Dale Kramer's Personal Page

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Dale Kramer
Receiving the Bronze Star

Narrative Page
NARRATIVE TO ACCOMPANY THE AWARD OF

THE BRONZE STAR MEDAL

SERGEANT FIRST CLASS DALE R. KRAMER

Sergeant Fist Class Dale R. Kramer, United States Army Reserves, distinguished himself by exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service to the United States as the Business Specialist in the State Department Embedded Provincial Reconstruction Team (ePRT) assigned to the Mahmudiyah Qada, in Iraq, and embedded initially with the 2d Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, then with the 3rd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division from 1 June 2007 to 13 April 2008. His distinguished service occurred during OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM, serving on one of the initial ten ePRTs in Iraq.

SFC Kramer performed admirably in a position occupied by field grade officers on other ePRTs. He has been forward deployed to FOBs and Patrol Bases since he arrived in sector. When SFC Kramer arrived in Mahmudiyah security was still quite volatile. He was stationed at Yusafiyah, living under spartan conditions and given the mission to begin developing the economic sector within the ravaged Yusafiyah Nahia. His mission was without precedence in the area since the beginning of the conflict. Despite poor the poor security environment, SFC Kramer began leading missions to assess the economic conditions that existed in the area. He discovered that the area contained no State Owned Enterprises and no businesses that had ever employed more than a dozen or so people.

SFC Kramer was the first person in MND-C to begin utilizing CERP Micro Grants as a means of stimulating the small business sector. The grants have had a significant impact on revitalizing the Yusafiyah economic sector. The Commander of Patrol Base Yusafiyah stated that “the resurgence of the Yusafiyah markets and the Mullah Fayed market can be single-handedly attributed to SFC Kramer’s work.” The success in this area is not just from issuing the grants, but due largely to SFC Kramer’s mentoring these start-up businesses in sound business practices and taking the time to provide equipment and supplies rather than merely handing out cash.

SFC Kramer’s results have been noticeable at both the Brigade and Division level. He received individual recognition from the DCG-S and has provided training to each of the Battalions on lessons learned and best practices. Since SFC Kramer initiated the CERP Micro Grant program in August, it has grown to over 200 grants totaling over $720,000 across the Division.

When SFC Kramer learned that the State Department was getting ready to announce a program similar to CERP Micro Grants, he stepped forward and mentored the OPA staff on lessons learned and best practices for them to take into account in developing their guidelines.

SFC Kramer recognized that Micro Loans would be the logical next phase for small developing businesses that have successfully used Micro Grants to increase productivity and employment. He worked with the US Agency for International Development (USAID) to gain a commitment from Izdihar to initiate Micro Loans in Yusafiyah.

SFC Kramer took the lead on helping three local sewing shops form a consortium and win a contract worth over $18,000 bringing immediate employment to nine persons and an influx of cash to the area.

SFC Kramer’s actions are in keeping with the finest traditions of military service and reflect distinct credit upon himself, MND-C and the United States Army.

Citation Page
CITATION TO ACCOMPANY THE AWARD OF

THE BRONZE STAR MEDAL

SERGEANT FIRST CLASS DALE R. KRAMER

EXCEPTIONALLY MERITORIOUS SERVICE DURING OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM. SFC DALE KRAMER’S OUTSTANDING DEDICATION TO DUTY DURING PROVINCIAL RECONSTRUCTION COIN OPERATIONS IN IRAQ CONTRIBUTED TO THE OVERWHELMING SUCCESS OF THE MAHMUDIYAH EMBEDDED PROVINCIAL RECONSTRUCTION TEAM AND THE COMMAND’S MISSION. HIS ACTIONS ARE IN KEEPING WITH THE FINEST TRADITIONS OF MILITARY SERVICE AND REFLECT DISTINCT CREDIT UPON HIMSELF, MND-C, AND THE UNITED STATES ARMY.

Mail March 10, 2008

It was a great day for ePRT Baghdad 4. I am proud to have served with these fine volunteers.

As our tours wind up there is still much work to do. My ship out date is still some time towards the middle/ end of May. Our Deputy Team Leader who arrived first is leaving this next week and so the BDE CDR and our State Dept Leader decided to have our award ceremony today.

Before I leave I will do my best to get one more news and picture letter out, so stay tuned.

Hope it warms up for those in the Snowbelt.

Semper Fi,
Dale

Dale Kramer
Somewhere near the Garden of Eden

Another Meeting / Banks of Euphrates

Another Meeting / On the road again

Update: July 14, 2007

14-Jul-07

Hello All,

Well the 4th of July is past and with any good luck and no extension we will be home in time for next years. We did have a few fireworks; ok motors fired some illumination rounds. Good thing is all fires were all outgoing.

Been around the AO a bit, this area is very different from the East were I was in 2004. Have spent some time in the farm lands near the Euphrates River. Wow, what a salad bowl, but with security problems and fuel shortages (yes, fuel shortages) a lot of crops go unpicked and rot on the vine.

If you want to appreciate what our government does for us and how great America is, take a vacation to some place like Iraq. I have talked to or sat in on interviews with scores of Iraqis and the three things they complain about most is electricity, water for drinking & irrigation and security. You know things are good when you don’t have to think about them and you get them. Like turning a tap and getting clean water.

If you know others serving overseas in one of the war zones it is safe to say that your e-mails and letters mean a lot. Most places have some type of internet and mail gets everywhere eventually. With the surge and the pushing of troops out to the countryside e-mail is more accessible than snail mail.

A special thanks to Elayne and her campers. The cards they sent were very thoughtful and I enjoyed reading each of them.

Enjoy the summer and all the great places to visit in our beautiful country. If you can do it in a Chevy or on a motorcycle, both of which I plan to do in about a year!

Regards and good wishes,

Dale

Update: April 20, 2007

Dale Kramer would like to make the following announcement:

I'm Back - in Iraq!

See you Spring 2008!

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