Col. Vincent R. Kramer, USMC Retired, RC ‘41

Born in Paterson, New Jersey, Vincent Kramer was raised as a child in Allendale, New Jersey, attended Bordentown Military Institute and, thereafter, Rutgers College on a football scholarship.  In 1941, he graduated with a bachelor of arts degree, and received letters of interest from the Detroit Lions and New York Giants of the then fledgling National Football League.  However, Mr. Kramer volunteered to serve his country, and received a commission as second lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps.

During World War II, Lt. Kramer trained and supported guerilla units under General Chiang Kai-shek in China, and battled Japanese Imperial forces at Guadalcanal.  After wounds suffered at Guadalcanal, he returned to New Jersey and married Barbara Waters, his college sweetheart, and then student at Douglass College, in June 1942.

During the Korean War, Col. Kramer volunteered again to serve, although as a member of special forces, in which he was awarded the Navy Cross and eight battle stars for heroism in leadership of amphibious assaults, and clandestine operations behind enemy lines.  In the early years of the Cold War, he served as a special agent for the Central Intelligence Agency in Berlin, and advisor to the French Foreign Legion in Indochina, as a recognized expert in guerilla warfare.  Later, Col. Kramer served on the staff of General William Westmoreland in Vietnam from 1963 to 1964.

In 1964, Col. Kramer retired from his military career, and accepted an invitation to serve as Executive Secretary & Director of the Rutgers Alumni Association (“RAA”).  He was deeply proud of his Alma Mater, defining a structure at the RAA to ensure its financial viability, and enabling volunteer leaders of today to conceive and to execute innovative programs that will advance the interests of Rutgers.

As early as 1965, Col. Kramer’s dedication to Rutgers was recognized through receipt of the Loyal Son of Rutgers Award, and again in 1988 by a special recognition award on the 30th Anniversary of the Loyal Son of Rutgers Award.  In 1987, Col. Kramer retired from his role at the RAA, but remained quite actively supportive of its goals and activities until his passing on September 17, 2001.  He was honored and buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C.

The Queens Guard extends special tribute and recognition to Col. Kramer, not only for distinguished service to his country and Rutgers, but generous and stalwart support of The Queens Guard’s heritage and interests within the University community.

Over his 23 years of service at the RAA, Col. Kramer always promoted and represented the best interests of The Queens Guard to the University’s alumni and administration alike, assisting us either through fundraising to defray some expenses of our overseas tours, or to assure that we were duly recognized for our accomplishments on behalf of Rutgers and the U.S. on the world stage.  Col. & Mrs. Kramer joined The Queens Guard on many of its overseas tours as our enthusiastic advocates and the University’s representative.

In 2005, The Queens Guard Alumni Association formed as a special interest group of the RAA, partially inspired by our special relationship with Col. Vincent R. Kramer, RC ’41, and memory of his legacy among many of our alumni today.