These pictures were taken while on a photo request and there was no data for this man. Since that time someone has contacted me that there is another memorial for James on find-a-grave. It would be difficult to find without the memorial number of 74303900. Because the memorial stone is in St. James, it is probably easier to find. Because the data of the possibility of this being a memorial stone and not a gravestone was not available at the time, this is how the situation stands today. Please follow the memorial number for a very moving tribute.∼PFC James Martin Klopmeyer was killed on his 10th day in Vietnam.
-- -- --
Private First Class
M CO, 3RD BN, 5TH MARINES, 1ST MARDIV, III MAF
HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY
GUN, SMALL ARMS FIRE
United States Marine Corps
Millstadt, Illinois
June 19, 1947 to December 19, 1967
JAMES M KLOPMEYER is on The Wall at Panel 32E Line 024
Killed In Action
19 DECEMBER 1967
Pfc. James Martin Klopmeyer, Pfc. Murray Dean Vidler and Pfc. John Franklin Riegel served with the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, Mike Company. They were all Killed In Action on 19 December 1967 when out on a patrol.
-- -- --
James Martin Klopmeyer
Private First Class
PERSONAL DATA
Home of Record: Millstadt, IL
Date of birth: 06/19/1947
MILITARY DATA
Service: United States Marine Corps
Grade at loss: E2
Rank: Private First Class
ID No: 2364785
MOS: 0311: RIFLEMAN
Length Service: 00
Unit: M CO, 3RD BN, 5TH MARINES, 1ST MARDIV, III MAF
CASUALTY DATA
Start Tour: 12/09/1967
Incident Date: 12/19/1967
Casualty Date: 12/19/1967
Age at Loss: 20
Location: Quang Nam Province, South Vietnam
Remains: Body recovered
Casualty Type: Hostile, died outright
Casualty Reason: Ground casualty
Casualty Detail: Gun or small arms fire
ON THE WALL Panel 32E Line 024
The following elegant tribute was written by Tom Klopmeyer, Jim's older brother:
-- My brother, Jim --
He was a kind and gentle kid always ready to help. Jimmy, at six years old, had brain fever and polio and was not supposed to live through the night. He was forced a year more behind me, he was always the slowest, weakest and the last one to be picked to a team, but never complained and no one tried harder.
When everyone else was trying to get out of the service, myself included, he was trying to get in. You see Jimmy was actually 4-F physically unfit. He was turned down by the Army, Navy and Marines. With help from one of his friends, a Drill Sergeant, they made a deal with the Marines if he could pass their Boot Camp and gain so much weight they would let him be a Marine. Again the last to be picked, but he met their demands and became what he wanted so much. He gained almost forty pounds. I didn't recognize him when he came home. Jim wore different size shoes, his leg was three quarters of an inch smaller in diameter and his leg was also half inch shorter.
He would be very proud of this Memorial page, just like I am. Thank you so much for your kindness and thoughtfulness, even after all these years, but it never ages in my mind. Can't wait to show my grandchildren and even my brothers and sisters. Some of them because of the age difference didn't know Jim that well.~Tom Klopmeyer
----------------------
To Mr. Tom Klopmeyer
Tom, I'm smiling as I write this; you're words are brimming with great praise for such a determined young brother that carried himself with steadfast certitude, even with one shorter leg. Your brother looked up to you, and you were his model of a Great Man. Your brother is in heaven, telling everyone "What a great brother I had on Earth. He gave me courage, strength, and devotion for my family, he was a wonderful brother."
