In the Footsteps of His Father

By Renissa Gannie

Milton Lewis Craig

February 23, 1930-July 10, 2001

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Milton Lewis Craig: Taken from Ancestry.com

Milton Louis Craig was born to serve his country as he was the son of a Buffalo Soldier.[1] The Buffalo Soldiers were African-American men and women who served in the 9th Cavalry and 10th Cavalry and the 24th Infantry and 25th Infantry during the late 1800s.[2] Milton learned what honor and valor meant, even at a young age. Milton Louis Craig was born in Boley, Oklahoma, on February 23, 1930 to Samuel and Dora Lee Martin Craig. Milton Louis Craig was raised in the segregated south and was drafted into the United States Army when he was eighteen years old.[3] He began active duty on April 11, 1946.[4] Milton earned the Command Sergeant Major Rank while serving in World War Two.[5]  He then went on to serve in both the Korean and the Vietnam wars.[6] While serving in the Vietnam War, Command Sgt. Maj. Craig was captured by North Vietnamese women soldiers. Also captured was a Colonel and a General. However, under Milton’s guidance, they were all able to escape. According to Mr. John Bell, a friend of Milton, "he was a determined guy." Mr. Bell recalls a story told to him of Milton's bravery as he saved a soldier’s life. As the story goes, Milton threw a soldier into a foxhole as they were under attack by gunfire.[7] That soldier was the man who would become the National Security Advisor of The United States, Chairman of The Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Secretary of State, Colin Powell.[8] For his valor, courage, and bravery, Command Sgt. Maj. Milton L. Craig was awarded four Bronze Star Medals for his heroic achievement in the Vietnam War. Command Sgt. Maj. Craig served his country for twenty-five years and was honorably discharged in 1971.[9] Milton Louis Craig married Paula Emilie Schuchmann in November 1955 and had three beautiful daughters.[10]

After departing the Army, Command Sgt. Maj. Milton Craig continued his life serving the public. He worked as a Deputy in El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, as a Probation Officer, and Special Services Trainer for twelve years in El Paso County in Colorado Springs.[11] With all of his many accomplishments, Milton still found time to earn a Master’s degree in Police Science at the University of Colorado.[12] Milton believed in giving back to his community and he spent a lifetime selflessly doing so.

After twenty-five years as a public servant, Milton Craig retired. However, his drive and need to make his community a better place continued; he joined the educational and reenactment group the Buffalo Soldiers of the American West to teach the history of the great men, including his father, who came before him.[13] The Buffalo Soldiers were noted for their courage and discipline. In nearly 30 years of frontier service, Buffalo Soldiers took part in almost 200 major and minor engagements. From 1870 to 1890, fourteen Buffalo Soldiers were awarded Medals of Honor, the Army’s highest award for bravery. The 9th and 10th Cavalries later distinguished themselves by their fighting in the Spanish-American War and in the 1916 Mexican campaign.[14] Milton believed in teaching the history of the Buffalo Soldiers, and that its proud legacy of endurance and courage could instill in young people a sense of pride. According to an interview given to Gina Perales of the Seattle Times, Milton Craig explained, "I thought it was a way to instill in youth something about their culture they couldn't find in books.”[15] Milton Louis Craig’s friend and fellow Buffalo Soldier educator, Mr. Bell, remembers him as the remarkable man he was. "When I met Milton, he did not want to wear stripes, he wanted to be a regular member. He stated that he wore stripes all his life and he just wanted to be a regular soldier. He did not want to ride a horse but quickly understood he had to learn. Milton was determined and learned to master riding a horse.” Mr. Bell also recalled that Command Sgt. Maj. Milton Craig always drove a red sports car.[16]

Another good friend of Milton’s and a Vietnam veteran, Bob Sapp, recalled Milton as a straightforward man whose passing has been difficult for him.  He mentioned that he thought often of Milton.[17] Command Sgt. Maj. Milton Craig left this world a better and brighter place on June 10, 2001.[18] His impact and legacy are appreciated through all the lives he touched.

Footnotes ↓

[1] Perales, G., 2020. Spreading The Story Of Buffalo Soldiers. The Seattle Times, accessed on July 14,2020, http://www theseattletimes.com.

[2] Buffalo Soldiers Of The American West, accessed on July 14,2020, http://www.buffalosoldiers-amwest.org.

[3]1940 United States Federal Census, National Archives and Records, accessed on July 14,2020, https://www.ancestrylibrary.com.

[4] WWII Draft Registration Cards,” taken from the The National Archives, accessed on July 14,2020, https://www.fold3.com; Milton L. Craig Obituary and Death Notice Archive, accessed on July 14,2020, www.genlookups.com.

[5] New York, Passenger and Crew Lists Year: 1955, accessed on July 14 2020, https://www.ancestrylibrary.com.

[6] New York, Passenger and Crew Lists Year: 1955, accessed July 14 2020; https://www.ancestrylibrary.com; Milton L. Craig Obituary and Death Notice Archive. Accessed on July 14 2020, www.genlookups.com; WWII Draft Registration Cards,” accessed on July 14,2020, https://www.fold3.com.

[7] Gannie, Renissa. 2020. About Milton Craig, John Bell Interview. Denver.

[8]Springston, Chuck. Colin Powell's Vietnam And the Making Of An American Statesmen, accessed 14 July 2020, https://www.historynet.com; Gannie, Renissa. 2020. About Milton Craig, John Bell Interview. Denver.

[9]Milton L Craig Obituary and Death Notice, accessed on July 14, 2020, http://www.genlookups.com.

[10] Milton L Craig Ancestry Library, accessed on July 14,2020, https://www.ancestrylibrary.com; Milton L Craig Obituary and Death Notice, accessed on July 14, 2020, http://www.genlookups.com.

[11] Gannie, Renissa. 2020. Milton Craig: John Bell Interview. Denver: Gannie, Renissa. 2020. About Milton Craig Bob Sapp Interview. Denver; El Paso County probation Office, Milton Craig Work, July 2020.

[12] Milton L Craig Obituary and Death Notice, accessed on July 14, 2020, http://www.genlookups.com.

[13] Gannie, Renissa. 2020. Milton Craig: John Bell Interview.

[14] Buffalo Soldier | Information, Definition, & Facts | Britannica,” in Encyclopedia Britannica, accessed on July 14, 2020, https://www.britannica.com.

[15]Perales, G., 2020. Spreading The Story Of Buffalo Soldiers. The Seattle Times, accessed on July 14,2020, http://www theseattletimes.com.

[16] Gannie, Renissa. 2020. Milton Craig: John Bell Interview. Denver.

[17] Gannie, Renissa. 2020. Milton Craig: Bob Sapp Interview. Denver.

[18]Milton L Craig Ancestry Library.com, accessed on July 14, 2020, <https: data-preserve-html-node="true"//www.ancestrylibrary.com.

[18] Milton L Craig Obituary and Death Notice, accessed on July 14, 2020, http://www.genlookups.com.

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