Aaron K Kramer

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SALT LAKE CITY, UT, US

U.S. Army

SGT, CO A, 2ND BN, 502ND INF REGIMENT, 2ND BCT, FORT CAMPBELL, KY

09/16/2010, KANDAHAR, AFGHANISTAN

Sergeant Aaron K. Kramer, 22, of Salt Lake City, Utah joined the Army in June 2006. He was assigned to 2d Battalion, 502d Infantry Regiment, 2dBrigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). He died September 16, 2010 in Kandahar, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with small arms fire. Sergeant Kramer had also served in Iraq.

Aaron attended Skyline High School from 2003 to 2006 and joined the Army in June 2006 after graduation. With an older sister “Jen Jenz”, Aaron was a twin, and the older of the pair of two brothers. Always wearing and Army T-shirt, he grew up playing Army complete with parachutists descending from his home staircases and tanks rolling across floors. He enjoyed outdoors action with his family boating and hiking the Lake Powell, Southwest and Yellowstone areas. The twins participated in JROTC at Taylorsville High School where he demonstrated excellent leader and scholarship.

In July 2006, Aaron attended Basic Training and Airborne School. Upon receiving his Airborne wings, Aaron was assigned to the famed 101st Air Assault Division. He successfully passed Air Assault School and deployed to Iraq, joining his twin brother in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Aaron performed exceptionally well for a young Private and was promoted to Corporal. As a team leader he led American and Iraqi soldiers through cities and rural countryside. After a yearlong deployment he returned home; and decided that a career in the Army was no longer his desire. He wanted to return to Utah and be near family and begin college. He continued to exceed the standards volunteering for one of the Army’s more difficult courses: Ranger School. And after two months of hunger and exhaustion he earned the coveted black and gold Ranger Tab.

It was at a friend’s wedding on a cold night in Wisconsin that Aaron met “the most amazing girl and instantly fell in love. He ventured 464 miles north nearly every weekend to be with Jackie. After months of dating, and nearly out of money they became engaged. On April 3rd, 2010, Aaron and Jackie were married in a courthouse. There was no time for a formal ceremony. That would have to wait for Aaron’s return from his second deployment. In June 2010 Aaron was once again sent to war, this time for Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. As a squad leader he always looked after his guys, providing everything from marriage counseling to combat training. Aaron was leading his squad when enemy forces attacked their position. In the ensuing gun battle, he was shot and wounded. It was later in a military hospital on base that Sgt. Aaron Kramer slipped away from life.

Aaron’s Awards and Decorations include, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Air Assault Badge, Parachutists Badge and The Ranger Tab.

Aaron’s portrait is also on Poster 12