As a colonel, Edward A. Craig led his regiment in combat on Guadalcanal and Bougainville. In 1944, as brigadier general, his regiment led the attack on Guam, where he was awarded the Navy Cross. He assumed command of the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade in June, 1947, again on Guam, but transferred to Camp Pendleton as assistant division commander, 1st Marine Division.
The attack on South Korea led to his designation, for a second time, as Commanding General, 1st Provisional Marine Brigade which quickly mounted out for combat in Korea. Before sailing from San Diego, General Craig told his officers:
"It has been necessary for troops now fighting in Korea to pull back at times, but I am stating now that no unit of this brigade will retreat except on orders from an authority higher than the 1st Marine Brigade. You will never receive an order to retreat from me. All I ask is that you fight as Marines have always fought."
On August 3, 1950, when the Marines below disembarked at Pusan, that's what they came to do, and that's what they did.
