Doddridge County -
Associated with Swiger Run History Center Library

(permission for reprint received from Charleston Daily Mail 8/18/06)

Growing up in small Doddridge County, Gen. John Craddock never dreamed of a military career.

It's a career path that has sent him to important leadership roles at home and abroad.

Now the West Union native is poised to become the Supreme Allied Commander of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization pending confirmation by the U.S. Senate. Hearings could begin as early as September.

If confirmed, he would oversee military support of the 26-nation NATO along with the added responsibilities of U.S. European Command, which includes 92 nations. An American traditionally is NATO's top military commander while a European occupies the civilian post.

Craddock, 56, downplays the magnitude of the assignment once held by Army Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, since he currently heads Southern Command, which encompasses Latin and South America.

"I am honored and humbled by the nomination," Craddock said.

The four-star general is looking forward to new ventures as NATO looks to expand its role in the world. Craddock said the organization will begin security efforts in Afghanistan for the first time.

"That will be a challenge for NATO and take a lot of effort and support as NATO brings a security capability outside of Europe for the first time," Craddock said. "That is bringing new realities."

Some nuances include admitting new nations hoping to gain membership to NATO. The organization has grown from 19 countries to 26 in three years.

Craddock also points to NATO's importance in the Middle East as tensions continue to elevate in that region of the world.

"I don't think anyone will have to look twice at what is happening in Lebanon and Israel," he said.

A former aide to Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, Craddock won approval from NATO's Defense Planning Committee June 9 following his nomination by President Bush. Craddock will testify in front of the Senate Arms Committee most likely in September and quickly learn whether he received confirmation.

He would replace Marine Gen. James Jones, who is retiring.

Craddock began his military career after enrolling at West Virginia University in the late 1960s while on an ROTC scholarship. There he studied political science and graduated in 1971.

It was a tumultuous time on college campuses across America as the conflict in Vietnam raged. Craddock and other cadets were told not to wear their military uniforms on campus so as not to inflame war protestors.
"It was a complex time," he said.
Coming from such a small community in West Union, there were good experiences at WVU, too. Craddock especially enjoyed balancing his studies with "big time basketball and football."

"I think my memories would be split between the academic side of it and also the social and intramural side of it," Craddock said. "Just being a part of the student body and supporting the school."

He figured he would continue on to law school, but instead received a master's degree in military science at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College.

The benefits and opportunities in the military were too good to pass up and he and his wife, Linda, agreed it would be best to stay.

"I didn't see anything (else) that struck me compared to what I was doing in the Army. I added it up and thought staying around might be the best choice," Craddock said.

"As things turned out, I liked what I was doing and some 35 years later, here we are."

While Craddock often came back to West Virginia during the beginning of his military career, he has not made frequent visits to the state since his mother died in the 1990s. His wife's family resides in Parkersburg.

Although the visits home are few and far between, he continues to use the lessons he learned while growing up in tiny West Union.

"You become more accountable than maybe in a large city because everyone knows you and very few things go unnoticed," he said. "There's a lot of character built when you are accountable at a young age and understand the differences between right and wrong."

Craddock especially wants to become an example for others who dream big.

"I would say anything is possible. You look at this and say, ‘How did I get to do what I'm doing?' It boils down to anything is possible in America and may well devolve to principles and values.

"Small town America is a good place to pick those up."

Contact writer Michael Jones at michaeljones@dailymail.com or 348-4850.

 

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