Craig, Harry Worthington

Born April 19, 1897, in Chicago, Illinois. Son of Norman and Katherine Austin Craig. Home, Cleveland, Ohio. Educated St. John's Military Academy, Delafield, Wisconsin; Cleveland East High School; and University of Wisconsin, Class of 1919. Joined American Field Service, January 8, 1917; attached Section Twelve until July 9, 1917. Croix de Guerre. Returned to America; enlisted in U. S. Aviation. Trained in France and Italy. Commissioned First Lieutenant; attached French Escadrille 129. Killed in combat, August 20, 1918. Croix de Guerre with palm. Buried French Cemetery, Pierrefonds, Oise. Body transferred to American Cemetery, Romagne-Sous- Montfaucon, Meuse.

Oh, it isn't in words that they show it --
Words are too feeble to tell what they feel;
It's down in their hearts that they know it,
It's down in their souls that it's real.
So they stick to their work as they find it,
And forget the caprices of Chance,
For they know that the price of the big sacrifice,
Is little enough --- for France!"

R.A.D.

WHEN the appeal came for volunteer ambulanciers in France, Harry Worthington Craig, then a sophomore in the State University of Wisconsin, was among the first to offer his services. He sailed with his group early in January, 1917, and for the next six months he lost --- and more truly found --himself, in the grim realities he encountered in that tattered, grimy, bleeding fringe of the war --- the zone of the ambulanciers. All of his fresh vigour, and sense of outraged justice he poured into that work with S. S. U. 12, in the sector near Esnes and the Bois d'Avocourt, and later, in the Châlons sector.

His complete indifference to personal danger he demonstrated time and again, and France acknowledged her appreciation of this unselfish and splendidly fearless service by decorating him early for bravery under fire.

Before his six months' enlistment had expired, America had entered the war, and upon completing his term as an ambulancier Craig returned to this country, only to go back to France, immediately, under our flag. He enlisted in aviation, completing his training, and receiving his commission as First Lieutenant only two months before his death.

Here, as in the ambulance service, he distinguished himself by his courage and loyalty, and was again honored by the French Army in being awarded the Croix de Guerre with palm. Even in this world strife, where the individual must, of necessity, be blotted out in the great scheme of things, his record stands high among those of individual achievement --- primarily because of the thoroughness and forgetfulness of self with which he shouldered his particular responsibilities.

Lieutenant Craig never allowed the bitterness of war and its appalling grimness to overcast the natural buoyancy of his nature. Perhaps one of his greatest contributions to the winning forces was this undaunted optimism and cheeriness of his. His pilot writes that he was loved by every member of his Esquadrille because he was always happy and smiling, kind and considerate to everyone. And a sunny spirit was more precious than bullets in those days.

Lieutenant Craig was born April 19, 1897, and was killed in an encounter with a German plane, August 20, 1918. He was buried with all military honor among his brave companions, the French officers, in a small cemetery in Pierrefonds. He attended St. John's Military Academy at Delafield, Wisconsin, graduated from East High School in Cleveland, Ohio, and was embarked on his college career at Madison, Wisconsin, when he responded to the call of France.

In the History of the American Field Service is this tribute to the men of S. S. U. 12, who made the final sacrifice --- a tribute by a fellow ambulancier, which is particularly applicable to Harry Craig:

"We render these men all due honor, and salute them as comrades who never faltered in their duty, and who were over-eager to accept service of any kind. They went to their deaths as men should, serving their country to the last moment."

• Tribute from Memorial Volume of the American Field Service, 1921