Craig Edwards

On Thursday, February 26, 2015, at University Hospital, God called his faithful servant home. Craig Smith Edwards, Jr. was born February 17, 1932, in Bessemer, Alabama to the late Craig Smith Edwards, Sr. and Savannah Rainey. At an early age he accepted Christ and became a member of New Bethlehem Baptist Church. He attended Dunbar Elementary School from 1937-1940, G.W. Carver Elementary School from 1940-1945, Dunbar High School from 1945-1949 and Alabama A&M University from 1949-1950 and 1953-1955. He was preceded in death by: parents; wives, Edna Hurley Seldon and Ethel Lois Croom; granddaughter, Ashley Lauren; aunts, Leila LeShoure and Ella King and cousin, Walter Jean McLean. Craig entered the military basic training in Fort Knox, Kentucky. He participated in Airbone Training in Fort Benning, Georgia. He was stationed in Fort Bragg, North Carolina with 82nd Airborne Divison, Third Batallion 505 (All Black). He volunteered for Ranger Training. He was a four time volunteer Army Airborne Ranger in Korea. He also served with the 2nd Airborne Ranger Company attached to the 7th Infantry Division of the 187th Regiment Combat Team. The 2nd Company was all black. Arriving in the 7th Division, a Three Star General stated that he would not have colored troops in the lily white 7th Division. The top brass told him if anyone moved, it would be him. So, on to the 7th Division we went. After our first combat mission, all three regiments wanted the 2nd Airborne Ranger Company on their team. Our mission was to fight segregation in and out of the military and prove black men could do as well or better than whites. Craig received Combat medals and ribbons; Combat Infantry Badge; Master Parachutist Wings with Bronze Arrowhead; Purple Heart; Good Conduct; Korean Service with Bronze Arrowhead (combat jump); Four Bronze Battle Stars; Army of Occupation Medal (Japan); United Nations Service Medal, Expert; Sharpshooter and Marksman firing Badges and Korean Presidential Unit Citation. Craig was apart of various Civilian Military Organizational Awards and Positions for military orders of the Purple Hearts Chapter 2202 - Past Commander; State of Alabama Military of Purple Heart, Past Sergeant-At-Arms; 555th Parachute Infantry Association Los Angeles Chapter, Past President; Disabled American Veterans Col. C. E. Young Chapter 70, Past Commander; U.S. Ranger Association, Inc. Life Member; Korean Rangers, Ranger of the Year Award; Civilian Letters of Appreciation, General Clare S. Skinner, U.S. Army; Fob James (former Governor of the state of Alabama) Purple Heart recognition; Quitman Mitchell (former Mayor of the City of Bessemer) Patriotism Award; Arrington Middle School and Charles F. Hard Elementary School Veteran's Day program participant. Craig leaves to cherish his memory three devoted daugthers, Jennifer Moore, Yolanda (Harold) Williams both of Alabama and Donna (Michael) Martin of Farmington Hills, MI; seven grandchildern, Damond Jr.; one uncle, Joseph Edwards, Sr.; cousin, Kevin (Robin) McLean of Georgia and a host of relatives and friends.