JOHN R. CRAIG, LCDR, USN
John Craig '30
Lucky Bag
From the 1930 Lucky Bag:
JOHN RICH CRAIG
Jacksonville, Florida
"Jack"
JACK hails from the sunny South—Jacksonville, Florida—and, as yet, will neither confirm nor deny the report that the city was named after him. At any rate, the call of the sea was too great for him to resist, and, accordingly, he entered the Naval Academy.
The first part of Plebe year slipped by uneventfully—and then ! Well, anyhow—'twas the night before the Army game at Chicago.
With this additional inspiration, Jack has always had an easy time with his studies. How we have envied his carefree writing of the letter during the evening study period!
His afternoons are taken up with his year around sport—gym—and it can truly be said that Jack has never been a member of the Radiator Club. Day after day one can find him working faithfully in the gymnasium, as a member of the gym team should.
All in all, this light-haired, blue-eyed son of the South had made a host of friends with his quiet manner and splendid character. A man among men—Jack—we wish you the best o'luck in your chosen career—and great happiness with the wearer of that miniature.
Gym 4, 3, 2, 1, c30t, cNAt; Class Soccer 3; 1 P.O.
JOHN RICH CRAIG
Jacksonville, Florida
"Jack"
JACK hails from the sunny South—Jacksonville, Florida—and, as yet, will neither confirm nor deny the report that the city was named after him. At any rate, the call of the sea was too great for him to resist, and, accordingly, he entered the Naval Academy.
The first part of Plebe year slipped by uneventfully—and then ! Well, anyhow—'twas the night before the Army game at Chicago.
With this additional inspiration, Jack has always had an easy time with his studies. How we have envied his carefree writing of the letter during the evening study period!
His afternoons are taken up with his year around sport—gym—and it can truly be said that Jack has never been a member of the Radiator Club. Day after day one can find him working faithfully in the gymnasium, as a member of the gym team should.
All in all, this light-haired, blue-eyed son of the South had made a host of friends with his quiet manner and splendid character. A man among men—Jack—we wish you the best o'luck in your chosen career—and great happiness with the wearer of that miniature.
Gym 4, 3, 2, 1, c30t, cNAt; Class Soccer 3; 1 P.O.
Loss
John was lost when USS Grampus (SS 207) was lost on war patrol, probably by Japanese destroyers on March 5, 1943. He had been the boat's commanding officer since September 6, 1942.
Other Information
From researcher Kathy Franz:
In 1920, John was a delegate from the Jacksonville Council of the Boy Scouts to the International Scout contests in England, France and Belgium for two months. His passport stated he was 13 years old, 4’ 9” tall, blue eyes, straight nose, blonde hair and fair complexion.
On July 2, 1931 he married Lillian Hyde in Pensacola. She also graduated from Duval High school. Their daughter was Lillian.
In 1920, his father James A. was a haberdasher who owned his own shop, mother Clarabelle, sister Lydia and brother James.
From USS John R. Craig (DD 855) Reunion Association:
Lieutenant Commander John Rich Craig was born in Jacksonville, Florida on September 3, 1906. He attended grade schools in Jacksonville and the Duval High School, then entered the U. S. Naval Academy from Florida in 1926. After graduation and commissioning in 1930, he was assigned to USS SARATOGA and served in her until March 1931, when he was ordered to Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida. He was detached from duty there in September 1931 and during the next four and one half years served successively on the carrier LEXINGTON, and destroyers NOA, SIMPSON, and LONG and the fleet oilier NECHES. In January 1936 he reported to the Submarine Base, New London, Connecticut for instruction in submarines. After completing the course’s in May 1936, he joined USS S-34 in Honolulu. In September 1937, he was transferred to USS S-24, serving in her until May 1938, when he returned to the United States.
Lieutenant Commander Craig had duty in the Bureau of Navigation, Navy Department, Washington, D. C. from June 1938 until December 1940, when he assumed command of USS R-17. In June 1942, he was ordered to duty on the staff of Commander, Submarines, Southwest Pacific, and on September 15, 1942, he assumed command of USS GRAMPUS. He was declared missing in action on March 22, 1943 when USS Grampus (SS 207) was lost in the Southwest Pacific area. LCDR Craig was declared dead on March 23, 1944.
Lieutenant Commander Craig was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously. He had received the American Defense Service Medal, Fleet Clasp, and the Asiatic-Pacific Area Campaign Medal.
From the now-broken link http://www.fleetorganization.com/subcommandersclassyear2.html:
- Duty Detail Section Officer Personnel Division Bureau of Navigation 1938 - Dec 1940
- Captain USS R-17 (SS-94) Jan 1940 - 9 Mar 1942
- Staff Commander Submarines Southwest Pacific Jun 1942 - Sep 1942
- Captain USS Grampus (SS-207) 23 Sep 1942 - Feb 1943
- Lieutenant 30 Jun 1937
- Lieutenant Commander (T) 1 Jan 1942
- Lieutenant Commander 30 Jun 1942
- Commander (T) 15 Oct 1942
His wife was listed as next of kin.
