The Craddocks gather for a family photo in earlier
days (Standing L to R): Homer, Harold, Linda, Hope,
Larry (Luke), Leo and Gayle (Seated L to R): Ronnie,
parents Glover (1909-1986) and Ellen Slider Craddock
By Bob Weaver Oct. 2017
The Craddock Family came together at the Arnoldsburg Park to share old times and honor the naming of the Arnoldsburg Bridge for the six Craddock Brothers who served in the US military in defense of the USA.
Assisting the family with the bridge naming was Kathy Goodrich.
Three of the six brothers, are deceased, children of Glover and Ellen Slider Craddock, who lived in the backwoods of the Jesses Run area, just off the West Fork of the Little Kanawha.
The surviving Craddock Brothers (L to R) Homer,
Harold, Larry (Luke), and Ronnie Craddock
CRADDOCKS (Rear L to R) Homer, Harold, Larry
(Luke), and Ronnie Craddock (Front L to R) Hope
Craddock Roberts, Linda Craddock Boatright
THE BRIDGE GETS A NAME
Arnoldsburg bridge named for six Craddock
Brothers who served in the US Military
THE FORMAL NAMING
Requesting the Division of Highways name bridge number 07-33-5.34 (07A057) (38.79415, -81.14055), locally known as the Arnoldsburg Bridge, carrying US 33 over the West Fork of Little Kanawha River in Calhoun County, the "Craddock Brothers Bridge".
Whereas, Leo Craddock, Gale Craddock, Harold Craddock, Doyle Craddock, Ronald Craddock, Larry Craddock, and Homer Craddock were all raised in Calhoun County, West Virginia, the sons of Glover and Ellen Slider Craddock; and
Whereas, Leo, Gale, Harold, Doyle, Ronald, and Larry Craddock all served honorably in the United States military; and
Whereas, Leo Craddock (deceased) attained the rank of Staff Sergeant while serving in the U.S. Army Air Corps in Air Training Command in communications and radio mechanic instruction from 1948 to 1952. He received the Army Good Conduct Medal and National Service Medal; and
Whereas, Gale Craddock (deceased) was a petty officer in the U.S. Navy from 1948 to 1952 and served aboard U.S. Aircraft Carrier Antietam in Task Force 77 in the Sea of Japan as an A/E technician. He received a Korean Service Medal with three stars, U.N. Service Ribbon, Navy Occupation Service Medal with Asia Clasp, and Good Conduct Medal; and
Whereas, Harold Craddock served in the U.S. Army from 1953 to 1955 and served 18 months in Korea in railway and other forms of transportation systems. He received the Good Conduct Medal and other medals; and
Whereas, Doyle Craddock (deceased) served in the U.S. Marine Corps, Third Battalion Reinforced Sixth Marines, from 1954 to1956. He served in seven different countries and/or islands throughout the Mediterranean, including Crete, Porto Scudo, Sardinia, Oran, Genoa and Naples, Italy, Barcelona, Spain, Salonika, Greece, Izmir and Lapezia, Turkey, and Marseilles and Taronto, France. He received the Good Conduct Medal and National Defense Services Medal; and
Whereas, Ronald Craddock served in the U.S. Air Force from 1958 to 1962 in Air Force Security, completing missions in Africa, France, England, and Azores; and
Whereas, Larry "Luke" Craddock served in the U.S. Army from 1965 to 1968 and was assigned to Cam Rahn Bay. He served two tours of duty in Vietnam, the first from June 1966 to June 1967 and then returned to Pleiku, Vietnam, in 1968 for his final assignment; and
Whereas, Leo, Gale, Harold, Doyle, Ronald, and Larry Craddock did a great service to their country in time of conflict and war, and will always be remembered for their service; and
Photos of Craddock men displayed on
Grantsville's CCCOA Wall of Valor
Whereas, It is fitting and proper to honor the Craddock brothers for their dedication, commitment and sacrifice to their state and country, by naming bridge number 07-33-5.34 (07A057) (38.79415, -81.14055), locally known as the Arnoldsburg Bridge, carrying US 33 over the West Fork of Little Kanawha River in Calhoun County, the "Craddock Brothers Bridge"; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Division of Highways name bridge number 07-33-5.34 (07A057) (38.79415, -81.14055), locally known as the Arnoldsburg Bridge, carrying US 33 over the West Fork of Little Kanawha River in Calhoun County, the "Craddock Brothers Bridge,"
(By Delegate Hanshaw-April 3, 2017) |
