Charles Cram
Pharmacist Mate 2nd Class
5th Marine Division
silver star recipient
26th Marines
1st Battalion, Company A
Navy Corpsman on Iwo Jima
Born on March 15, 1926, Charles Cram joined the Navy in 1943, becoming a Navy Corpsman with A Company, 1st Battalion, 26th Marines, 5th Marine Division.
On February 19, 1945, Cram and his men landed on the shores of Iwo Jima. Out of the 250 Marines and Sailors he landed with, only 25 would walk off the island, with his unit suffering 90% casualties.
Cram witnessed the flag raising on Mount Suribachi on February 23, believing the war was over. However, the fight was far from over. Just a few days later, on the seventh day of the battle, Charles would be wounded while tending to an injured Marine in “no man’s land.” Despite his wounds, he continued to treat his wounded comrades.
Though Cram didn’t mention this, his heroism earned him the Silver Star, Bronze Star, and Purple Heart. Never one to boast, When I mentioned these awards to Cram, he said something like, “Oh yeah, they gave me a few awards.” Twenty-three doctors and 827 corpsmen were killed or wounded at Iwo Jima, a casualty rate twice as high as Saipan.
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Cram was married to Joan, the love of his life, for 67 years. They had two children, five grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren (and counting).
Silver Star Citation:
“Pharmacist Mate Third Class Charles H. Cram, Jr., United States Navy, was awarded the Silver Star for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action on February 22, 1945, while serving as a Corpsman attached to the FIFTH Marine Division at Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands. His gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Naval Service.”