Photographs
From the Tampa Bay Times on June 17, 1945
John's passport photograph, age 13
From Hall of Valor:
The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Lieutenant Commander John Rich Craig (NSN: 0-63273), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. GRAMPUS (SS-207), during the FOURTH and FIFTH War Patrols of that submarine during the period 2 October 1942 to 19 January 1943, in enemy controlled waters of the Solomon Islands Area. Despite the great mental and physical strain of prolonged patrols in enemy-controlled waters, Lieutenant Commander Craig launched repeated, daring attacks on Japanese shipping, sinking two enemy transports and one cargo ship, totaling 24,000 tons, and damaging three enemy destroyers. His efficient and inspiring leadership and the loyal devotion to duty of the men under his command throughout the period made possible the successful accomplishment of a vital and hazardous mission. Through his experience and sound judgment Lieutenant Commander Craig brought his ship safely back to port. His conduct throughout was an inspiration to his officers and men and in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
General Orders: Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 315 (June 1943)
Service: Navy
Rank: Lieutenant Commander
Namesake
USS John R. Craig (DD 885) was named for John; the ship was sponsored by his widow.
Related Articles
James Craig '22 was John's brother.
The "Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps" was published annually from 1815 through at least the 1970s; it provided rank, command or station, and occasionally billet until the beginning of World War II when command/station was no longer included. Scanned copies were reviewed and data entered from the mid-1840s through 1922, when more-frequent Navy Directories were available.
The Navy Directory was a publication that provided information on the command, billet, and rank of every active and retired naval officer. Single editions have been found online from January 1915 and March 1918, and then from three to six editions per year from 1923 through 1940; the final edition is from April 1941.
The entries in both series of documents are sometimes cryptic and confusing. They are often inconsistent, even within an edition, with the name of commands; this is especially true for aviation squadrons in the 1920s and early 1930s.
Alumni listed at the same command may or may not have had significant interactions; they could have shared a stateroom or workspace, stood many hours of watch together… or, especially at the larger commands, they might not have known each other at all. The information provides the opportunity to draw connections that are otherwise invisible, though, and gives a fuller view of the professional experiences of these alumni in Memorial Hall.
October 1930
LT William Sample '19 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 2B)
LTjg Walter Leach, Jr. '24 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 6B)
LTjg Creighton Lankford '25 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 1B)
LTjg Carlton Hutchins '26 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 6B)
LTjg Charles Signer '26 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 6B)
LTjg Robert Symes '27 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 2B)
LTjg Renwick Calderhead '27 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 2B)
LTjg John Eldridge, Jr. '27 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 2B)
LTjg Julian Greer '27 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 6B)
ENS Weldon Hamilton '28 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 2B)
January 1931
LT William Sample '19 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 2B)
LTjg Walter Leach, Jr. '24 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 6B)
LTjg Creighton Lankford '25 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 1B)
LTjg Carlton Hutchins '26 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 6B)
LTjg Charles Signer '26 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 6B)
LTjg Robert Symes '27 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 2B)
LTjg Renwick Calderhead '27 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 2B)
LTjg John Eldridge, Jr. '27 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 2B)
LTjg Julian Greer '27 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 6B)
ENS Weldon Hamilton '28 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 2B)
April 1931
LT Irving Wiltsie '21
LTjg Matthias Marple, Jr. '23
LTjg Robert Larson '24
LTjg James McDonough '24
LTjg John Waldron '24
LTjg Charles McDonald '24
LTjg Richard Moss '24
LTjg John Duke '26
LTjg James Averill '27
LTjg William Potts '27
July 1931
LT Irving Wiltsie '21
LTjg Matthias Marple, Jr. '23
LTjg Robert Larson '24
LTjg James McDonough '24
LTjg Charles McDonald '24
LTjg Richard Moss '24
LTjg Carlton Hutchins '26
LTjg Charles Signer '26
LTjg John Duke '26
LTjg William Potts '27
October 1931
LTjg John Waldron '24 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
LTjg Richard Downer '27 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
LTjg Elmer Cooper '27 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 1B)
LTjg John Riggs, Jr. '28 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 1B)
ENS Henry Twohy '29 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
ENS John Yoho '29 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
January 1932
LTjg John Waldron '24 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
1LT Donald Willis '24 (Scouting Squadron 15-M)
LTjg Richard Downer '27 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
LTjg Elmer Cooper '27 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 1B)
LTjg John Riggs, Jr. '28 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 1B)
ENS Henry Twohy '29 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
ENS John Yoho '29 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
April 1932
LTjg John Waldron '24 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
1LT Donald Willis '24 (Scouting Squadron 15-M)
LTjg Richard Downer '27 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
LTjg Elmer Cooper '27 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 1B)
LTjg John Riggs, Jr. '28 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 1B)
ENS Henry Twohy '29 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
ENS John Yoho '29 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
July 1933
October 1933
April 1934
July 1934
October 1934
January 1935
April 1935
October 1935
January 1936
April 1936
July 1936
January 1937
April 1937
September 1937
July 1938
January 1939
October 1939
June 1940
November 1940
April 1941
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