Robel
----------------------
The following was written by William Duran --
I WAS WITH JIM WHEN HE WAS KILLED. JIM WAS NEW TO OUR OUTFIT. I MADE EVERY EFFORT TO GREET JIM AND MAKE HIM FEEL COMFORTABLE WHEN I SAW HIM. I KNEW HOW DIFFICULT IT WAS TO BE NEW IN THIS COUNTRY. JIM SEEMED SO YOUNG, SO FRESH, SO INNOCENT AND HE ALWAYS HAD THAT GLOW TO HIM. HE ALWAYS GREETED ME WITH A SMILE. JIM WAS NOT IN VIETNAM LONG ENOUGH TO GROW OLD LIKE WE DID. YEARS LATER I REALIZED THAT I WAS YOUNGER THAN JIM BY ABOUT 6 MONTHS.
JIM, YOU WERE NEW TO OUR UNIT BUT I CAN NEVER FORGET YOUR SMILE. YOU SEEMED SO YOUNG AND INNOCENT. I HAVE A SON THAT IS YOUR AGE. MY SON IS YOUNG AND INNOCENT LIKE YOU. EVERY TIME I SEE MY SON, I THINK OF YOU AND I AM OVERWHELMED WITH EMOTIONS. EMOTIONS FOR YOU AND THE WIFE AND CHILDREN YOU DID NOT KNOW, AND EMOTIONS FOR YOUR PARENTS AND THE WONDERFUL SON THAT WAS TAKEN TOO QUICKLY. GOD BLESS JAMES MARTIN KLOPMEYER.
~WILLIAM DURAN
---------------
Cenotaph.
-- -- --
Private First Class
M CO, 3RD BN, 5TH MARINES, 1ST MARDIV, III MAF
HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY
GUN, SMALL ARMS FIRE
United States Marine Corps
Millstadt, Illinois
June 19, 1947 to December 19, 1967
JAMES M KLOPMEYER is on The Wall at Panel 32E Line 024
Killed In Action
19 DECEMBER 1967
Pfc. James Martin Klopmeyer, Pfc. Murray Dean Vidler and Pfc. John Franklin Riegel served with the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, Mike Company. They were all Killed In Action on 19 December 1967 when out on a patrol.
-- -- --
James Martin Klopmeyer
Private First Class
PERSONAL DATA
Home of Record: Millstadt, IL
Date of birth: 06/19/1947
MILITARY DATA
Service: United States Marine Corps
Grade at loss: E2
Rank: Private First Class
ID No: 2364785
MOS: 0311: RIFLEMAN
Length Service: 00
Unit: M CO, 3RD BN, 5TH MARINES, 1ST MARDIV, III MAF
CASUALTY DATA
Start Tour: 12/09/1967
Incident Date: 12/19/1967
Casualty Date: 12/19/1967
Age at Loss: 20
Location: Quang Nam Province, South Vietnam
Remains: Body recovered
Casualty Type: Hostile, died outright
Casualty Reason: Ground casualty
Casualty Detail: Gun or small arms fire
ON THE WALL Panel 32E Line 024
The following elegant tribute was written by Tom Klopmeyer, Jim's older brother:
-- My brother, Jim --
He was a kind and gentle kid always ready to help. Jimmy, at six years old, had brain fever and polio and was not supposed to live through the night. He was forced a year more behind me, he was always the slowest, weakest and the last one to be picked to a team, but never complained and no one tried harder.
When everyone else was trying to get out of the service, myself included, he was trying to get in. You see Jimmy was actually 4-F physically unfit. He was turned down by the Army, Navy and Marines. With help from one of his friends, a Drill Sergeant, they made a deal with the Marines if he could pass their Boot Camp and gain so much weight they would let him be a Marine. Again the last to be picked, but he met their demands and became what he wanted so much. He gained almost forty pounds. I didn't recognize him when he came home. Jim wore different size shoes, his leg was three quarters of an inch smaller in diameter and his leg was also half inch shorter.
He would be very proud of this Memorial page, just like I am. Thank you so much for your kindness and thoughtfulness, even after all these years, but it never ages in my mind. Can't wait to show my grandchildren and even my brothers and sisters. Some of them because of the age difference didn't know Jim that well.~Tom Klopmeyer
----------------------
To Mr. Tom Klopmeyer
Tom, I'm smiling as I write this; you're words are brimming with great praise for such a determined young brother that carried himself with steadfast certitude, even with one shorter leg. Your brother looked up to you, and you were his model of a Great Man. Your brother is in heaven, telling everyone "What a great brother I had on Earth. He gave me courage, strength, and devotion for my family, he was a wonderful brother."
