In 1942 a young Henryetta man joined the Navy. Within weeks he was sent to the Pacific Ocean and assigned to the USS Foote.
Over the next three years he would be a part of some of the toughest naval engagements of World War II.
That young man, Richard Craig, is now 95 years old and still proud of his service record and that of his ship. He is also the last surviving crewman who served on the Fletcher-class destroyer.
Craig was the guest of honor Monday at a luncheon hosted by Henryetta’s Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 539 recognizing all veterans.
One of the highlights of the dinner was a presentation of “March On Soldiers,” a song written by Post 539 Service Officer Tricia Bear, who is a 21-year military veteran.
Bear wrote that song for her brother, Teddy Samuel Bear, a Marine who was shot to death in 1999.