James Jim Craig

These awards are based on the information below and per applicable DoD Directives and Awards Manuals:
Purple Heart Medal Awarded to any member of the Armed Forces of the United States who, while serving under competent authority in any capacity with one of the U.S. Armed Forces, after April 5, 1917, has been wounded, killed, or who has died or may hereafter die of wounds received in action against an enemy of the United States.
U.S. Army Good Conduct Medal Awarded for exemplary behavior, efficiency, and fidelity in active Federal military service. It is awarded on a selective basis to each Soldier who distinguishes himself or herself from among his or her fellow Soldiers by their exemplary conduct, efficiency, and fidelity throughout a specified period of continuous enlisted active Federal military service.
American Campaign Service Medal Awarded for military service within the American Theater between December 7, 1941 and March 2, 1946.
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal Awarded for military service for service within the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater between December 7, 1941 and November 8, 1945.
World War II Victory Medal Awarded for military service between December 7, 1941 and December 31, 1946, both dates inclusive.
 Note that this list may not include all awarded medals, devices, unit citations or qualification badges.
 **It is likely but unconfirmed that PFC Craig was awarded the Army Good Conduct Medal.

Documents, Forms and Resources Found or Not Found:
Yes Application For Headstone or Marker, OQMG Form 623
No  Eyewitness Statement or Report
Yes Grave Marker Photo(s), Find A Grave
Yes National Archives Database, Enlistment Records
No  Official Regiment or Division After Action Report
No  Photo of veteran
Yes Washington Newspaper Obit, Notice, or Report
Yes WWII Draft Card Data
Yes WWII Hospital Admission Records

WWII Draft Card Data
James Jim Craig
Race, Gender: White Male  -  Age: 18
Birth Date: January 2, 1925  -  Birth Place: Tacoma, Washington
Residence Place: Tacoma, Pierce County, Washington
Registration Date: January 2, 1943  -  Registration Place: Washington State
Employer: Sea Tac Ship Corp
Weight: 170, Height: 5' 11"
Complexion: Light
Eye Color: Brown   -  Hair Color: Brown
Next of Kin: Lillian Craig
Members of Household: James Jim Craig, Self
Lillian Craig, Mother

WWII Hospital Admission Records
Two Records Found, First Record:
Name: James J. Craig
Race: White, includes Mexican
Rank: Enlisted Man
Admission Age: 19
Birth Date: abt 1925
Admission Date: September 1944
Discharge Date: November 1944
Military Branch: Infantry, General or Unspecified
Diagnosis:
  First Location: Forearm;
  Causative Agent: Bullet, Rifle
Type of Injury: Casualty, battle
Medical Treatment:
  Closure of wound, delayed (suture, secondary to wound) (delayed closure)
Injured in Line of Duty: In line of duty
Type of Discharge: Duty
Length of Service: 3 years - 0 Months
Service Number: 3920 9010

Two Records Found, Second Record:
Name: James J. Craig
Race: White, includes Mexican
Rank: Enlisted Man
Admission Date: December 1944
Discharge Date: December 1944
Military Branch: Infantry, General or Unspecified
Diagnosis:
Diagnosis:
  First Location: Thorax, generally;
  Second Location: Shoulder;
  Causative Agent: Artillery Shell, Fragments, Afoot or unspecified;
Injury Type: Casualty, battle
Injured in Line of Duty: In line of duty
Type of Discharge: Died
Service Number: 3920 9010

Note 1: The death location, "In Luxembourg" is based on the best information available at this time. In the case of PFC Craig, this location was estimated on:

A. His Application For Headstone or Marker, OQMG Form 623, identifies his assigned unit as Company F, 318th Infantry Regiment, 80th Infantry Division.

B. Hospital Admission Records indicate that PFC Craig was wounded in the forearm by small arms fire during September 1944 and returned to duty on November 14th.

C. At the time PFC Craig was wounded a second time in December 1944, the 80th Infantry Division was conducting combat operations in support of the Battle of the Bulge.

D. A newspaper on his Find-A-Grave listing states that he died December 23 in an army hospital of wounds received in Luxembourg.

E. Further information on the 318th Infantry Regiment and the 80th Infantry Division can be found at the Wikipedia website 80th Infantry Division.

Anyone with additional information or a more specific location is welcomed and encouraged to submit an email to: ww2updates@withmilitaryhonors.com.

The following information on this casualty is sourced from The National Archives Database:
 Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, ca. 1938 - 1946 (Enlistment Records) No Records Found

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