Bantz J. Craddock

Last updated
Bantz J. Craddock
Bantz J. Craddock EUCOM.jpg
Born (1949-08-24) August 24, 1949 (age 74)
Parkersburg, West Virginia, U.S.
AllegianceUnited States
Service/branch United States Army
Years of service1971–2009
Rank General
Commands held Supreme Allied Commander Europe
United States European Command
United States Southern Command
1st Infantry Division (Mechanized)
7th Army Training Command
194th Armored Brigade (Separate)
4th Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment
Battles/wars 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
Bundeswehr Cross of Honor in Gold (Germany)
Other workMPRI, Inc. [1]

Bantz John Craddock (born August 24, 1949) [2] is a former United States Army general. His last military assignment was as Commander, United States European Command and NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe from December 2006 to June 30, 2009. He also served as Commander, United States Southern Command from November 9, 2004 to December 2006. After his retirement in 2009, he became chief executive of Military Professional Resources, Inc. (MPRI). [1]

Contents

Early life and education

Craddock was raised in Doddridge County, West Virginia. He graduated from Doddridge County High School in 1967.

Military career

Craddock speaking with a Kosovar soldier in June 1999. Bantz J. Craddock 1999.jpg
Craddock speaking with a Kosovar soldier in June 1999.
First meeting between Craddock and Major General Valeri Evtoukovitich (left) commander of Russian Forces in Kosovo at Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo, on July 7, 1999. 990708-A-6207H-015.jpg
First meeting between Craddock and Major General Valeri Evtoukovitich (left) commander of Russian Forces in Kosovo at Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo, on July 7, 1999.
Craddock with U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates in June 2009. Stavridis Craddock Gates 2009.jpg
Craddock with U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates in June 2009.

Craddock was commissioned as an Armor officer in the United States Army 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 United States 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 at Fort Stewart, Georgia. He commanded the Tuskers for 26 months, deploying as part of 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 United States 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 United States 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 United States Forces for the initial entry operation into Kosovo. In August 1999, Craddock was reassigned as the Commanding General of the 7th Army Training Command, United States 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 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 United States 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.[ vague ] 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

Office of the Secretary of Defense Identification Badge.png Office of the Secretary of Defense Identification Badge
Joint Chiefs of Staff seal.svg Joint Chiefs of Staff Badge
Coat of arms of Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe.svg SACEUR Badge
24th Infantry Division CSIB.jpg 24th Infantry Division Combat Service Identification Badge
64th Armor DUI.png 64th Armor Regiment Distinctive Unit Insignia
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Defense Distinguished Service ribbon.svg
Defense Distinguished Service Medal with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster
Distinguished Service Medal ribbon.svg Army Distinguished Service Medal
Silver Star ribbon.svg Silver Star
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
US Defense Superior Service Medal ribbon.svg
Defense Superior Service Medal with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Legion of Merit ribbon.svg
Legion of Merit with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Bronze Star ribbon.svg Bronze Star Medal
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Meritorious Service ribbon.svg
Meritorious Service Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Army Commendation Medal ribbon.svg
Army Commendation Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Army Achievement Medal ribbon.svg Army Achievement Medal
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Joint Meritorious Unit Award ribbon.svg
Joint Meritorious Unit Award with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters
Valorous Unit Award ribbon.svg Valorous Unit Award
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg
National Defense Service Medal (with two bronze service stars)
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Southwest Asia Service Medal ribbon (1991-2016).svg
Southwest Asia Service Medal (with two bronze service stars)
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
KosovoRib.svg
Kosovo Campaign Medal (with two bronze service stars)
Global War on Terrorism Service ribbon.svg Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Army Service Ribbon.svg Army Service Ribbon
Army Overseas Service Ribbon.svg Award numeral 5.png Overseas Service Ribbon (with award numeral 5)
NATO Meritorious Service Medal bar.svg NATO Meritorious Service Medal
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
NATO Medal Yugoslavia ribbon bar.svg
NATO Medal for Yugoslavia with bronze service star
GER Bundeswehr Honour Cross Gold ribbon.svg Bundeswehr Gold Cross of Honor
El Salvador Gold Medal for Distinguished Service Ribbon.png El Salvador Gold Medal for Distinguished Services [7]
Cross of Military Merit (Guatemala).png Cross of Military Merit, First Class (Guatemala)
Order of Faithful Service (Romania) - ribbon bar.gif Nicaraguan decoration (Unidentified)
POL Order Zaslugi RP kl3 BAR.png Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland
EST Order of the Cross of the Eagle 1st Class BAR.png Estonian Order of the Cross of the Eagle First Class
CAN Meritorious Service Cross (military division) ribbon.svg Canadian Meritorious Service Cross (Military Division) [8]
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia) ribbon.svg Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait) ribbon.svg Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)

