Kenneth F . Cramer Kenneth F . Cramer ( October 3 , 1894 – February 20 , 1954 ) was a United States Army Major General who served as Chief of the National Guard Bureau . Early life . Kenneth Frank Cramer was born in Gloversville , New York on October 3 , 1894 . He graduated from Princeton University in 1916 , and received his master ’ s degree in 1917 . World War I . Cramer enlisted in the United States Army for World War I and completed officer training in 1917 . He served in France during World War I , primarily with the 310th Infantry Regiment , a unit of the 78th Infantry Division . His service included combat during the St . Mihiel and Meuse - Argonne campaigns , and he was wounded and taken prisoner . He recuperated in a German hospital , and was released at the end of the war . Post World War I . After the war he maintained his membership in the Army Reserve and in 1931 transferred to the Connecticut Army National Guard as a Captain , accepting a demotion from Major in order to command a newly organized tank company . Cramer continued to advance through the ranks , and his assignments in Connecticut included : Plans , Operations and Training Officer , S3 for the 169th Infantry Regiment ; Commander of 3rd Battalion , 169th Infantry Regiment ; and Assistant Adjutant General of the Connecticut National Guard . He resided in Wethersfield , Connecticut , and in his civilian career he worked in the coal business , eventually becoming owner and operator of Hartford ' s K . F . Cramer Coal Company . Cramer served on the Wethersfield School Board from 1927 to 1937 . He was a member of the Connecticut House ( 1929 - 1933 ) and Senate ( 1933 - 1937 ) , and was a delegate to several Republican conventions . In 1938 he completed the United States Army Command and General Staff College and was his class Honor Graduate . World War II . He was a Colonel and Commander of the 169th Infantry Regiment when he mobilized for World War II with New England ' s 43rd " Winged Victory " Division . He was soon transferred to the Pacific - bound 24th Infantry Division to become Assistant Division Commander and was promoted to Brigadier General . Cramer became Commander of the 24th Division in 1945 and was promoted to Major General . Post World War II . After the war Cramer was assigned as commander of the 43rd Division . In 1947 he was appointed Chief of the National Guard Bureau , and served while continuing to command the division . Cramer ’ s tenure was highlighted by a feud with the Director of the newly formed Air National Guard , Major General George Finch , over the role the National Guard Bureau would play in the Air Guard ’ s operations . The recently organized United States Air Force viewed the National Guard Bureau as providing purely administrative functions , while Cramer viewed NGB ’ s ( and the NGB Chief ’ s ) role as a more direct policy - making and oversight one . Finch argued for Air Force control of the Air National Guard , putting him at odds with Cramer . The feud reached a high point in 1949 when Cramer dismissed Finch without consulting the Air Force leadership . ( Cramer later reinstated Finch . ) In 1950 the Miltonberger Board , which was formed to review the National Guard Bureau ’ s structure and policies , largely validated Cramer ’ s view by recommending that the National Guard Bureau remain in the Air National Guard ’ s chain of authority , with the NGB Chief exercising responsibility for both the Army and Air National Guards . The board also recommended the creation of a Deputy Chief of the National Guard Bureau position , to be filled by a Major General of the opposite service from the Chief , who could provide advice and subject matter expertise to the Chief . Both recommendations were adopted . The feud ended when Finch was reassigned as senior Air Force member of the team which negotiated the treaty that ended the Korean War and Cramer also requested a new assignment . Cramer was succeeded as NGB Chief by Raymond H . Fleming . Korean War . In 1950 Cramer commanded the 43rd Division when it was federalized for service in West Germany during the Korean War . During the division ’ s mobilization at Fort Pickett , Virginia , Cramer was the target of protest by wives who objected to his insistence that soldiers stay on post each night , rather than spending nights with their families off post . In addition , he was investigated over concerns that his disciplinary measures in Germany were too harsh , and had a negative effect on unit morale . Cramer argued that requiring soldiers to remain on post during mobilization was necessary to improve readiness and cohesion by maximizing training time , and that his actions in Germany were an effort to curtail black market activities . Although accused of being a martinet , Cramer was not found to be at fault . In 1952 he left command of the 43rd Division in order to take command of the Southern Area Command in Germany , a subordinate unit of United States Army Europe , and he served in this assignment until his death . Death and burial . Cramer died of a heart attack on February 20 , 1954 while hunting near Heidelberg , Germany . He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery , Section 30 , Grave 614 . At the time of his death Cramer had completed doctoral studies at the University of Munich and had submitted his dissertation . Awards and decorations . Cramer ' s awards included the Silver Star ( four awards ) , Legion of Merit , Bronze Star Medal , Air Medal , Army Commendation Medal and Purple Heart . Legacy . Cramer ’ s sister Beatrice endowed a scholarship in his name at the State University of New York at Cortland . The Kenneth Frank Cramer Scholarship is awarded annually to the top female applicant from Gloversville High School .