metro
"I like to travel and I
have an active social life.
At Fox Run I just lock
the door and go."
Battle-Tested Hero
Oak Park native receives highest award
for heroism from U.S. State Department.
-Fox Run resident
Sam Ray
Dale Kramer, left, received the State Department's highest award for
heroism from Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker, U.S. envoy to Afghanistan.
Jackie Headapohl
Managing Editor
D
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18
March 1 2012
ale Kramer, who grew up in
Oak Park, attended Oak Park
High School and went to Oak
Park's Congregation Beth Shalom, is
now a U.S. State Department employee
— and a recognized hero.
Back in 2007, Kramer, who now calls
Grand Rapids home, was working in
the Army Reserve Civil Affairs Unit
when he found out the U.S. Department
of State was looking for people with
specific skills who were willing to be
embedded in front-line units in Iraq.
Kramer, a former Marine with a busi-
ness degree from Grand Valley State
University, applied for the job and was
selected to go overseas as a business
economic development officer.
Eventually, his career in the State
Department led him to Afghanistan.
On March 27, 2010, Kramer was in the
Musa Kheyl district of Khost province,
returning from a joint civilian-military
visit in support of governance and
community outreach when his convoy
was attacked by an estimated 100
enemy fighters.
An improvised explosive device
(IED) planted in the single-lane
mountain road destroyed the lead
vehicle — killing three Afghan nation-
al police officers — and initiated a
360-degree ambush.
During the first seconds of the fire-
fight, five rocket-propelled grenades
(RPGs) exploded in quick succession
within yards of Kramer's vehicle. His
initial thought, he admits, was "So this
is how it ends:'
The former Marine jumped on a
nearby machine gun and returned fire,
suppressing enemy machine-gunners
so that the convoy could extract itself
from the situation.
By the end of the 19-minute engage-
ment (which felt more like 19 hours,
he said), Kramer had expended more
than 1,000 rounds of ammunition. U.S.
military witnesses credit his withering
fire with suppressing enemy gunners
and forcing them to take cover.
Kramer maintains this was a team
effort and not about him. "The larger
story is that America has sent extraor-
dinary people to this challenging
place, and so many have done aston-
ishing things in the service of their
country," he said.
At a ceremony held in the American
Embassy in Kabul last fall, Ambassador
Ryan C. Crocker, U.S. envoy to
Afghanistan, presented the State
Department's highest award for hero-
ism to Kramer in recognition of his
bravery during the insurgent attack.
"I proudly accept this award on
behalf of many: for those who fought
that day, for all who wage the physical
battle and for those who take the dip-
lomatic route — the quiet profession-
als who often risk their lives but sel-
dom receive this kind of recognition:'
Kramer said at the ceremony.
Kramer is now enjoying home leave in
Grand Rapids, where he attends services
at Ahavas Israel with his wife, Carol. He
has a few weeks left to spend with his
family before returning to Afghanistan
as a State Department officer.
His parents, Phyllis and Joel Kramer
of Farmington Hills, who belong to
Congregation B'nai Moshe in West
Bloomfield, are understandably very
proud of their son.
As for Kramer, he remains modest.
"I just did what had to be done he
said.
❑