Louis A. Craig

Louis Aleck Craig Jr. was born at West Point, New York, on July 29, 1891,{{sfn|The Octofoil|pages=1, 3}} a son of a United States Army officer, Louis Aleck Craig, and Georgie (Malin) Craig.{{sfn|Who's Who|page=452}} His siblings included brother Malin Craig{{sfn|Philadelphia Inquirer (1984)|page=46}} and his paternal grandfather was James Craig.{{sfn|Planfield Courier-News (1944)|page=13}} After graduating from St. Luke's, a Catholic prep school in Wayne, Pennsylvania,{{sfn|Who's Who|page=452}} Craig attended the United States Military Academy (USMA).{{sfn|The Octofoil|pages=1, 3}} He received his commission as a second lieutenant of Cavalry after graduating in June 1913, ranked 56th of 93.{{sfn|The Octofoil|pages=1, 3}}{{sfn|Biographical Register (1920)|pages=1645–1646}} Several of his classmates also become general officers, including William R. Schmidt, Alexander Patch, Charles H. Corlett, Willis D. Crittenberger, Paul Newgarden, Lunsford E. Oliver, Geoffrey Keyes and Henry B. Lewis.{{sfn|Biographical Register (1950)|pages=165–176}}

File:Louis Aleck Craig Jr. (US Army Major General).jpg

After graduation, Craig was initially assigned to the 5th Cavalry Regiment and served at Fort Huachuca, Arizona, from October to December 1913, and Fort Myer, Virginia, from January to April 1914.{{sfn|The Octofoil|pages=1, 3}}{{sfn|Biographical Register (1920)|pages=1645–1646}} In March 1914 Craig transferred to the Coast Artillery Corps and was assigned to Fort Hamilton, New York. His subsequent assignments included Fort Howard, Maryland, and Fort Grant, Panama Canal Zone. In August 1916, Craig transferred from the Coast Artillery to the Field Artillery Branch{{sfn|Biographical Register (1920)|pages=1645–1646}} and served with the 4th Field Artillery Regiment at Corozal, Panama Canal Zone.{{sfn|The Octofoil|pages=1, 3}}

In April 1917 the U.S. entered World War I, and in June Craig returned to the United States and was assigned as an instructor for the officer training camp based at Madison Barracks, New York.{{sfn|Biographical Register (1920)|pages=1645–1646}} In August he was assigned to command a battery of the replacement battalion based in Syracuse, New York.{{sfn|The Octofoil|pages=1, 3}} The battalion sailed for France in November 1917 and upon arrival in December, Craig was assigned to the 5th Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Division. After serving as the regimental adjutant for the next three months, he was selected for attendance at the of the American Expeditionary Forces Staff College in Langres. After his May 1918 graduation, Craig was assigned to the staff of I Corps as assistant plans and training officer (assistant G-3).{{sfn|The Octofoil|pages=1, 3}}{{sfn|Biographical Register (1920)|pages=1645–1646}}

In June Craig was assigned to the 157th Field Artillery Brigade, 82nd Division, as its adjutant,{{sfn|Biographical Register (1920)|pages=1645–1646}} and the following month he was posted to the 4th Division as assistant G-3.{{sfn|The Octofoil|pages=1, 3}} From August to October, he was adjutant of the 4th Field Artillery Brigade, 4th Division, and from October to November he was assistant to the chief of artillery for the newly created Second Army.{{sfn|The Octofoil|pages=1, 3}}{{sfn|Biographical Register (1920)|pages=1645–1646}}

Following the Armistice of 11 November 1918 that ended the war, Craig served as chief of staff for the American Section of the Permanent International Armistice Commission in France.{{sfn|The Octofoil|pages=1, 3}} In February, 1919, he was posted to Trier, Germany to serve on the staff of the Army Center of Artillery Study.{{sfn|The Octofoil|pages=1, 3}} He served with the 17th Field Artillery Regiment at Ehrenbreitstein, Germany before returning to the United States with the regiment.{{sfn|The Octofoil|pages=1, 3}} He remained with the 17th Field Artillery at Camp Travis, San Antonio, Texas, until August, 1920, when he returned to the Coast Artillery Corps.{{sfn|The Octofoil|pages=1, 3}} Craig was then posted to Fort Barrancas, Florida, as adjutant, followed by assignment to Fort McPherson, Georgia, on the Fourth Corps Area staff.{{sfn|The Octofoil|pages=1, 3}}

