"Attached is a photo of my cousin, Norman Thomas Kramer.  The photo is undated but on the back there are handwritten numbers 3188.  Because Norman is in uniform, this must have been taken during the war.  He was only 22 years old when the Snook was lost.  Thank you for all that you do to honor these incredible men and women.  I am always jolted by how young most of them were when they served and were lost.

 

My two namesake’s: my father’s brother Ralph who was in the Army in WW2 (and later spent many years in a VA hospital before he died), and Norman Kramer have been my inspiration for a group called Tailgate with a Hero here in Houston.  My father was in Patton’s 3rd Army in WWII and was a part of the relief of Bastogne and he fought in the Battle of the Bulge.  We bring tailgate parties to veterans facilities, especially those most in need.  Our big event every year is a tailgate at the DeBakey VA Hospital (Texas Medical Center) on the first Saturday each October."

Cousin: Ralph Wissel - rwissel@coseng.com

rwissel5050@gmail.com