Fyles Gilmour Craig (1925 - 2010)

Born 24 Dec 1925 in Michigan, United States

Died 17 Apr 2010 at age 84 in Gaylord, Otsego, Michigan

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Biography of Fyles Gilmour Craig

Pfc Fyles Craig was a Prisoner of War during World War II.

Fyles Gilmour Craig was born on 24 Dec 1925 ^[1] in Michigan, USA. ^[2] His parents were Henry "Harry" Fyles Craig and Margaerite Eleanor Perkins. ^[3] Fyles had four siblings:

• Thomas Kingsley Craig (192-1996) ^[4]
• Melbourn Lyle Craig (1922-1989) ^[5]
• Lorraine Ethyl Craig (Clark) (1924-2005) ^[6]
• Vibert Lyman Craig (1931-2003) ^[7]

During WWII Fyles enlisted in the US Army on 21 Mar 1944. ^[8] He served with Company G, 346 Infantry, 87th Division. His duty assignments included infantry, motor squad, training instructor on recoilless 75 mm at Officers' School at Fort Benning, GA.

Fyles was captured at the age of 18 by enemy tanks on 11 Dec 1944. He was imprisoned for several months in POW German Camp, Stalag IX-B in the south-east of the town of Bad Orb in Hesse, Germany. He escaped in May 1945. He received a Bronze Star, the POW Medal as well as other medals. He was released from the service on 30 Nov 1945. ^[9]

Interestingly, according to an article that appeared in the Ottawa newspaper on 7 Mar 1945, it must have been believed that Fyles had been killed in action instead of a POW. The article tells how his two brothers, Marine Private Melbourn Craig, a Marine paratrooper, and Kingsley Craig of the Army Medical Corps met in Hawaii after they had not seen each other for two years. It mentions Fyles as having been killed in action in France on December 11. ^[10]

After his release from the armed services Fyles married Theresa Ethel Lynch on 3 July 1945. They had five children:

• William (Bill)
• James (Jim)
• Peggy
• Diane
• Daniel (Danny)

^[11]

He was employed by Fords as powerhouse foreman. ^[12]

Fyles passed away on 17 Apr 2010 in Gaylord, Otsego, Michigan. He is buried in Fort Custer National Cemetery, Augusta, Kalamazoo County, Michigan, USA in Plot: Section Q Site 189. ^[13]

Sources

1. ↑ United States Social Security Death Index
2. ↑ 1930 United States Federal Census
3. ↑ 1930 United States Federal Census
4. ↑ 1930 United States Federal Census
5. ↑ U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010
6. ↑ 1930 United States Federal Census
7. ↑ U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
8. ↑ U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010
9. ↑ American Ex-prisoners of War: Non Solum Armis, see link below
10. ↑ 7 Mar 1945 Ottawa Journal, Ontario, Canada
11. ↑ American Ex-prisoners of War: Non Solum Armis, Volume 3
12. ↑ American Ex-prisoners of War: Non Solum Armis, see link below
13. ↑ Web: Michigan, Find A Grave Index, 1805-2012

• United States Census, 1930'", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X7MR-M17 : 8 December 2015), Fyles Craig in entry for Harry F Craig, 1930.
• United States Census, 1940, database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K4P4-QL7 : 17 May 2014), Fyles Craig in household of Harry Craig, Tract 863, Hazel Park, Royal Oak Township, Oakland, Michigan, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 63-163, sheet 13B, family 246, NARA digital publication T627 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012), roll 1803.
• United States, World War II Prisoners of War, 1941-1945, database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q29D-MYT6 : 18 February 2016), Fyles G Craig, 11 Dec 1944; citing Military Service, Germany, NARA NAID 1263907 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
• United States Social Security Death Index, database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JGY9-RX9 : 20 May 2014), Fyles G Craig, 17 Apr 2010; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).
  • Name: Fyles Craig
  • Gender: Male
  • Birth Date: 24 Dec 1925
  • Death Date: 17 Apr 2010
  • Branch 1: ARMY
  • Enlistment Date 1: 21 Mar 1944
  • Release Date 1: 30 Nov 1945
• U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010
  • Name Fyles Craig
  • Gender Male
  • Birth Date 24 Dec 1925
  • Death Date 17 Apr 2010
  • Branch 1 ARMY
  • Enlistment Date 1 21 Mar 1944
  • Release Date 1 30 Nov 1945

See Also

• Fyles G. Craig - Prisoner of War Record [1]
• Hatch, Gardner N., W. Curtis. Musten, and John S. Edwards. American Ex-prisoners of War: Non Solum Armis. Paducah, KY: Turner Pub., 1988. Print.By Turner Publishing Co [2]

Fyles G Craig POW Information

• Find A Grave: Memorial #64024204 Fyles G Craig], created by Twist