Myra Miller
By Myra Miller
Lifestyle Editor
Among the veterans planning to attend Veterans Day ceremonies Saturday at VFW Post 8971 is retired Staff Sgt. Micah Crader of Eunice.
Crader medically retired in 2015 from active army duty due to injuries sustained in Iraq. He served 19 years and 11 months in the military.
Crader, 44, originally of Mermentau, graduated from Jennings High School in 1991. Crader is the son of the late Dupleisse Crader and Lorraine LePrett of Hathaway.
Crader joined the Louisiana National Guard in November 1996. He left the Guard for Korea, as active Army in 1998.
In 2001, Crader left active Army and returned to Fort Polk for National Guard, and remained for two years.
Crader married Krystal Lynn Veillon of Eunice in 2001. The couple has four children.
He trained at Fort Hood, Texas, in 2003 and was sent to Iraq in 2004 with the Louisiana National Guard attached to 1st Calvary Division of the Army. In Iraq, Crader worked at a field hospital and ambulance section. Crader wore the title of a 68W (combat medic).
After 13 months in Iraq, Crader returned in 2005 and volunteered to stay active in the Army to train other military units being deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan.
Crader returned to the Louisiana National Guard in 2006 and was stationed in St. Martinville until 2015 where he medically retired. He retired as a U.S. Army staff sergeant.
Crader returned home from serving the country with numerous medals and honors. Some include Bronze Star, given for heroic service in combat; Meritorius Service Medal, three Army Commendation medals (one was given for a downed Black Hawk helicopter in Korea in 1998 resulting in two fatalities); two Army Achievement medals, Army Good conduct medal; Iraq Campaign medal; National Defense Service medal; Combat Action badge, Louisiana Service Cross; and National Guard Total Victory Medal.
Crader added, “Twenty years of serving our country, makes me proud to be an American.”
Crader is a member of the American Legion Post in Eunice.
Ceremony
The annual Veteran’s Day program will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at the VFW Post 8971 on U.S. 190 east of Eunice.
The Post members and officers invite all veterans, families and children to attend. “This year our program is scheduled on Saturday, and children are out of school. We do encourage and invite children to attend with their parents,” said Terry Matte, quartermaster of the post.
A free gumbo will be served. There will also be disposal of flags and guest speakers will be part of the program. Some guest speakers confirmed are state Rep. Phillip DeVillier, Chief of Police Randy Fontenot and St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Maj. Eddie Thibodeaux.