John W. Kleist, Korean War CasualtyPorter County Data on Korean War Casualties . . . .
John W. Kleist
Private E-2, Light Weapons Infantryman, 179th Infantry Regiment, 45th
Infantry Division, US Army
Date of Birth: December 8, 1930
Date of Death: June 21, 1952
Burial: Memorial Park Cemetery (Center Township)
Cause of Death: Killed in Action (North Korea sector)
Date of Enlistment: October 12, 1951
Awards: Purple Heart, Combat Infantryman's Badge, Korean Service Medal, United
Nations Service Medal, Korean War Service Medal
Hometown: Morgan Township
Newspaper Notices:
John Kleist Is Killed in Korean War
Morgan Township Youth Died In Action June 21
A Morgan township soldier was added to the casualty list of war dead in the
Korean conflict, according to word received today by relatives.
Pvt. John Kleist, 21, was killed in action on June 21, according to a telegram
received by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John D. Kleist, of RFD 3, Valparaiso.
The tragic news was relayed to the parents by Maj. Gen. William E. Bergin, from
Washington, D. C.
The missive states that a confirming letter to the parents will follow.
The youthful soldier was born in Morgan township October 12, 1931. He was
registered with the Porter county selective service board and was inducted into
the army October 12, 1951. He was a student at the Morgan Township High School.
Surviving besides the parents are five sisters, Mrs. Mary Meece and Mrs. Ruth
Park, of Valparaiso; Mrs. Lydia Stanger and Mrs. Leora Green, of Redondo Beach,
Calif., and Miss Lura Kleist, at home; three brothers, Luther, Allen and Melvin
Kleist, all at home, and his maternal grandfather, Frank Pullins, of Valparaiso.
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Source: The Vidette-Messenger, Valparaiso, Porter County, Indiana; July
1, 1952; Volume 25, Number 307, Page 1, Column 2
John Kleist Body To Arrive Aug. 26
Mr. and Mrs. John D. Kleist were notified today by telegram that the body of
their son, John, who was killed in action in Korea, June 21, will arrive in
Valparaiso Aug. 26.
The family was advised by Maj. Frank M. Green, chief of American graves
registration in New York that the body would be escorted by SFC Paul J. Keppler,
and would arrive by train next Tuesday.
Funeral services are incomplete at this time.
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Source: The Vidette-Messenger, Valparaiso, Porter County, Indiana; August
22, 1952; Volume 26, Number 42, Page 1, Column 6
John Kleist Services Set
Memorial services for Pvt. John W. Kleist, of the U. S. Army, who lost his life
in Korea June 21, of this year, will be held at 2 p. m. Thursday at the LePell
Funeral home, 68 Monroe.
The Rev. Percy Thomas, of the First Christian church, will officiate and burial
will be in Memorial Park cemetery, Indiana 2, southwest of Valparaiso.
Pvt. Kleist was born in Morgan township, Porter county Dec. 8, 1930, a son of
Mr. and Mrs. John D. Kleist.
Surviving besides his parents of RFD 3, Valparaiso, are three brothers, Luther,
Allen and Melvin, of Valparaiso; one sister, Lura, at home; four sisters, Mrs.
Mary Meece, Mrs. Ruth Park and Mrs. Leore Green, all of Valparaiso, and Mrs.
Lydia Stanger, of Redondo Beach, Calif., and his maternal grandparent, Frank
Pullins, of Valparaiso.
Friends may call at the funeral home after 7 p. m. Wednesday and until time of
the rites Thursday afternoon.
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Source: The Vidette-Messenger, Valparaiso, Porter County, Indiana; August
25, 1952; Volume 26, Number 44, Page 1, Column 4
Return to
List of
Porter County Korean War Casualties
Information abstracted and transcribed by Steven R. Shook