Abigail Kramer (born March 17, 1930 – April 18, 1985) served as a National Volunteer of the United States Army, working as a medical courier in the trenches. As a translator, she worked with German prisoners of war who were wounded. She is one of very few women to serve in this capacity in the war. She had two children, one of whom was born while serving overseas. As a result of her service, she earned a certificate from the American Red Cross in October of 1945.
When Abigail Kramer became a widow, she devoted her time to raising funds for widows and orphans of the US Army. Because of her extensive knowledge of the legal system, she was often called upon to represent both men and women who had been wrongfully accused of wrongdoing by the military, the police, or law officials. In her book “The Making of America’s Army,” she reveals her frustration with governmental officials who refused to protect soldiers from sexual harassment in the Armed Forces. Because of her association with such heroes, Abigail Kramer has become a sought after speaker and commentator on many issues of public concern.
Abigail’s professional life spanned a period of several decades, yet she maintained a steady job at the same time to support her family. It was not until the age of 75 that she began experiencing loss of movement in her left hand, accompanied by the loss of feeling in her toes and fingers. These losses increased with the buildup of her age and resulted in the development of osteoarthritis in her hands and feet. By this time, her eyesight was becoming progressively worse, as well. It was during this time that she decided to pursue a Master of Science degree in Rehabilitation and Physical Education, concentrating in geriatric care.