Emmet Kirkwood Cramer was born in 1916 to parents Laura M. Cramer and John K. Cramer. They lived on 504 1/2 South Prince Street in Lancaster Pennsylvania, and he completed eight years of grammar school and four years of high school before going into the military. His occupation one year before enlisting was as a mailman for $40.00 week. Cramer was not involved in any relationships.