moline Cook, Leona Killingsworth, Ruby Craig, and Henry Madison Craig. 8 nieces and nephews : Velvinolita Cook, Filbert Cook, Beverly Cook, Tommy Craig, Ronnie Craig, Kenneth Craig, James Craig.
He is survived by nieces and nephews: Anita Clark Fields-Gold of Lake Charles, LA, Eleanor Tucker Grubbs of Perry, Florida, Mid Ray Clark of Fair Acres, NM. Richard Tucker of Colorado Springs, CO, Dale Craig, Margaret Craig and Louise Craig of North Texas and a host of Great nephews and nieces.
It is the families desire to honor PFC Craig with a hero’s homecoming. They are asking everyone to show their American Patriotism by lining the funeral procession route to show our support for this True American Hero, who gave his life while defending our freedom.
The funeral procession will leave the Labby Memorial Funeral Home Chapel in Leesville at 1:30 pm., Thursday, December 19th, it will travel north on 171 then turn right on East Mechanic street, right onto Third Street then will turn left on University Parkway and travel to the Central Louisiana Veterans Cemetery.
A graveside service will be held at 2:00 pm Thursday, December 19th, (what would have been PFC Craig’s 81st birthday) at the Central Louisiana Veterans Cemetery, with full military honors.
Visitation will be from 9 am until 4 pm Wednesday, December 18th and then 9 am until 1 pm Thursday at the Labby Memorial Funeral Home Chapel in Leesville.
Visitation and Funeral services are all open to the public.
What’s your fondest memory of PFC?
What’s a lesson you learned from PFC?
Share a story where PFC's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with PFC you’ll never forget.
How did PFC make you smile?