Additionally, Craddock has been honored of the following associations:

Personal life

A bridge in Doddridge County, West Virginia, on Route 50 was dedicated to Craddock in 2006.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">V Corps (United States)</span> Active US Army formation

V Corps, formerly known as the Fifth Corps, is a regular corps of the United States Army based at Fort Knox and at Camp Kosciuszko in Poznań, Poland. It was previously active during World War I, World War II, the Cold War, the Kosovo War, and the War on Terrorism.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2nd Armored Division (United States)</span> Inactive US Army formation

The 2nd Armored Division was an armored division of the United States Army. The division played important roles during World War II in the invasions of Germany, North Africa, and Sicily and in the liberation of France, Belgium, and the Netherlands. During the Cold War, the division was primarily based at Fort Hood, Texas, and had a reinforced brigade forward stationed in Garlstedt, West Germany. After participation in the Persian Gulf War, the division was inactivated in 1995.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Allied Joint Force Command Brunssum</span> NATO command

The Allied Joint Force Command Brunssum (JFCBS) is a NATO command with its headquarters at Brunssum, the Netherlands. It was established in 2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adna R. Chaffee Jr.</span> United States Army general

Adna Romanza Chaffee Jr. was an officer in the United States Army, called the "Father of the Armored Force" for his role in developing the U.S. Army's tank forces.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Supreme Allied Commander Europe</span> Commander of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization

The Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) is the commander of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO) Allied Command Operations (ACO) and head of ACO's headquarters, Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE). The commander is based at SHAPE in Casteau, Belgium. SACEUR is the second-highest military position within NATO, below only the Chair of the NATO Military Committee in terms of precedence.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Albert Bryant Jr.</span> United States Army general

Albert Bryant Jr. is a retired United States Army brigadier general, best known for service as the Chief of Western Hemisphere Operations during and in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks and for his tenure as the Assistant Division Commander of the 4th Infantry Division at the time of the division's detection and capture of deposed Iraqi president Saddam Hussein. Bryant also served as the Deputy Commander of Fort Knox, Kentucky, and the United States Army's Armor School. As Chief of Staff of NATO's Kosovo Force (KFOR), Bryant was the highest ranking American general on the KFOR leadership team in the lead up to Kosovo independence.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bernard W. Rogers</span> Former Chief of Staff of the United States Army

Bernard William Rogers was a United States Army general who served as the 28th Chief of Staff of the United States Army, and later as NATO's Supreme Allied Commander, Europe and Commander in Chief, United States European Command.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Galvin (general)</span> United States Army general

John Rogers Galvin was an American army general who served as the sixth dean of the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University and a member of the U.S. Commission on National Security/21st Century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Guy C. Swan III</span> United States Army lieutenant general (born 1954)

Lieutenant General Guy Carleton Swan III is a retired United States Army officer. His final assignment was Commanding General United States Army North at Fort Sam Houston, Texas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David D. McKiernan</span> US Army general

David D. McKiernan is a retired United States Army four-star general who served in Afghanistan as Commander, International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). He served concurrently as Commander, United States Forces – Afghanistan (USFOR-A) from October 6, 2008, to June 15, 2009.

General Dimitrios Grapsas is a Greek military officer, who served as the Chief of the Hellenic National Defense General Staff from August 2007 to August 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael D. Maples</span> United States Army general

Lieutenant General Michael David Maples, USA served as the 16th Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), appointed on November 4, 2005. He was promoted to lieutenant general on November 29. Maples also commanded the Joint Functional Component Command for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (JFCC-ISR) for the United States Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM). He transferred his Directorship of the Defense Intelligence Agency and his command of JFCC-ISR to LTG Ronald Burgess on March 18, 2009. Maples formally served as the vice director of management of the Joint Staff.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael A. Ryan</span> United States general

Brigadier General Michael A. Ryan was a General Officer in the United States Army.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael S. Tucker</span> United States Army general