Craig completed the advanced course for officers at Fort Sill, Oklahoma's Field Artillery School in 1923.{{sfn|The Octofoil|pages=1, 3}} He was then assigned as assistant professor of military science at Harvard University, where he remained until 1929, when he was selected for attendance at the United States Army Command and General Staff College.{{sfn|The Octofoil|pages=1, 3}} He graduated in 1931 and was assigned to Savannah, Georgia, as the senior instructor for the Georgia National Guard.{{sfn|The Octofoil|pages=1, 3}} From 1933 to 1936, Craig served as assistant inspector general for the Second Corps Area at Governors Island, New York, and he carried out a similar assignment for the Third Corps Area in Baltimore from 1936 to 1938.{{sfn|The Octofoil|pages=1, 3}} In 1938, Craig was nominated for attendance at the United States Army War College, and he graduated in 1939.{{sfn|The Octofoil|pages=1, 3}} He was then posted to Fort Sill as commander of 1st Battalion, 77th Field Artillery Regiment.{{sfn|The Octofoil|pages=1, 3}}

In July, 1941 Craig was assigned as commander of the 18th Field Artillery Regiment at Fort Sill.{{sfn|The Octofoil|pages=1, 3}} In February, 1942 Craig was promoted to brigadier general and assigned as commander of the 72nd Field Artillery Brigade at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.{{sfn|The Octofoil|pages=1, 3}} He was promoted to major general in February, 1943 as commander of the 97th Infantry Division at Camp Swift, Texas.{{sfn|The Octofoil|pages=1, 3}} In January, 1944 Craig was named to command the XXIII Corps at Camp Bowie, Texas.{{sfn|The Octofoil|pages=1, 3}} In August, 1944, he was assigned to command the 9th Infantry Division during combat in France.{{sfn|The Octofoil|pages=1, 3}}

File:Major General Louis A. Craig 2.jpg

Under his command, the 9th Infantry Division conducted offensive operations in France and Belgium and crossed the Meuse River at Dinant.{{sfn|The Octofoil|pages=1, 3}} The 9th Division then penetrated the Siegfried Line near Monschau, then drove to the Rur River between Langerwehe and Düren.{{sfn|The Octofoil|pages=1, 3}} During the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944-January 1945, the 9th Infantry Division held the left shoulder of the "Bulge" near Monschau.{{sfn|The Octofoil|pages=1, 3}} The division then took part in the drive to capture the Rur River dams, then continued to drive to the Rhine River near Bonn.{{sfn|The Octofoil|pages=1, 3}} In March, 1945 Craig commanded all US troops at the Remagen Bridgehead until they resumed the offensive, including the 99th, 78th, and 9th Infantry Divisions.{{sfn|The Octofoil|pages=1, 3}} When the 9th Infantry Division resumed its offensive, it continued to the Ruhr Pocket and the Harz Mountains, then made contact with Soviet forces east of the Mulde River at the end of April.{{sfn|The Octofoil|pages=1, 3}}

File:Army Secretary Frank Pace Major Generals Roy Parker Louis Craig 1952.jpg congratulates Generals Roy H. Parker and Louis Craig upon their retirements.]]

In May, 1945 Craig was named to command the XX Corps in Germany.{{sfn|The Octofoil|pages=1, 3}} From June to July, 1945 Craig was commander of Third United States Army.{{sfn|The Octofoil|pages=1, 3}} In October he was named to command the Seventh Service Command based in Omaha, Nebraska.{{sfn|The Octofoil|pages=1, 3}} In February, 1946 he was assigned to command the Sixth Service Command in Chicago.{{sfn|The Octofoil|pages=1, 3}} When Fifth United States Army was activated on June 11, 1946, Craig was appointed as its deputy commander.{{sfn|The Octofoil|pages=1, 3}}

File:Major General Louis A. Craig 1.jpg during Congressional testimony about possible irregularities at the Army's finance center]]

From August, 1947 to April, 1948 Craig was inspector general of the United States European Command.{{sfn|The Octofoil|pages=1, 3}} In April and May 1948, he served as commander of the United States Constabulary in Germany.{{sfn|The Octofoil|pages=1, 3}} In July, 1948 Craig was appointed Inspector General of the Army, and he served until retiring in May 1952.{{sfn|The Octofoil|pages=1, 3}}

Craig was a recipient of the Army Distinguished Service Medal for his World War II service.{{sfn|The Octofoil|pages=1, 3}} His additional decorations included the Silver Star, the Legion of Merit, and the Bronze Star Medal.{{sfn|The Octofoil|pages=1, 3}}{{sfn|Biographical Register (1950)|page=171}} Craig's foreign awards for World War I included the Distinguished Service Order (Great Britain), Legion of Honor (Chevalier) (France); Croix de Guerre with palm (France); Croix de Guerre with palm (Belgium); Order of the Crown (Officer) (Belgium),{{sfn|Biographical Register (1920)|pages=1645–1646}} and Order of Abdon Calderón (Ecuador).{{sfn|The Octofoil|pages=1, 3}} His World War II foreign awards included the Legion of Honor (Officer) (France); Croix de Guerre with palm (France), Croix de Guerre with Palm (Belgium), Order of the Patriotic War First Class (USSR),{{sfn|Uncommon Allies|page=95}} and Czechoslovak War Cross.{{sfn|The Octofoil|pages=1, 3}}