Robel
----------------------
The following was written by William Duran --
I WAS WITH JIM WHEN HE WAS KILLED. JIM WAS NEW TO OUR OUTFIT. I MADE EVERY EFFORT TO GREET JIM AND MAKE HIM FEEL COMFORTABLE WHEN I SAW HIM. I KNEW HOW DIFFICULT IT WAS TO BE NEW IN THIS COUNTRY. JIM SEEMED SO YOUNG, SO FRESH, SO INNOCENT AND HE ALWAYS HAD THAT GLOW TO HIM. HE ALWAYS GREETED ME WITH A SMILE. JIM WAS NOT IN VIETNAM LONG ENOUGH TO GROW OLD LIKE WE DID. YEARS LATER I REALIZED THAT I WAS YOUNGER THAN JIM BY ABOUT 6 MONTHS.
JIM, YOU WERE NEW TO OUR UNIT BUT I CAN NEVER FORGET YOUR SMILE. YOU SEEMED SO YOUNG AND INNOCENT. I HAVE A SON THAT IS YOUR AGE. MY SON IS YOUNG AND INNOCENT LIKE YOU. EVERY TIME I SEE MY SON, I THINK OF YOU AND I AM OVERWHELMED WITH EMOTIONS. EMOTIONS FOR YOU AND THE WIFE AND CHILDREN YOU DID NOT KNOW, AND EMOTIONS FOR YOUR PARENTS AND THE WONDERFUL SON THAT WAS TAKEN TOO QUICKLY. GOD BLESS JAMES MARTIN KLOPMEYER.
~WILLIAM DURAN
---------------
Cenotaph.
These pictures were taken while on a photo request and there was no data for this man. Since that time someone has contacted me that there is another memorial for James on find-a-grave. It would be difficult to find without the memorial number of 74303900. Because the memorial stone is in St. James, it is probably easier to find. Because the data of the possibility of this being a memorial stone and not a gravestone was not available at the time, this is how the situation stands today. Please follow the memorial number for a very moving tribute.∼PFC James Martin Klopmeyer was killed on his 10th day in Vietnam.
-- -- --
Private First Class
M CO, 3RD BN, 5TH MARINES, 1ST MARDIV, III MAF
HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY
GUN, SMALL ARMS FIRE
United States Marine Corps
Millstadt, Illinois
June 19, 1947 to December 19, 1967
JAMES M KLOPMEYER is on The Wall at Panel 32E Line 024
Killed In Action
19 DECEMBER 1967
Pfc. James Martin Klopmeyer, Pfc. Murray Dean Vidler and Pfc. John Franklin Riegel served with the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, Mike Company. They were all Killed In Action on 19 December 1967 when out on a patrol.
-- -- --
James Martin Klopmeyer
Private First Class
PERSONAL DATA
Home of Record: Millstadt, IL
Date of birth: 06/19/1947
MILITARY DATA
Service: United States Marine Corps
Grade at loss: E2
Rank: Private First Class
ID No: 2364785
MOS: 0311: RIFLEMAN
Length Service: 00
Unit: M CO, 3RD BN, 5TH MARINES, 1ST MARDIV, III MAF
CASUALTY DATA
Start Tour: 12/09/1967
Incident Date: 12/19/1967
Casualty Date: 12/19/1967
Age at Loss: 20
Location: Quang Nam Province, South Vietnam
Remains: Body recovered
Casualty Type: Hostile, died outright
Casualty Reason: Ground casualty
Casualty Detail: Gun or small arms fire
ON THE WALL Panel 32E Line 024
The following elegant tribute was written by Tom Klopmeyer, Jim's older brother:
-- My brother, Jim --
He was a kind and gentle kid always ready to help. Jimmy, at six years old, had brain fever and polio and was not supposed to live through the night. He was forced a year more behind me, he was always the slowest, weakest and the last one to be picked to a team, but never complained and no one tried harder.
