Watson, Craig Nolan

Craig Nolan Watson was born in Union City, Michigan. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and was assigned as a Lance Corporal to Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, based at Twentynine Palms, California. His unit deployed to Iraq as part of Regimental Combat Team 8.

On December 1, 2005, Watson was killed by enemy action in Fallujah, a city in Iraq's Al Anbar province. The Department of Defense casualty report listed his death as hostile. No further operational details of the incident were publicly released.

Watson's death occurred during a period of intense combat in the Iraq War. The years 2005 through 2007 saw the highest U.S. casualty rates of the conflict, marked by sustained insurgent activity and the rise of sectarian violence following the 2003 invasion. Fallujah was a focal point of major military operations in 2004 and remained a dangerous insurgent stronghold.

His death was reported by local and national news outlets in Michigan. He was survived by his parents and siblings. A memorial service was held in his hometown.

Watson is memorialized on the Fallen Heroes Memorial website and is listed on the Iraq War Memorial in his home state. His name is inscribed on Panel 10 of the Michigan's Own Military and Space Museum's memorial wall in Frankenmuth.

Lance Corporal Watson was killed during Operation Iraqi Freedom (2003–2010). The conflict concluded in August 2010. See the full roster of those killed in this conflict.

Among those documented in the same conflict: Kennedy, Brian Matthew, Beaupre, Ryan Anthony, Gutierrez, Jose, Waters-bey, Kendall Damon.

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