Fred Kraav papers

June 3. 1923 Antsla town, Võrumaa, Estonia -Sea captain, writerBorn as a police commissioners’ son in Antsla. Lived in Valga and Petseri as a child, studied in Petseri and Senno elementary schools. 1934-1939 studied in Türi Gymnasium. Became a seaman in 1939. From 1940 served on a Swedish cargo ship, which sank on the coast of Brazil in 1942. After that, Kraav went to USA in 1942 and served in the U.S Navy from 1943. Sailed across the Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. Took part in Allied operations in Sicily, Naples and Normandy in 1944. 1951-1963 studied in a marine school in the U.S as a boatsteerer, in 1963 was promoted and became a sea captain. Moved ot hamilton, Canada in 1964. Has also lived in England and Sweden. 1997-1998 was a lecturer in Tallinn Maritime Education Center. Founding member of New York Estonian House.F. Kraav has written two anti-communist books about Estonian forest brothers: “The Partisans” (New York 1952) in English; “No Other Choice” was translated from manuscript by E. Järvel, it has only been published in Estonian under the title “Risttules”. Has also written „Noa lood: mälestusi Teise maailmasõja meredelt“ („The stories of Noah: memoirs from the seas of WWII“) published in 2005 in Tartu, Estonia.Father: PeeterMother: Frieda SöötWives: 1. Marju 2. Elisabeth CroftDaughter: Linda (born 1967)