A bill 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".
PL 114-276 (S.3492), enacted 12/14/2016

130 STAT. 1407 
PUBLIC LAW 114–276—DEC. 14, 2016 
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 Bar-
racks, 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. 
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 commu-
nity-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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