Steve Jordon will be doing an article on Bill on Thursday in the World Herald. This is the info submitted by Ken and me for that purpose. FYI should you wish to use any of it.
VO,
Reg
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Subject: Lt. Col. William W. Klausner-obit
From: The
Gunfighter [mailto:thegunfighter@cox.net]
Bill was a "natural leader" who always took care of his "troops"...and they respected him for it, motivated by his genuine concern for their well-being and that of their families. As a result, morale, pride, esprit and mission effectiveness always exceeded the standard.
With the exception of his three year tour in Okinawa (with Ken and Jane) supporting the War in North Viet Nam where he served as a squadron Operations Officer and subsequently as Squadron Commander....during which he regularly flew 18 1/2 hour sorties with his crews, his entire career was spent in the 55th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing....now known as the 55th Wing here at Offutt.
He started with the Wing in 1955 at Forbes AFB, Topeka, KS and transferred to Offutt with the RC-135's prior to his assignment to Okinawa. He returned to the 55th here at Offutt where, as Ken says, served as the Headquarters Squadron Commander and as the Commander of the massive effort to sustain the 24 hour-aday continuous Looking Glass coverage....and the regularly scheduled reconnaissance sorties...from Lincoln when the runway was closed here at Offutt.
He had a "magnetic", outgoing, gregarious personality which generated enthusiasm in all with whom he came in contact. In a word, he indeed was a "special" person and human being. His ability to organize, motivate, sense of humor, wit, imagination, dedication, extreme patience and understanding will be missed.
BUT...he touched a lot of folks and in so doing, left a very important part of himself behind.
Our Country, the United States Air Force and the 55th Wing can and should be proud of this outstanding American as he reflects great credit on all!
Reg
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-----Original Message-----
From: Kenneth M. Klausner [mailto:k.m.klausner@cox.net]
Sent: Tuesday, April 12, 2005 4:21 PM
To: Jordon, Steve
Cc: thegunfighter@cox.net
Subject: Lt. Col. William W. Klausner
Dear Mr. Steve Jordon:
I almost made it by the deadline. I want to thank you again for taking the time to write an article about my Dad. I have attached a copy of his Form 214, Discharge from Active Duty. As you know, much of our fathers' work was during the Cold and Vietnam Wars, which caused it to be classified then, and it possibly remains that way today. My Dad discuss very little of his general and specific responsibilities with me and offered only little bits of information I have pieced together over the years. What I know is here as I tried to fill in the blanks of his military record. I know Reg is out of town, but perhaps he has web access to his email, so I "cc'ed" him in case he has a chance to add anything. Feel free to edit, add, and make corrections to the following.
From: Kenneth M. Klausner [mailto:k.m.klausner@cox.net]
Lt. Colonel William Warren Klausner, U.S. Air Force, Retired, 72, of Las Vegas, Nevada, passed away Saturday, April 9, 2005. He was born March 30, 1933, in Runnemede, New Jersey. William (Bill) earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Park University. From a young age, Bill knew he wanted to be a pilot, and the Air Force gave him the best opportunity to realize his dream. He began his career with the Air Force in 1955. He served his country at numerous domestic duty stations including Omaha, Nebraska, a foreign duty station in Okinawa, Japan, and foreign temporary duty stations throughout Europe, the Middle East, Far East and north Africa.
During the Cold War he flew reconnaissance missions in the RB-47 jet aircraft as part of the Air Force's mission that carried electronic surveillance equipment close to the Soviet Union's borders. While testing the boundaries of U.S.S.R. air space, flying with a plane full of electronic surveillance personnel ("Crows") and equipment instead of bombs, Bill was awarded a "Distinguished Flying Cross".
The objectives of Rivet Joint (Strategic Reconnaissance Operations), among others, was to monitor and collect data on communist command and control, radar effectiveness, and to assist in the development of weapon and electronic countermeasures. He also earned a "Bronze Star" among other decorations, medals, badges, citations and campaign ribbons. During the Vietnam War, stationed on Okinawa, Japan, Bill flew the RC- 135, the "Hog-nosed" and/or "Chipmunk-cheeked" reconnaissance version of the KC-135 tanker. His missions over the South China Sea were to monitor and collect data on North Vietnamese communications and surface-to-air missile sites during air operations over Vietnam. When his piloting days were coming to an end on Okinawa, Bill took on the responsibilities of an Air Operations Officer and then Squadron Commander of the 82nd Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron. In 1974, after the Vietnam War, Bill and his family returned to Omaha, Nebraska, where he took on the responsibilities of a Commander and Executive Support Officer within the 55th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing (Strategic Air Command).
One of his responsibilities during the latter part of his career in the fall of 1979 was Detachment Commander of operation "Busy Barnyard". For the first time since 1965, the U.S. Air Force operated from the old Lincoln air base when the runway at Offutt was closed for repair. Bill was responsible for close to 100 people keeping a large part of Offutt's flying missions operational. The operation included personnel from the 55th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, 3902nd Air Base Wing, 1st Aerospace Communications Group, 6949th Electronic Security Squadron, and the Royal Air Force detachment. Bill retired from Offutt AFB in September 1982.
Bill was preceded in death by his father, John E. Klausner, and mother, Alice J. Janawiak-Klausner. Graveside services will be held at the Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Boulder City, Nevada, on April 15, 2005. He is survived by his spouse, Mary Kay Somers-Klausner, his two sons, William Keith Klausner, an Air Traffic Controller in Kansas City, Missouri; Kenneth M. Klausner, an Attorney employed by the IRS in Las Vegas, Nevada, and two grandchildren; Allison and Lena Klausner of Kansas City.
Cards and condolences may be sent to Mary Kay Klausner, 8664 Emerald Grove Way, Las Vegas, NV 89123-3615.
In lieu of flowers or if you wish to make a donation in memory of Bill, please give to his two favorite charities:
Sisters of Mercy of New Jersey,
1645 US Highway 22,
Watchung, NJ 07069-6587
and
Camden Catholic High School,
300 Cuthbert Road,
Cherry Hill, NJ 08002-2999.
Ken Klausner
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