Cramer, Kenneth Frank.

Cramer, Kenneth Frank, born in 1894,  Gloversville, New York,   began his military career in 1917 when he attended Officers’ Training Camp and was subsequently commissioned a second lieutenant on 15-08-1917. During the First World War he saw action in St. Mihiel and the Meuse-Argonne, where he was wounded in action and taken as a prisoner of war. After the war, he joined the Officers’ Reserve Corps, appointed Captain, Connecticut National Guard in 1931. Entered Federal service with the 43^rd Infantry Division as a colonel. Cramer was transferred to the 24^th Infantry Division, nickname “Victory Division” , among the first divisions to see combat in World War II, the 24^th sustained minor casualties when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbour on 7 December 1941. Cramer was promoted to Brigadier General and Assistant Division Commander in 1942. During World War II General Cramer received the Silver Star Medal with three oak leaf clusters, the Bronze Star Medal and the Air Medal and was made division commander in 1945. During World War II, members of the 24^th Infantry Division won 3 Medals of Honor, 15 Distinguished Service Crosses, 2 Distinguished Service Medals, 625 Silver Star Medals, 38 Soldier’s Medals, 2.197 Bronze Star Medals, and 50 Air Medals. The division itself was awarded eight Distinguished Unit Citations for actions during their participation in the Pacific Campaign. Following the war Cramer commanded the 43^rd Infantry Division, nickname “Winged Victory Division”  from 1946 until 1947. His term as Chief, National Guard Bureau was marked by controversy with the Director, Air National Guard, following an investigation by the Inspectors General of the Army and the Air Force, General Cramer asked to be relieved so that he could command the 43^rd Division as it was called into Federal service in 1950 for the Korean War.

Kenneth Cramer died after a heart failure, at the age of 59, on 01-03-1954, in Heidelberg Germany and is buried with his wife Ruth Rose, born Fuller, who died old age 98 in 1991, next to the graves of the Lieutenant General, Commander of the 26^th Infantry Division, Willard Paul , Major General, Chief Signal Officer, George Back, Major General, Commander 116^th and 29^th Division, D-Day, Charles Canham, Lieutenant General, Commanded the 5^th Marine Division, Thomas Bourke, Lieutenant General, Commander 2^nd Armoured Division, Ted Brooks and Admiral, Robert Ghormley

  Major General, Commander 9^th Infantry Division, Louis Craig, Air Force Lieutenant General, Commander 12^th and 15^th U.S. Air Force, Ira Eaker, Navy Admiral, Okinawa Campain, Louis Denfeld, Fleet Deputy Chief Operations, Richardson Edwards, Secretary of the Navy in 1944, James Forrestal  and General, Deputy Chief of Staff, Bomb on Hiroshima, Thomas Handy.

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