Craig's dates of promotion were:{{sfn|The Octofoil|pages=1, 3}}

• Second lieutenant, June 12, 1913{{sfn|Biographical Register (1920)|pages=1645–1646}}
• First lieutenant, July 1, 1916{{sfn|Biographical Register (1920)|pages=1645–1646}}
• Captain, May 15, 1917{{sfn|Biographical Register (1920)|pages=1645–1646}}
• Major (temporary), July 3, 1918{{sfn|Biographical Register (1920)|pages=1645–1646}}
• Lieutenant colonel (temporary), November 12, 1918{{sfn|Biographical Register (1920)|pages=1645–1646}}
• Captain, June 30, 1920{{sfn|Biographical Register (1930)|pages=988–989}}
• Major, July 1, 1920{{sfn|Biographical Register (1930)|pages=988–989}}
• Lieutenant colonel, August 1, 1935{{sfn|Biographical Register (1940)|page=267}}
• Colonel (temporary), June 26, 1941{{sfn|Biographical Register (1950)|page=171}}
• Brigadier general (temporary), February 16, 1942{{sfn|Biographical Register (1950)|page=171}}
• Colonel, July 1, 1942{{sfn|Biographical Register (1950)|page=171}}
• Major general (temporary), February 4, 1943{{sfn|Biographical Register (1950)|page=171}}
• Brigadier general, October 1, 1946{{sfn|Biographical Register (1950)|page=171}}
• Major general, January 24, 1948{{sfn|Biographical Register (1950)|page=171}}

Craig died in Washington, D.C., on January 3, 1984.{{sfn|Philadelphia Inquirer (1984)|page=46}} He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery, Section 30, Grave 10651-1-LH.{{sfn|"Burial Record, Louis A. Craig"}}

In 1917, Craig married Miriam Blount (1894–1987).{{sfn|Who's Who|page=452}} They were the parents of eight children – Louis Aleck; Miriam Malin; Barbara Gwynn; William Blount; Mary Faith; Francis Washington; Constance Anne; and Michael Frederick.{{sfn|Who's Who|page=452}}{{sfn|Philadelphia Inquirer (1984)|page=46}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite news |date=April 10, 1944 |title=Mrs. Stout Dies, Sister of Gen. Craig |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-news-helen-stout/148967155/ |work=Plainfield Courier-News |location=Plainfield, NJ |via=Newspapers.com |ref={{sfnRef|Planfield Courier-News (1944)}}}}
• {{cite news |editor1-last=Tingley |editor1-first=Charles O. |date=April–May 1952 |title=Maj. Gen. Louis A. Craig Retires After 39 Years Of Military Service |url=https://www.holycross.edu/sites/default/files/files/libraryarchives/octofoil_7_4_5_1952_april_may.pdf |work=The Octofoil |publisher= 9th Infantry Division Association |location=Washington, DC |ref={{sfnRef|The Octofoil}}}}
• {{cite news |date=January 6, 1984 |title=Deaths Elsewhere: Maj. Gen. Louis A. Craig |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-philadelphia-inquirer-craig/155566621/ |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |location=Philadelphia, PA |via=Newspapers.com |ref={{sfnRef|Philadelphia Inquirer (1984)}}}}

