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Leonard M. Klinkner hailed from southeast Pittsburgh's Crafton Ingram district. He entered the Army on April 3rd 1943 from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, receiving his training at Camp Mackall, North Carolina and later became an instructor at the same facility. Leonard also received his jump wings and glider wings in the States before leaving for overseas service on August 17th 1944. He attained the rank of Sergeant serving with the 17th Airborne Division as an Antitank Gunner in the Rhineland, Ardennes and Central Europe campaigns. At wars end Leonard transferred into the 80th AA Bn in June of 1945. The 82nd Airborne Division was chosen as America's Honor Guard for the United States section of Berlin. Leonard remained in Berlin with the 80th AA Bn. until December 1945. He sailed home on the Queen Mary arriving Stateside January 3rd 1946, and was honorably discharged January 16th 1946. Leonard had three brothers that served during World War II, Chuck with the U.S. Army, Raymond with the U.S.Army Air Force and John as a Merchant Marine.
Sergeant Leonard M. Klinkner in England -1945.
France 1945 - Sergeant Leonard M. Klinkner. 
Sergeant Leonard M. Klinkner sailing home on the Queen Mary December 1945. 
The following WW-II paratrooper postcards are from Leonard's memorabilia collection.
Camp Mackall postcard. United States Army Signal Corps Photo.
A Battery of 75mm howitzers stand by ready to fire. United States Army Signal Corps Photo.
Loading and boarding C-47's. United States Army Signal Corps Photo.
Glider in tow. United States Army Air Force Photo.
Notice the tents in the background. United States Army Signal Corps Photo.
37MM gun in tow. It was replaced later in the war with the 57MM gun. United States Army Signal Corps Photo.
River Crossing. United States Army Signal Corps Photo. 
Sighting a 75mm pack howitzer. United States Army Signal Corps Photo. 
Training jump. United States Army Signal Corps Photo. 
Hooked up and ready to jump. United States Army Signal Corps Photo. 
Out the door. United States Army Air Force Photo. 
Daytime jump. United States Army Signal Corps Photo. 
Glider riders all aboard. United States Army Signal Corps Photo.
Glider Infantry and ready. United States Army Signal Corps Photo. 
A compililation of scenes - The U.S. Army in action. ( © W.R.T. company)
Jeep river crossing. United States Army Signal Corps Photo.
Slit trench. United States Army Signal Corps Photo.
The flip side of all postcards displayed on this page contained a section for a message home and their address.
Leonard served with the 17th Airborne Division, 155 AA Battalion from it's inception in April of 1943.
He transferred into the 80th AA Battalion in June of 1945. (U.S. Army Signal Corps photograph.)
105mm Howitzers. U.S. Army Signal Corps photograph. 
Sergeant Klinkner is listed on this Queen Mary roster. The ship arrived in New York City
harbor
January 3,1946. ( See number 6 )
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