When everyone else was trying to get out of the service, myself included, he was trying to get in. You see Jimmy was actually 4-F physically unfit. He was turned down by the Army, Navy and Marines. With help from one of his friends, a Drill Sergeant, they made a deal with the Marines if he could pass their Boot Camp and gain so much weight they would let him be a Marine. Again the last to be picked, but he met their demands and became what he wanted so much. He gained almost forty pounds. I didn't recognize him when he came home. Jim wore different size shoes, his leg was three quarters of an inch smaller in diameter and his leg was also half inch shorter.
He would be very proud of this Memorial page, just like I am. Thank you so much for your kindness and thoughtfulness, even after all these years, but it never ages in my mind. Can't wait to show my grandchildren and even my brothers and sisters. Some of them because of the age difference didn't know Jim that well.~Tom Klopmeyer
----------------------
To Mr. Tom Klopmeyer
Tom, I'm smiling as I write this; you're words are brimming with great praise for such a determined young brother that carried himself with steadfast certitude, even with one shorter leg. Your brother looked up to you, and you were his model of a Great Man. Your brother is in heaven, telling everyone "What a great brother I had on Earth. He gave me courage, strength, and devotion for my family, he was a wonderful brother."
Robel
----------------------
The following was written by William Duran --
I WAS WITH JIM WHEN HE WAS KILLED. JIM WAS NEW TO OUR OUTFIT. I MADE EVERY EFFORT TO GREET JIM AND MAKE HIM FEEL COMFORTABLE WHEN I SAW HIM. I KNEW HOW DIFFICULT IT WAS TO BE NEW IN THIS COUNTRY. JIM SEEMED SO YOUNG, SO FRESH, SO INNOCENT AND HE ALWAYS HAD THAT GLOW TO HIM. HE ALWAYS GREETED ME WITH A SMILE. JIM WAS NOT IN VIETNAM LONG ENOUGH TO GROW OLD LIKE WE DID. YEARS LATER I REALIZED THAT I WAS YOUNGER THAN JIM BY ABOUT 6 MONTHS.
JIM, YOU WERE NEW TO OUR UNIT BUT I CAN NEVER FORGET YOUR SMILE. YOU SEEMED SO YOUNG AND INNOCENT. I HAVE A SON THAT IS YOUR AGE. MY SON IS YOUNG AND INNOCENT LIKE YOU. EVERY TIME I SEE MY SON, I THINK OF YOU AND I AM OVERWHELMED WITH EMOTIONS. EMOTIONS FOR YOU AND THE WIFE AND CHILDREN YOU DID NOT KNOW, AND EMOTIONS FOR YOUR PARENTS AND THE WONDERFUL SON THAT WAS TAKEN TOO QUICKLY. GOD BLESS JAMES MARTIN KLOPMEYER.
~WILLIAM DURAN
---------------
Cenotaph.
-- -- --
Private First Class
M CO, 3RD BN, 5TH MARINES, 1ST MARDIV, III MAF
HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY
GUN, SMALL ARMS FIRE
United States Marine Corps
Millstadt, Illinois
June 19, 1947 to December 19, 1967
JAMES M KLOPMEYER is on The Wall at Panel 32E Line 024
Killed In Action
19 DECEMBER 1967
Pfc. James Martin Klopmeyer, Pfc. Murray Dean Vidler and Pfc. John Franklin Riegel served with the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, Mike Company. They were all Killed In Action on 19 December 1967 when out on a patrol.
