CHRISTAN KRAMER

Christan Kramer is the son of a World War II U.S. Army veteran and grew up as the youngest of four children in a family that would later experience divorce, remarriage, and blended relationships. By the time he entered the military, Christan had attended eleven different schools and navigated the challenges of being, in his words, a “middle child.”

 

In July 1967, at just 17 years old, he enlisted in the U.S. Army. His early training was filled with obstacles, including a broken wrist suffered during pugilistic training at Fort Campbell, KY, which prevented him from completing essential skills development. Despite this, he pushed through and continued on to “jungle training” at Fort Knox—ironically conducted in the cold and snow of a Kentucky winter—before being sent overseas.

 

In February 1968, Christan landed in South Vietnam during the Tet Offensive, arriving on a C-130 at an air base under attack. What followed were two years marked by the horrors of war. Driven by commitment and brotherhood, he volunteered three times to extend his duty and remain in Vietnam.

 

He returned to the United States in 1970 at a time when many veterans were met not with respect, but with hostility. Christan recalls being spit at, called a “baby killer,” and shunned by his own community. Like many of his peers, he struggled with heavy drug use, fractured relationships, and personal turmoil. He was eventually arrested in Milwaukee while demonstrating to end the very war he had fought in.

 

Seeking meaning and healing, Christan began a deep exploration of human behavior and spirituality in the 1980s. In 1985, he connected with the teachings of Harvey Jackins and joined a small group practicing Re-evaluation Counseling. Two years later, he attended the Taking It Lightly weekend program at Patricia’s Center for Creative Learning in Milwaukee. This marked the beginning of a lifelong journey of emotional healing and service.

 

Between 1987 and 1992, Christan staffed, trained, and instructed dozens of weekend programs, becoming a source of guidance for others seeking the same healing he had found. In 1993, he co-authored and co-led the creation of Bamboo Bridge, a veteran support training weekend, alongside Patricia Clason, continuing that work through 2004.

 

His commitment to veterans and emotional healing deepened over the years. From 1993 to 2012, Christan staffed and instructed trainings across multiple cities, helping countless individuals work through emotional pain and trauma.

 

In 2013, he became a content contributor and co-instructor for the first Healing Warrior Hearts retreat, continuing to help build safe, supportive spaces for veterans to share, heal, and grow.

 

Now, with decades of experience in peer-based emotional healing, Christan reflects on his journey with gratitude. “I have realized how important it is to continue the life-long process of emotional healing and growth,” he says. “I am grateful to be able to lead, inspire others, and heal together.”