August 7, 2020 - Issue: Vol. 166, No. 141 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 2nd Session

[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E735-E736]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING AND RECOGNIZING THE BRAVERY AND HEROISM OF ANSELM ``JERRY'' 
 CRAMER AND CALLING ON THE DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY TO AWARD MR. CRAMER 
                            THE PURPLE HEART

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. THOMAS R. SUOZZI

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, August 7, 2020

  Mr. SUOZZI. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize a great American 
and veteran in my district, Mr. Anselm ``Jerry'' Cramer.
  Mr. Cramer joined the Navy Reserve in 1948 and enlisted in the Marine 
Corps in 1950 during the Korean War. In December of 1950, Mr. Cramer 
fought in the Battle of Chosin Reservoir, where he suffered severe 
frostbite wounds to his hands and feet. Mr. Cramer spent weeks in the 
hospital for treatment to his injuries. Since then, Mr. Cramer has been 
denied a Purple Heart four times.
  As a member of the 1st Marine Division, Mr. Cramer fought in the 
Battle of Chosin Reservoir, braving subzero temperatures without 
shelter for ten days. In conditions this harsh, frostbite can develop 
in a matter of minutes, hypothermia and death setting in shortly after. 
Mr. Cramer has described how his duties included loading dead Marines 
onto trucks, their bodies frozen solid from the cold and wind.
  By the time he made it to the safety of an aid station, Mr. Cramer's 
hands and feet were black from frostbite, and he could no longer grip 
or feel anything with them. He was evacuated to a hospital in Japan for 
immediate treatment. Mr. Cramer watched as military personnel on his 
ward received a Purple Heart for

[[Page E736]]

frostbite wounds, but he was overlooked. Mr. Cramer has never fully 
recovered from his frostbite injuries and currently receives a forty 
percent disability rating for the wounds he sustained in December of 
1950.
  Mr. Cramer has repeatably been denied a Purple Heart due to a change 
in regulation made months after his injuries occurred. In inquiries 
submitted by my office, the Board of Corrections of Naval Records has 
acknowledged Mr. Cramer's injuries, but maintains that he does not 
qualify due to the Secretary of the Navy's 1951 decision to disqualify 
frostbite for the Purple Heart. They also state that fellow Marines 
were ``erroneously awarded the Purple Heart''. This is not a medal that 
is given out in error. The Purple Heart that is awarded due to an 
injury or wounds inflicted from an outside force or element, which is 
exactly how Mr. Cramer received his injuries.
  Mr. Cramer is now in his 90s; he has fought and sacrificed a great 
deal for the country he loves. This December will mark 70 years since 
Mr. Cramer sustained his injuries. It is past time that he receives the 
recognition he has earned.

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