Bantz J. Craddock
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Bantz J. Craddock
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| Birth name | Bantz John Craddock |
| Born | August 24, 1949 Parkersburg, West Virginia, U.S. |
| Allegiance |  United States of America |
| Service/ |
 United States Army |
| Years of service | 1971–2009 |
| Rank |  General |
| Commands held | U.S. European Command Supreme Allied Commander Europe U.S. Southern Command |
| Battles/wars | Persian Gulf War Kosovo War |
| Awards | Defense Distinguished Service Medal (2) Army Distinguished Service Medal Silver Star Defense Superior Service Medal (2) Legion of Merit (3) Bronze Star Medal Meritorious Service Medal (4) Army Commendation Medal (3) Army Achievement Medal Bundeswehr Cross of Honor in Gold |
| Other work | MPRI, Inc.[1] |
Bantz John Craddock (born August 24, 1949)[2] is a former United States Army general. His last military assignment was as Commander, U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) and the NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) as well as the commanding officer of Allied Command Operations (ACO) from December 2006 to June 30, 2009. He also served as Commander, U.S. Southern Command from November 9, 2004 to December 2006. After his retirement in 2009, he was hired by MPRI, Inc., (sometimes called Military Professional Resources, Inc.) to serve as its corporate president.[1]
Contents
Early life and education
Craddock was raised in Doddridge County, West Virginia. He graduated from Doddridge County High School in 1967.
Career
Craddock was commissioned as an Armor officer upon graduation from West Virginia University. His initial tour of duty was with the 3rd Armored Division in Germany, followed by an assignment at Fort Knox, Kentucky, as an armor test officer for the U.S. Army Armor and Engineer Board. After completion of the Armor Officer Advanced Course, he was again assigned to the 3rd Armored Division, commanding a tank company in the 1st Battalion, 32nd Armor Regiment.
In September 1981, Craddock was reassigned to the Office of the Program Manager, Abrams Tank Systems in Warren, Michigan, as a Systems Analyst and later as Program Executive Officer. After graduation from the Command and General Staff College, Craddock joined the 8th Infantry Division (Mechanized) in Germany, serving as the Executive Officer of the 4th Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment for two years. He was subsequently reassigned to the Division Headquarters as the Deputy G3, Operations.
In May 1989, Craddock assumed command of the 4th Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment 24th Infantry Division (Mechanized) at Fort Stewart, Georgia. He commanded the Tuskers for 26 months, deploying to Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Following command, Craddock was the Assistant Chief of Staff, G3, Operations, for the 24th Division. Subsequently, he attended the U.S. Army War College, graduating in 1993. Craddock then assumed command of the 194th Armored Brigade (Separate) at Fort Knox. In June 1995, Craddock inactivated the Brigade as part of the U.S. Army's post-cold war drawdown, and was assigned as the Assistant Chief of Staff, G3, for III Corps at Fort Hood, Texas.
In 1996, Craddock was reassigned to the Joint Staff in the Pentagon as an Assistant Deputy Director in J5. In August 1998, he joined the 1st Infantry Division (Mechanized) in Germany as the Assistant Division Commander for Maneuver. While serving in that capacity, Craddock was designated as Commander of U.S. Forces for the initial entry operation into Kosovo. In August 1999, Craddock was reassigned as the Commanding General of the 7th Army Training Command, U.S. Army Europe. In September 2000, Craddock assumed command of the 1st Infantry Division (Mechanized) – the "Big Red One".
From August 2002 to 2004, Craddock served as the Senior Military Assistant to Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld.
Craddock served as Combatant Commander of United States Southern Command from 2004 until 2006. On July 14, 2006, NATO announced that, when his term as COCOM of the United States Southern Command expired, Craddock would succeed James L. Jones as Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) — NATO's top commander of operations in Europe. The change-of-command ceremony at Mons, Belgium, occurred on December 7, 2006.[3]
Controversy
Craddock defended the controversial Guantanamo Bay detention camp against criticism. While overseeing Guantanamo, he blocked attempts to get a commander of the camp reprimanded over abuse claims. Craddock insisted that the officer had done nothing wrong.[4]
On January 28, 2009, Der Spiegel reported obtaining a classified NATO document in which Craddock ordered troops to kill drug traffickers and bomb narcotics laboratories in Afghanistan, even if there is no evidence that they are involved in terrorist activities.[5][6]
Former U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates' book Duty is very critical of Craddock in his role as Supreme Allied Commander Europe. Gates cites examples where Craddock did not want fellow U.S. Army generals, such as Stanley A. McChrystal, to attend coalition meetings with partner nations. At one point Craddock provided his unsolicited advice to Gates regarding who he thought should attend a senior coalition meeting. Gates then had to order Craddock to carry out the mission as instructed by him. In the book, Gates goes on to opine that was the only time in his career in governmental service in which he had to "order" a general officer to carry out a specific task.[citation needed]
Awards and decorations
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Additionally, Craddock has been honored of the following associations:
- United States Armor Association — Order of Saint George
- National Infantry Association — Order of Saint Maurice Legionnaire
- Ordnance Association — Order of Samuel Sharpe, Honorary Kentucky Colonel
- Honorary Texan, Artillery Association — Order of Saint Barbara
Personal life
A bridge in Doddridge County, West Virginia on U.S. Route 50 was dedicated to Craddock in 2006.
See also
References
This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Government document "http://www.southcom.mil/PA/Media/Media%20Relations/bios/southcom/bioCDR.htm".
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- ↑ Guantanamo chief to become NATO top commander, Reuters, July 14, 2006
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External links
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| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by
Gen. James T. Hill
|
United States Southern Command 2004–2006 |
Succeeded by Adm. James G. Stavridis |
| Preceded by
Gen. James L. Jones
|
U.S. European Command 2006–2009 |
Succeeded by Adm. James G. Stavridis |
| Preceded by
Gen. James L. Jones
|
Supreme Allied Commander Europe (NATO) 2006–2009 |
Succeeded by Adm. James G. Stavridis |
- Pages with broken file links
- Articles with unsourced statements from February 2016
- Wikipedia articles incorporating text from public domain works of the United States Government
- 1950 births
- Living people
- United States Army generals
- Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (United States)
- Recipients of the Silver Star
- Recipients of the Legion of Merit
- Recipients of the Bronze Star Medal
- Recipients of the NATO Meritorious Service Medal
- Recipients of the Badge of Honour of the Bundeswehr
- Commanders of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland
- West Virginia University alumni
- American people of Welsh descent
- United States Army Command and General Staff College alumni
- American military personnel from West Virginia
- People from Doddridge County, West Virginia
- Recipients of the Order of Saint Maurice
- Recipients of the Defense Superior Service Medal
- Recipients of the Defense Distinguished Service Medal
- Recipients of the Military Order of the Cross of the Eagle, Class I
- NATO Supreme Allied Commanders