-- -- --
James Martin Klopmeyer
Private First Class
PERSONAL DATA
Home of Record: Millstadt, IL
Date of birth: 06/19/1947
MILITARY DATA
Service: United States Marine Corps
Grade at loss: E2
Rank: Private First Class
ID No: 2364785
MOS: 0311: RIFLEMAN
Length Service: 00
Unit: M CO, 3RD BN, 5TH MARINES, 1ST MARDIV, III MAF
CASUALTY DATA
Start Tour: 12/09/1967
Incident Date: 12/19/1967
Casualty Date: 12/19/1967
Age at Loss: 20
Location: Quang Nam Province, South Vietnam
Remains: Body recovered
Casualty Type: Hostile, died outright
Casualty Reason: Ground casualty
Casualty Detail: Gun or small arms fire
ON THE WALL Panel 32E Line 024
The following elegant tribute was written by Tom Klopmeyer, Jim's older brother:
-- My brother, Jim --
He was a kind and gentle kid always ready to help. Jimmy, at six years old, had brain fever and polio and was not supposed to live through the night. He was forced a year more behind me, he was always the slowest, weakest and the last one to be picked to a team, but never complained and no one tried harder.
When everyone else was trying to get out of the service, myself included, he was trying to get in. You see Jimmy was actually 4-F physically unfit. He was turned down by the Army, Navy and Marines. With help from one of his friends, a Drill Sergeant, they made a deal with the Marines if he could pass their Boot Camp and gain so much weight they would let him be a Marine. Again the last to be picked, but he met their demands and became what he wanted so much. He gained almost forty pounds. I didn't recognize him when he came home. Jim wore different size shoes, his leg was three quarters of an inch smaller in diameter and his leg was also half inch shorter.
He would be very proud of this Memorial page, just like I am. Thank you so much for your kindness and thoughtfulness, even after all these years, but it never ages in my mind. Can't wait to show my grandchildren and even my brothers and sisters. Some of them because of the age difference didn't know Jim that well.~Tom Klopmeyer
----------------------
To Mr. Tom Klopmeyer
Tom, I'm smiling as I write this; you're words are brimming with great praise for such a determined young brother that carried himself with steadfast certitude, even with one shorter leg. Your brother looked up to you, and you were his model of a Great Man. Your brother is in heaven, telling everyone "What a great brother I had on Earth. He gave me courage, strength, and devotion for my family, he was a wonderful brother."
Robel
----------------------
The following was written by William Duran --
I WAS WITH JIM WHEN HE WAS KILLED. JIM WAS NEW TO OUR OUTFIT. I MADE EVERY EFFORT TO GREET JIM AND MAKE HIM FEEL COMFORTABLE WHEN I SAW HIM. I KNEW HOW DIFFICULT IT WAS TO BE NEW IN THIS COUNTRY. JIM SEEMED SO YOUNG, SO FRESH, SO INNOCENT AND HE ALWAYS HAD THAT GLOW TO HIM. HE ALWAYS GREETED ME WITH A SMILE. JIM WAS NOT IN VIETNAM LONG ENOUGH TO GROW OLD LIKE WE DID. YEARS LATER I REALIZED THAT I WAS YOUNGER THAN JIM BY ABOUT 6 MONTHS.
JIM, YOU WERE NEW TO OUR UNIT BUT I CAN NEVER FORGET YOUR SMILE. YOU SEEMED SO YOUNG AND INNOCENT. I HAVE A SON THAT IS YOUR AGE. MY SON IS YOUNG AND INNOCENT LIKE YOU. EVERY TIME I SEE MY SON, I THINK OF YOU AND I AM OVERWHELMED WITH EMOTIONS. EMOTIONS FOR YOU AND THE WIFE AND CHILDREN YOU DID NOT KNOW, AND EMOTIONS FOR YOUR PARENTS AND THE WONDERFUL SON THAT WAS TAKEN TOO QUICKLY. GOD BLESS JAMES MARTIN KLOPMEYER.
~WILLIAM DURAN
---------------
Cenotaph.
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