Walter Albert Klein

West Point, 1951

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by J. A. "Andy" Chacon on April 19, 2011:

Walter Albert Klein Born November 15, 1926 -- Died April 16, 2011 Walter Albert "Walt" Klein was born in New York on 15 November 1926 and was appointed to West Point on a Senatorial appointment. His West Point classmates recall: "Walt realized a lifelong ambition when he came to West Point. He was diligent in academics, but always armed with a continuous smile and rousing sense of humor. Athletics, soap box oratory, music, and social life were a part of him. In gym clothes, fatigues, or full dress he found himself right at home. His abilities and friendliness are sure to push him far up the ladder of success." (The photo above shows Lois Lynch, Walt, Peg Byers, Andy Remson and Joan Klein at a Founders Day gathering.) During his cadet days Walt was on the Chapel Choir plebe year; with the Skeet Club plebe and yearling, years; on the Debate Council and with the French Club yearling, cow, and first class years; with the Glee Club cow and first class years; on the Pointer staff and the Policy Committee first class years; and was a Cadet Sergeant his first class year. In intramurals, he was an outstanding quarter-miler the anchor of the D-2 relay. He and his roommates all served time on the area during plebe year, but his "slug" was distinguished by being the last to be announced from the "poopdeck". Without hesitation, Walt selected Infantry as his branch. After graduation he attended the Fort Benning Basic Infantry course, he enlisted classmates to give off-duty courses in English/democracy to 120 South Korean officers in adjacent barracks. Little did anyone know that these Korean comrades would become a legacy, returning to the hills of Korea as regimental commanders, heading up the Korean Military Academy and later formulating the destiny of their nation. Soon our class took their places on hilltops; Walt's was with the 38th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Division, first on an isolated outpost forward of "Old Baldy" and later on "Old Baldy" itself. There he earned his combat Infantryman Badge and was decorated for valor and wounds. He closed his tour as an Assistant G-3 (Air) 2nd Infantry Division controlling the air strikes for a two-division sector and earning a Bronze Star for meritorious service. After Korea, and under "Ripley-like" offs, Walt was reassigned to Fort Dix to command the very same infantry company where he had served as a platoon leader before being assigned to Korea. During the next 3 years, his Rifle Company produced more than a battle group of replacements, one training cycle capturing the all-Army PT record. He was further remembered for twice turning down General Aide positions to become the only office in the 9th Infantry Division to have commanded a company for 3 successive years. Walt's next assignment was ROTC duty at Hofstra University. In addition to teaching, he earned an MBA, met and married Joan Klenck, a pretty campus co-ed, and transferred to the Engineers. This led to 1960 a Master of Science degree in Engineering from Texas A&M. In 1960, Wally was named Project Engineer, 7th Army, China Theatre; served until 1963 and was awarded the Commendation Medal for distinguished service. Next Walt was assigned to the Army MC from 1963 to 1965 and was awarded a second Commendation Medal for distinguished service. In 1967 Wally received orders to Office, Chief of Research & Development with duty station at Headquarters, Military Assistance Command, Vietnam where he served until 1969 and was awarded a third Bronze Star Medal for distinguished heroism against an enemy. From 1970 to 1972 Wally served his last military assignment with the Advance Research Projects Agency, Office, Secretary of Defense and was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for conspicuously meritorious performance of duty in a non-combat situation. Wally retired from the United States Army as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1972 and accepted a position with the Washington Sub Sanitary Commission upon his retirement where he served until 1983 when he went with Wilbur Smith & Associates as Director of Land Development, then in 1987 became Senior Site Evaluator with Versar Inc., a position he held until 1992 when he was named Marketing Director with ATEC in 1992. Wally retired in 1995 for a second time and made his home in Alexandria, Virginia with his wife Joan. They had two sons and two daughters to carry the West Point values forward. All served as class officers and in sports; both girls being "top of the pyramid" cheerleaders at UVA and both boys with advanced degrees, one recently running for Virginia Delegate. Walt's activities included Vestry duties at the local Lutheran church, where Scouting became an important part of life, advancing 51 youth to Eagle Scout.

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