PUBLIC LAW 114–276—DEC. 14, 2016 130 STAT. 1407 

Public Law 114–276 

114th Congress 

An Act 

To designate the Traverse City VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinic of the 

Department of Veterans Affairs in Traverse City, Michigan, as the ‘‘Colonel Demas 

T. Craw VA Clinic’’. 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 

the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

SECTION 1. DESIGNATION OF COLONEL DEMAS T. CRAW VA CLINIC 

IN TRAVERSE CITY, MICHIGAN. 

(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following: 

(1) Demas T. Craw was born on April 9, 1900, in Long 

Lake Township, Michigan. 

(2) While residing in Traverse City, Michigan, Demas T. 

Craw enlisted in the United States Army at Columbus Barracks, Ohio, on April 18, 1918, and trained with the 12th 

Cavalry at Camp Stanley, Texas. 

(3) Colonel Craw achieved the position of senior pilot and 

was awarded— 

(A) the Medal of Honor for action in North Africa; 

(B) the World War I Victory Medal; 

(C) the World War II Victory Medal; 

(D) the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign 

Medal; 

(E) the Mexican Service Medal; 

(F) the American Defense Service Medal; 

(G) the Purple Heart; 

(H) the Royal Order of George I; and 

(I) the Observer Badge. 

(4) Colonel Craw’s citation for the Medal of Honor said, 

‘‘For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action above and 

beyond the call of duty. On November 8, 1942, near Port 

Lyautey, French Morocco, Col. Craw volunteered to accompany 

the leading wave of assault boats to the shore and pass through 

the enemy lines to locate the French commander with a view 

to suspending hostilities. This request was first refused as 

being too dangerous but upon the officer’s insistence that he 

was qualified to undertake and accomplish the mission he 

was allowed to go. Encountering heavy fire while in the landing 

boat and unable to dock in the river because of shell fire 

from shore batteries, Col. Craw, accompanied by 1 officer and 

1 soldier, succeeded in landing on the beach at Mehdia Plage 

under constant low-level strafing from 3 enemy planes. Riding 

in a bantam truck toward French headquarters, progress of 

the party was hindered by fire from our own naval guns. 

Nearing Port Lyautey, Col. Craw was instantly killed by a 

Dec. 14, 2016 

[S. 3492] 


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130 STAT. 1408 PUBLIC LAW 114–276—DEC. 14, 2016 

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S. 3492: 

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 162 (2016): 

Dec. 1, considered and passed Senate. 

Dec. 6, considered and passed House. 

Æ 

sustained burst of machinegun fire at pointblank range from 

a concealed position near the road.’’. 

(5) Colonel Craw was killed in action on November 8, 

1942, while attempting to deliver a message to broker a cease 

fire with France. 

(b) DESIGNATION.—The Traverse City VA Community-Based 

Outpatient Clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Traverse 

City, Michigan, shall after the date of the enactment of this Act 

be known and designated as the ‘‘Colonel Demas T. Craw VA 

Clinic’’. 

(c) REFERENCE.—Any reference in any law, regulation, map, 

document, paper, or other record of the United States to the community-based outpatient clinic referred to in subsection (b) shall be 

considered to be a reference to the Colonel Demas T. Craw VA 

Clinic. 

Approved December 14, 2016. 


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