'Mook' - all that remained a year later. Sept. 1945
'Mook' - all that remained a year later. Sept. 1945
The prize! The bridge at Nijmegen.
The cost! Molenhoek Airborne Cemetery. Sept. 1945.
'Airborne training' for 'air landing'. Cottesmoore Airdrome, Aug. 1944 in the
Midlands, Leicestershire, England. NO JUMP!
Crossing the Elbe River - 1945.
Capt. H. Miller, C.O., B Co. 505 PIR Arrival. 1st day of 'Bulge' - Dec. 18,
1944.
Rest stop - Berlin. 'Truck stop' - Army style.
Bruno and Lorraine Mueller at their 50th anniversary.
Happy homecoming! Bruno, on furlough, and Lorraine in 1944.
Bruno Mueller just before going overseas in 1944. In time for the Bulge.
Walter Pakulski, age 19.
Adrian Willemse and his mother at The 'Honey House' in 1947.
Adrian and Nel Willemse in 1952. Newlyweds?
Adrian at home in Nijmegen, Holland, 1981. Note his prosthetic right arm. He
lost it to the Nazi Slave drivers during the early occupation of Holland. He is
and was a great comrade in arms. A true hero of the war. Also a great fisherman,
here in Wisconsin.
A recent photo of the huge bridge at Nijmegen.
Looking SW from the 'Honey-House' dike. This view is from between Adrian
Willemse's family home and the canal, rail/highway bridge.
The Willemse family at their home by the 'Honey-House' bridge. Photo taken a few
years before the invasion. Adrian, 4th from left, at age 16 or 17.
Tom Hacker at age 18. Only 18 years since the U.S. Airborne was started. For
many year, the editor and producer of the Badger Chapter newsletter.
'Big Ed' Moehrke at age 19. The baby is his nephew. Now 50+ years old.
Joe was the ultimate 'TROOPER', a 4 combat jump man. You just don't get many like that. He was a very modest guy when asked about his military history and would not give us any of his stories. We have nothing to tell.. . a real loss. I assure you his stories would curl your hair. He was a 'pathfinder' in Normandy. Going in hours before the rest of the airborne invasion was a risk taking beyond reason and belief. Few men lived to tell of it. And Joe just won't tell.
Some day, perhaps his family will release some of his diary. Then we shall see the reality of Joe's deeds. Those pages can easily be added to our 3 ring, loose leaf, set up and become part of this book. That is why it is in this format. I hope we will get lucky some day down the road and add many more stories to it.
Doc Stolp
Joe Klinkiewicz 1923-1996
Joseph J. Klinkiewicz was born on September 17th 1923. He passed away on November 5th 1996.
Joe served 20 years in the Army before Retiring. He was a combat paratrooper in WWII with the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment. He served in most of the major campaigns in Europe. Joe made four combat jumps with the 505th. On his 21st birthday, The U. S. Army let him make a jump into Holland. It was during Operation Market Garden. He earned various medals including The Purple Heart during his career. His awards also include the Master Parachute Badge and Pathfinder Badge. He was a qualified Jumpmaster. Joe continued to serve his country during the Korean War. Serving with, I believe, the Second Infantry Division. Joe finally retired from the Army after 20 years and 2 wars.
After his military service he worked for The Wisconsin Gas Company and several years ago retired from there.
In 1986, Joe, along with several other WWII troopers organized the Badger State Chapter. He was one of those signing the original charter recognizing the chapter. Since that beginning, Joe missed very few chapter meetings around the state. He will be missed at the BSC meetings.
Joe is survived by his wife Betty and two sons, Michael and Bobby (Linda). Two grandsons, Matthew and Brian. As well as other family members and friends.
Joe was interred in the new Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Union Grove, Wisconsin. The pallbearers, fellow members of the Badger State Chapter, were Sol Marcado, Everett Knueppel, Doc Stolp and Walter Pakulski.
Rest in peace my friend. I'll miss you. (I already miss your phone calls).
The Waalcrossing is part of a unique diorama, called 'The Crossing', and exhibited in the Liberation Museum 1944 at Groesbeek, Holland. This painting with its enormous dimensions of 15 meters long and 3 meters high, forms the background of the diorama that recalls the crossing of the river Waal by the Third Battalion of the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, part of the 82nd All American Airborne Division, September 20, 1944. This most significant action in the Operation Market Garden, was an important contribution to the Liberation of the Netherlands and the end of World War II.
In the Liberation Museum this diorama keeps the memory of this heroic act well alive. May the realistic recollection of this feat of arms teach us a lesson for a peaceful future.
The well-known artist Tom Lourens from Cadier en Keer painted the Waalcrossing. He succeeded in realizing a historically correct painting and has put a lot of effort in the research for the right details.