The Packers honor U.S. Army veteran John Craemer as part of ‘Operation Fan Mail

The Green Bay Packers and Network Health paid special tribute to U.S. Army veteran John Craemer during Monday night’s game against the New Orleans Saints for ‘Operation Fan Mail.’

This year marks the 18th season of Operation Fan Mail, the program that recognizes military families and veterans at each Packers home game.

Craemer joined the U.S. Army in 1992, earning the rank of Master Sergeant. Throughout his more than 30 years of service, he deployed to Iraq twice, Afghanistan and Kosovo and earned numerous awards, including three Bronze Star medals. In 2014, Craemer was diagnosed with stage 4 neck cancer. As a result of the radiation treatment, his jaw was damaged, forcing doctors to reconstruct his jaw with his fibula. After more than three decades of perseverance and dedication, Craemer medically retired from the Army in 2023.

A native of Eau Claire, Wis., Craemer currently resides in Allouez and is active in the Green Bay community, including working with the Press Times, Northeast Wisconsin Technical College and Green Bay Coast Guard Auxiliary. His wife, Gigi, a cancer survivor who also deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan with the U.S. State Department, nominated him for recognition. Two fellow veterans, Will Despins and Jack Gage, attended the game with John and Gigi.

Operation Fan Mail, which debuted in 2007, is designed to honor those who are on active duty or are veterans of the military, along with their families. In addition to being recognized on the video boards prior to the game, selected families will receive four tickets to the game, courtesy of Network Health. The Packers and Network Health will host a family at each 2024 home game and recognize them on the field during pregame activities. A total of 215 families have been saluted during the past 17 seasons.