Lieutenant General Michael S. Tucker is a retired United States Army general who served Commanding General of the First United States Army from 2013 until 2016. He formerly served as the Commanding General of the 2nd Infantry Division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John B. Sylvester</span> United States Army general

John B. Sylvester is a retired United States Army lieutenant general and decorated veteran of the Vietnam and Gulf Wars. He is best known for his command of the "Tiger" Brigade of the 2nd Armored Division OPCON to the 2nd Marine Division in the Gulf War, and his three tours of duty in the Balkans culminating as the commander of Stabilisation Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina (SFOR). Sylvester was awarded the Silver Star during Operation Desert Storm.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Donald M. Campbell Jr.</span> United States Army General

Lieutenant General Donald M. Campbell Jr. is a retired United States Army lieutenant general who served as the commanding general of United States Army Europe. He commanded the United States Army Europe from December 1, 2012, to November 6, 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jörg Vollmer</span> German general

General Jörg Vollmer is a retired German Army general and served as Commander of the NATO Allied Joint Force Command Brunssum from April 2020 to June 2022. He was the Inspector of the Army from 2015 to 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Egon Ramms</span> German general

Egon Ramms is a retired German general who held numerous international commands. Ramms is a father of two.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Philip M. Breedlove</span> US Air Force general

Philip Mark Breedlove is a retired four-star general in the United States Air Force who served as the commander of U.S. European Command, as well as the 17th Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) of NATO Allied Command Operations, from May 2013 until May 4, 2016. He previously served as the commander of U.S. Air Forces Europe, which he concurrently served as commander of U.S. Air Forces Africa, commander of Air Component Command, Ramstein, and director of Joint Air Power Competence Center. He previously served as the 36th vice chief of staff of the United States Air Force from January 14, 2011, to July 27, 2012. On 10 May 2013, in a ceremony in Stuttgart, Germany, Breedlove took over the command of USEUCOM. Three days later, on May 13, 2013, he assumed command as SACEUR.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malcolm B. Frost</span> United States Army major general (born 1966)

Malcolm Bradley Frost is a retired United States Army major general who last served as Commanding General, Center for Initial Military Training, United States Army, Training and Doctrine Command, Fort Eustis, VA. MG Frost most recently served as Chief of Public Affairs for the U.S. Army at the Pentagon in Washington, DC. Frost's previous assignment was Deputy Commanding General of the 82nd Airborne Division at Ft. Bragg, NC from March 2014 to March 2015. In March 2014, Frost completed his assignment as Deputy Director for Operations at the National Military Command Center, J3 the Joint Staff at the Pentagon. Prior to that, he completed an assignment as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations (G3/5/7) for the United States Army Pacific (USARPAC). and commanded the 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division.

References

PD-icon.svg This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Government. Archived from the original on 2006-07-21.

  1. 1 2 "MPRI". MPRI. Archived from the original on May 17, 2013. Retrieved March 16, 2013.
  2. States, United (2007-01-01). Nominations before the Senate Armed Services Committee, second session ... – United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Armed Services — Google Boeken. U.S. Government Printing Office. ISBN   9780160790881 . Retrieved March 16, 2013.
  3. Guantanamo chief to become NATO top commander [ dead link ], Reuters , July 14, 2006
  4. "Guantanamo general to head Nato". BBC . July 14, 2006. Archived from the original on 9 February 2009. Retrieved January 30, 2009.
  5. Koelbl, Susanne (28 January 2009). "NATO High Commander Issues Illegitimate Order to Kill". Der Spiegel . Archived from the original on 30 January 2009. Retrieved January 30, 2009.
  6. Gebauer, Matthias; Koelbl, Susanne (29 January 2009). "Order to Kill Angers German Politicians". Der Spiegel . Archived from the original on 31 January 2009. Retrieved January 30, 2009.
  7. "Salvadoran Government awards Medal to U.S. Southern Command Commander (September 05, 2006) | Embassy of the United States San Salvador, El Salvador". sansalvador.usembassy.gov. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved May 24, 2015.
  8. Canada Gazette
Military offices
Preceded by Commanding General of the 1st Infantry Division
2000–2002
Succeeded by
Preceded by Senior Military Assistant to the Secretary of Defense
2002–2004
Succeeded by
Preceded by Commander, United States Southern Command
2004–2006
Preceded by Commander, United States European Command
2006–2009
Succeeded by
James G. Stavridis
Supreme Allied Commander Europe
2006–2009