Jim Cragg is the president and founder of Green Vets Los Angeles—a nonprofit that hires veterans to make reusable shopping bags—chief executive of defense contractor Special Operations Technologies Inc., and a veteran. Before participating in a panel on hiring veterans, he explained why he loves wild carrots, why he can’t wake up early, and why he didn’t like taking a course on the history of history in the Zócalo green room.
What weapon would you choose in a zombie apocalypse?
A multi-headed baseball bat.
Where do you go to be alone?
I hide under my desk.
What dessert can’t you resist?
Licorice, I have to be honest on that one. [Red or black?] Is that even a question? Red. Australian red. Real Australian red, not the phony stuff they sell over at Ralphs.
What’s your favorite hidden spot in Los Angeles?
The place under my desk where I hide! So my employees can’t find me there.
What was your worst subject in school?
The history of history. I was a history major, and I had to take a course in the history of history, and I thought it was the most pompous idea—that history people write books about the way they write history.
How long can you go without checking your e-mail?
That’s harsh! Fifteen minutes. My fiancée would say 10, but I say 15.
What’s the best decision you ever made?
To go to the refugee camps in Burma. I took off time from school to go and live in refugee camps. It gives you a different perspective on reality—which has probably changed and warped me—which is what I’ve built all my organizations from.
What do you wish you had the nerve to do?
Wake up early. I was in the army, and they made me wake up early, so this is my revolt against everything that the army ever did to me. I wish I had the nerve to wake up early, but it’s kind of my fight against the man.
What’s your favorite plant or flower?
Wild carrots. I was starving during army survival school, and I found wild carrots in backwoods North Carolina. After three days without food, you’ll never forget wild carrots.
What’s your biggest pet peeve?
Close-minded people.