John Harrold “Jack” Craigie was born in Colón, Panamá on September 16, 1929 to Lieutenant General Laurence C. (USMA 1923) and Mrs. Victoria M. Craigie while Laurence was on a U.S. Army aviator and engineer assignment. Being a military child, Jack moved often from one military location to another. He had fond childhood memories of living at the airfields in Dayton, OH, describing the family living quarters area as idyllic. Although the military families who resided there were not wealthy, being there was like country club living. Jack especially loved staying all day at the swimming pool, hanging out with friends and getting snack-stand goodies. At that pool, 9-year-old Jack won a first-place trophy in a swim meet, planting the seeds for his love of competitive swimming.
Jack wanted to serve his country and follow in his father’s footsteps of having a military career of flying, engineering, and leadership. To prepare for this goal, Jack went to Staunton Military Academy in Virginia. At one point, Jack even paid part of the tuition from his summer job savings. At Staunton, Jack received an honor school appointment to West Point, due to his achievements in academics and his outstanding feats on the varsity swimming team.
Jack described his years at West Point as tough, saying life was not made easy for cadets, but it was where he wanted to be. Jack took “Duty, Honor, County” seriously and ingrained that motto into his moral code for the rest of his life.
During his cadet days Jack was well known for his swimming. Whenever he could find a Buckner buddy to row the boat, he used to swim the length of Lake Popolopen, sometimes twice! He earned a Major “A” in each of his three varsity years by setting Academy records, culminating as Swim Team captain. He ran track for two years, but never lettered. He participated in the Student Conference on U.S. Affairs and was a cadet sergeant his First Class year.
On graduation from the United States Military Academy, Jack was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Air Force and, after pilot (52-E) and combat crew training, reported to the 28th Bomb Squadron, 19th Bomb Wing in Okinawa, from where he flew in combat in B-29s during the Korean Conflict and earned an Air Medal. Jack’s next assignment was to the 405th Fighter Bomber Wing at Langley AFB, VA, where he flew as a fighter pilot, serving from 1954 to 1956. In 1955, on a routine practice flight from Arizona to Texas, his F-84 fighter jet had complete engine failure during a thunderstorm. Jack stayed focused, ejected from the aircraft, and opened his parachute just in time to be saved.
After earning a Master of Science degree in Aeronautical Engineering from Princeton University in 1958, Jack was selected to attend the Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards AFB, CA. Upon graduation, Jack became a test pilot and subsequently served on the staff as an instructor. Several of his students became astronauts. Jack’s last Air Force assignment was serving as an aerospace engineer at HQ Space Systems Division AFSC, Los Angeles Air Force Station. There Jack had the position of deputy program director for guidance and control on the Titan III Launch Vehicle program. Jack was awarded the Commendation Medal for distinguished service on completion of this assignment. Unfortunately, following an unscheduled and losing bout with multiple sclerosis, Major Jack Craigie retired with a physical disability in 1965 and found himself a civilian.
Always responsible, resourceful, and positive, Jack took a position as an engineer with TRW Systems, serving 19 years with outstanding leadership, organizational, and technical abilities, as well as remembering Duty, Honor, Country. In 1984 Jack joined the RAND Corporation as a senior engineer, remaining until he retired in 1995. During most of his time at TRW and RAND, Jack was a systems analyst in the world of strategic command, control, communications, and intelligence, especially intelligence satellite systems and data management. Jack assessed U.S. space-based capabilities across a range of contingencies. In the 1990s, Jack chaired the Military Operations Research Society’s Strategic Command and Control Working Group.
After civilian retirement, Jack began a personal research project involving the history and operations of the honor codes at USMA, USNA, and USAFA. This personal honor code research project and his devotion to the Academy’s Army Swim Team kept Jack visiting his beloved USMA once or more yearly. Each year in May for the Convocation Ceremony, Jack would return to USMA to present the Class of 1923 Award, which purpose is to recognize the most valuable swimmer in the graduating class. Jack was recipient of that very same award in 1951.
Predeceasing Jack were his parents and two sons Laurence J. Craigie and Mark D. Craigie. Jack is survived by his loving wife of 51 years, Marilyn Blasco Craigie; along with his sister Gale C. Chidlaw (Ben); his children: Michael G. Craigie, Anne C. Bates (David), Allan T. Craigie, Kirk M. Craigie, Cristina C. Vogel (Kevin), Monica B. Craigie, and John H. Craigie III; his grandchildren: Julie Feehan, Anthony Bates, Melody and Drew Vogel; and great-granddaughters, Stella and Evie Feehan. Jack deeply loved his family, who profoundly loved him.
When learning of Jack’s death, West Point roommate Major General Sandy Vandenberg ’51 said of Jack: “His loyalty was unshakeable. He broke the mold. There was no one like him.”
Well done, Jack. Be with God.
— Marilyn Blasco Craigie, MG (R) Sandy Vandenburg, LTC John McShane Jr. (USAF)