Cpt Hank Cramer, RIP
CPT Harry G. Cramer,
American Hero
RIP Brother..
On this day in U.S. Army SF history......21 Oct 1957 – Green Beret CPT Harry G. Cramer accidentally killed, first American Soldier to die in the Republic of Vietnam.
Captain Cramer was assigned to the Mobile Training Team, 14th Special Forces Operational Detachment (Area), MAAGV.
The Mobile Training team was initially led by Lt. Col. Albert Scott Madding and MSgt. Robert L. Voss, until they were recalled to Okinawa to become the commander and sergeant major (respectively) of 1st Special Forces Group. Command of the mission was then assumed by Captain Cramer.
During an ambush drill, a Vietnamese soldier near Cramer was readying to throw a lit block of melinite (French military explosive)when it prematurely detonated. The melinite was later determined to have deteriorated in storage and was unstable. Cramer died instantly and other members of the team and their students were wounded.
Captain Cramer died near Nha Trang, Vietnam. He served in Korea and Vietnam. A street at Fort Lewis, WA is named in his honor. He is buried at the US Military Academy, West Point, New York.
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Go raibh tú leathuair ar Neamh sula mbeadh a fhios ag an diabhal go bhfuil tú marbh
"May you be a half hour in heaven before the devil knows you’re dead"
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