Army Sgt. Adam D. Craig

Remember Our Heroes

Army Sgt. Adam D. Craig, 23, of Cherokee, Iowa

Sgt Craig was assigned to 1st Squadron, 113th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division, Iowa National Guard, Sioux City, Iowa; died March 4, 2011 at the National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Md., of cancer. He had been deployed to Afghanistan prior to being diagnosed.

Deployed to Afghanistan prior to being diagnosed with cancer, Sgt Craig, with his family by his side, died March 4, following a courageous battle with cancer.

Sgt Craig graduated from Washington High School in 2006. He enlisted in the Iowa Army National Guard in December of 2004.

Sgt Craig's 20 year old sister, Abby is also enlisted with the Iowa National Guard. She is with the 334th Brigade Support Battalion of Storm Lake, Iowa, attached to the 1-134th Cavalry Squadron, Nebraska Army National Guard.

Both brother and sister deployed to Afghanistan on the same day last November and their father Daniel Craig was praying they would finish their jobs and return home safely. Instead, Adam came back stateside in December.

Sgt Craig was out in the field when a medic thought Craig had appendicitis. Adam was rushed to the base hospital on December 5 where a white blood cell count showed something was wrong. He was sent to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany on the 9th and on the 12th, was transferred to Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington, DC. From there, he was transferred to cancer center at Bethesda's Naval Medical Center.

Once at Bethesda, Adam's family was told of the desmoplastic small round cell tumors which were in his pelvis, on both sides of his diaphragm and in his kidneys. The doctors told the family that the cancer was incurable and his prognosis was one to three years. He died 3 months later.

Sgt Craig's family released this statement:

"Your life was a blessing, your memory a treasure. You are loved beyond words and missed beyond measure. He was a loving and caring son, brother, husband, soldier, grandson, nephew, cousin, son-in-law and all-around friend. Adam's unique sense of humor and caring smile will be missed by all. His love for children and life in general will leave an impact on all who knew him.

Sgt Craig is survived by his wife, Hailey, his mother, Pam, his father, Dan, sister, Abigail, and half sisters, Brianna and Madison Craig.

Sgt. Adam Daniel Craig was buried on March 12th at the Oak Hill Cemetery in Cherokee, Iowa