THE WALL OF FACES

Harry is buried at US Military Academy at West Point.

CAPTAIN


HARRY GRIFFITH CRAMER


WAS A DISTINGUISHED GRADUATE OF THE

UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY

AT WEST POINT, NEW YORK

IN THE CLASS OF 1946


who had previously served with the


24th INFANTRY

25th INFANTRY DIVISION

in JAPAN in 1948 - 1950


and the


82nd AIRBORNE DIVISION

in 1950 - 1951


He next served as a

Company Commander

with the


24th INFANTRY

25th INFANTRY DIVISION

in KOREA in 1951


for which he was awarded the


SILVER STAR

PURPLE HEART and Oak Leaf Cluster

and the

COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE


Then he returned to the


82nd AIRBORNE DIVISION

in 1953


before joining the


77th SPECIAL FORCES GROUP

in 1954 - 1955


then was attached to the

14th SPECIAL FORCES OPERATIONS DETACHMENT

in Thailand in 1956


before being posted to the

1st SPECIAL FORCES GROUP

in Okinawa in 1957


He met his untimely death

on 21 October 1957

and was posthumously awarded the


PURPLE HEART





--- DUTY - HONOR - COUNTRY ---





--- THE LONG GRAY LINE ---





YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN

NOR SHALL YOU EVER BE





15816 - 1946

I don't know if you're visiting this name because you knew Harry Cramer, or simply because you're looking through the many names on the Virtual Wall. But since you're here, I'd like to tell you a little about him.

He was my Dad. I'm very sad that he died in Vietnam, but so very proud that he was willing to stand up for America and put everything on the line when it counted. He was born in Johnstown, PA on May 24, 1926. His patriotism and desire to be a soldier were probably instilled by his father, who commanded an infantry company in France in WWI and was the first commander of the American Legion post in Johnstown. Dad overcame a lot of childhood hardships, including a year-long bout with rheumatic fever and the early death of his own father, to become an outstanding student and athlete. He graduated from West Point in June, 1946, a few weeks after his 20th birthday.

Dad was a soldier's soldier. He fought in the Korean War as a rifle company commander in the 25th "Tropic Lightning" Division. He was wounded twice, and earned the Silver Star for gallantry as well as two Purple Hearts. In 1953, he was among the first to volunteer for the new "Special Forces" at Fort Bragg, NC, soon to be known as the Green Berets. In 1956, a team known as the "14th Special Forces Operational Detachment" deployed to the Pacific theater to train friendly armies to fight Communist guerrillas. Dad's first mission was to Thailand in 1956, where he and his NCO's trained the Royal Thai Ranger Battalion at Lop Buri. In June, 1957 he deployed with his team to Vietnam to train their army's new Special Forces unit. At dusk on October 21, 1957 he was killed by an explosion during what was supposed to be a training patrol in the hills south of Nha Trang. The Army classified it as an "accident". The surviving Special Forces medic, Sergeant Chalmers Archer, says they were hit by Viet Cong mortars. The US Army had suffered its first casualty in Vietnam. Our family lost our father.

Like any of the thousands of other kids who lost their Dads in this war, I've wished a million times it didn't happen. But it did, and I can't change it. So now I look at his death from the viewpoint of what it means to be an American, what it means to be a soldier, and what it means to stand up for what you believe in. Though a young man of 31, Dad had seen much of war. He knew that freedom isn't free,and that if this country is to enjoy it for long, someone has to fight for it. That "someone" isn't someone else -- it's you and me. He was a soldier who went to the tough places, and a commander who led from the front. He showed us all the way. Fortunately, this country still has thousands of brave young men and women willing to serve.

Dad left behind my Mom and three kids -- Kainan, Anne, and myself -- who were 8, 6, and 4 at the time of his death. Mom lives in Newburgh, NY; Kai is in New York City; Anne is California; and i live in Washington State. I would be happy to get e-mails from any of Dad's comrades, or from any Virtual Wall visitor who'd like to communicate.

From a painting by a Thai artist. Dad served in Thailand immediately before going to Vietnam in 1957.

Thank you-my smiles in my children give me encouragement that your detication to your country for their freedom was appreciated-GOD BLESS