• {{cite book |last=Cullum |first=George W. |author-link=George Washington Cullum |editor-last=Robinson |editor-first=Wirt|url=https://digital-library.usma.edu/digital/collection/p16919coll3/id/17366 |title=Biographical Register of the Officers and Graduates of the U.S. Military Academy |date=1920 |volume=VI-B |pages=1645–1646 |publisher=Seemann & Peters |location=Saginaw, MI |access-date=2024-09-11 |ref={{sfnRef|Biographical Register (1920)}} |via=West Point Digital Library}}
• {{cite book |last=Cullum |first=George W. |author-link=George Washington Cullum |editor-last=Donaldson |editor-first=Wm. H. |url=https://digital-library.usma.edu/digital/collection/p16919coll3/id/23313/rec/7 |title=Biographical Register of the Officers and Graduates of the U.S. Military Academy |date=1930 |volume=VII |publisher=R. R. Donnelley & Sons Company, The Lakeside Press |location=Chicago, IL, Crawfordsville, IN |access-date=2024-09-18 |ref={{sfnRef|Biographical Register (1930)}} |via=West Point Digital Library}}
• {{cite book |last=Cullum |first=George W. |author-link=George Washington Cullum |editor-last=Farman |editor-first=E. E. |url=https://digital-library.usma.edu/digital/collection/p16919coll3/id/18242/rec/3 |title=Biographical Register of the Officers and Graduates of the U.S. Military Academy |date=1940 |volume=VIII |publisher=R. R. Donnelley & Sons Company, The Lakeside Press |location=Chicago, IL, Crawfordsville, IN |access-date=2024-09-18 |ref={{sfnRef|Biographical Register (1940)}} |via=West Point Digital Library}}
• {{cite book |last=Cullum |first=George W. |author-link=George Washington Cullum |editor-last=Branham |editor-first=Charles N. |url=https://digital-library.usma.edu/digital/collection/p16919coll3/id/20766/rec/2 |title=Biographical Register of the Officers and Graduates of the U.S. Military Academy |date=1950 |volume=IX |publisher=The Association of Graduates, U.S. Military Academy |location=West Point, NY |access-date=2024-09-18 |ref={{sfnRef|Biographical Register (1950)}} |via=West Point Digital Library}}
• {{citation |last=Empric |first=Bruce E. |title=Uncommon Allies: U.S. Army Recipients of Soviet Military Decorations in World War II |publisher=Teufelsberg Press |year=2024|isbn=979-8-3444-6807-5 |ref={{sfnRef|Uncommon Allies}}}}
• {{cite book |last=Marquis |first=Albert Nelson |date=1944 |title=Who's Who in America |volume=23 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UYd0uMDTfwMC&q=%22craig,+louis+a%22+miriam+blount |location=Chicago, IL |publisher=A. N. Marquis and Company |page=452 |author-link=Albert Nelson Marquis |via=Google Books |ref={{sfnRef|Who's Who}}}}

• {{cite web |url=https://ancexplorer.army.mil/publicwmv/#/arlington-national/search/results/1/CgVjcmFpZxIFbG91aXMaAWE-/ |title=Burial Record, Louis A. Craig |website=Arlington National Cemetery |publisher=Office of Army Cemeteries |location=Arlington, VA |access-date=September 24, 2024 |ref={{sfnRef|"Burial Record, Louis A. Craig"}}}}

• [http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/lacraigjr.htm Louis Aleck Craig Jr.] at ArlingtonCemetery.net, an unofficial website
• [https://generals.dk/general/Craig/Louis_Aleck/USA.html Generals of World War II]

{{Inspectors General of the United States Army}}

{{s-start}}

{{s-mil}}

{{s-bef|before=Newly activated organization}}

{{s-ttl|title=Commanding General 97th Infantry Division|years=1943–1944}}

{{s-aft|after=Milton B. Halsey}}

|-

{{s-bef|before=Newly activated organization}}

{{s-ttl|title=Commanding General XXIII Corps|years=January–July 1944}}

{{s-aft|after=James I. Muir}}

|-

{{s-bef|before=Manton S. Eddy}}

{{s-ttl|title=Commanding General 9th Infantry Division|years=1944–1945}}

{{s-aft|after=Jesse A. Ladd}}

|-

{{s-bef|before=Walton Walker}}

{{s-ttl|title=Commanding General XX Corps|years=May–September 1945}}

{{s-aft|after=Horace L. McBride}}

|-

{{s-bef|before=Withers A. Burress}}

{{s-ttl|title=Commanding General United States Constabulary|years=April–May 1948}}

{{s-aft|after=Isaac D. White}}

|-

{{s-bef|before=Ira T. Wyche}}

{{s-ttl|title=Inspector General of the United States Army|years=1948–1952}}

{{s-aft|after=Daniel Noce}}

{{s-end}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Craig, Louis A.}}

Category:1891 births

Category:1984 deaths

Category:United States Army Cavalry Branch personnel

Category:United States Military Academy alumni

Category:United States Army Command and General Staff College alumni

Category:United States Army War College alumni

Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (US Army)

Category:Recipients of the Silver Star

Category:Recipients of the Legion of Merit

Category:Officers of the Legion of Honour

Category:American recipients of the Croix de Guerre 1914–1918 (France)

Category:American recipients of the Croix de Guerre 1939–1945 (France)

Category:American recipients of the Croix de guerre (Belgium)

Category:Officers of the Order of the Crown (Belgium)

Category:Recipients of the Czechoslovak War Cross

Category:Burials at Arlington National Cemetery

Category:United States Army personnel of World War I

Category:United States Army generals of World War II

Category:United States Army generals

Category:Harvard University faculty

Category:Military personnel from New York (state)