Written December 22, 2009

by

Carol Klinger Woolbright, Ed.D., Orphan Daughter of Capt. Jack R. Klinger. KIA,

Battle of the Bulge

Company B, 194 ,GI, 17^th Airborne

“But this rose is an extra.  Its smell and its colour are an embellishment of life, not a condition of it.  It is only goodness which gives extras, and so I say again that we have much to hope from the flowers.”--Sherlock Holmes (Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, “The Naval Treaty”.

As we recognize the 65^th Anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge, the story of Capt. Jack R. Klinger (KIA, WWII, Battle of the Bulge, 7 January 1945) coincides with the 65  years it has taken the orphaned child of Capt. Klinger ( Dr. Carol Ann Klinger Woolbright) to connect with someone who was under her father's leadership on that fateful day.  In November of 2009, Carol was able to locate Colonel Delbert Townsend (Retired) through research done by a friend (Dr. Lynda Livingston Walden).  Dr. Walden, Dean, School of Education, University of Mobile  (Retired) had found an article written by Colonel Delbert Townsend entitled “Two Anniversaries” that was posted on a Prague, Czech Republic website for the 17^th Airborne Division Re-Enacting Group on November 11, 2009 which is Veteran's Day.  Within the article, Col. Del Townsend mentioned the officers with whom he was fighting that fierce day.   He listed Capt. Klinger as the commanding officer of Company B, 194 ,GI, 17^th Airborne who was killed the same day.  Instantly, Carol realized she must try to find Col. Townsend.

This mentioning led Carol to seek out Colonel Townsend to determine if he was still alive.  Her search was blessed and she found Colonel Townsend through an internet search.  He was  doing well at 88 years of age and was able to recount the entire day of battle.  He  said  the battle began around 10:00 a.m. The temperature was in the mid 20's, with thick fog, 8 inches of icy snow,  radios frozen to inhibit communication, German tanks hidden under haystacks, and the horrendous firing power going on as the 17^th Airborne, Companies A and B, 194 GI  were pressing forward to attack in one of the last and bloodiest efforts against Hitler's Army (Telephone Interview, Colonel Townsend, November 13, 2009). It was “a defining moment” according to Colonel Townsend.

Yes, Colonel Townsend was spared and Carol's father was taken in the mystery of God's infinite plan and purpose.  Colonel Townsend had two anniversaries: (1) he was spared that day,  and (2) in 2002 on that same date he was declared cancer free.  Now he has three  anniversaries as his article has connected him to Carol who is ironically celebrating her 65^th year in congruence with the 65^th Anniversary of  The Battle of the Bulge. And yes, this 65 year journey for Carol is filled with all the emotion that one can have in the soul as she has yearned through these lost years for a closer connection to someone who had known her father in the military.

Carol was born June 18, 1944 (Father's Day) in Columbus, Georgia, USA.  Her father, Capt. Jack R. Klinger, was with her for two months and then went to England in preparation for the invasion and was killed 7 January 1945 at the Battle of the Bulge, six months later.  Silence was the communication between them other than a letter Carol's mother had found in their family's attic in 1991 which was a beautifully written “just in case” letter that had been misplaced and lost during a 1953 tornado that destroyed their home.  This lost letter of 47 years was found.  It was delivered by Carol's mother to her and her family at her husband's business, The Williamsburg Shoppe. The first miracle of the quest for communication was on that particular day everyone in her family appeared at the shop-- John, her husband, two sons, a daughter in law, and Carol, all at the same time.  This was an unplanned miracle surprise!!

The second miracle occurred on a planned journey for Carol, John and another couple who  embarked on an historical tour to Luxembourg, Belgium and France in September, 2006 to locate her father's temporary grave site in Foy, Belgium.  The journey began at Dietrich, Luxembourg National Museum of Military History where the curator, Roland J. Gaul, diligently researched the history from what little information Carol was able to provide him. From his research, he was able to supply the regiment, division, rank, and temporary grave site and plot (164) but not the company. Most importantly, he knew the cemetery where her father had been buried.  Unfortunately, he was unable to determine the exact location and details of his death.  He went one step further and arranged for a private tour of Foy Temporary Cemetery with his associate, Roby Clam of Bastogne, for the next day.  With Mr. Clam's assistance,  Carol, her husband, John, and friends were able to find the temporary grave site which was marked by a beautiful memorial in the little petite village of Foy, Belgium.

Carol's mother, Verona,  had always tried to tell her as much as she remembered about her father's military career.  However, her understanding of the the last moments and days before his death were muddled and unclear due to faulty communications created by the wartime horror.  Ms. Klinger did, however, recount to Carol of her father's love for her, of God, family and country, and the great cause of freedom.  The lost love letter was descriptive of how much a father loved his child and how many wonderful plans he had for his family once he returned home.  He talked of the importance of being an American, a good citizen, of loving motherhood and the purpose of fighting for our freedom of religion and speech.  These were keywords throughout this letter intertwined with loving and caring thoughts for the child he was about to leave for the last time.

The third miracle was Carol's connection to Colonel Delbert Townsend.  Since silence was the only communication Carol has had with her father, the connection with Col. Townsend has filled a void for the living legacy of Capt. Klinger's only child, Carol Ann Klinger Woolbright, Ed.D.  The lost letter, the ability to locate his temporary grave site of four years in Belgium, and the uncanny finding of someone who was in the war with him up until his last moment, has been a surreal experience for Carol.  Carol had always felt a deep loss in not being able to have a relationship with her father.  Being fatherless has created issues for Carol.  But, the many surprises God has placed in her path have led her to know that her journey was ordained by God and orchestrated as part of the His purpose for not only her life but for thousands more who have experienced the SUPREME SACRIFICE.

Carol thought she had come to grips with her father's death as she placed a rose she had clung to all day on her journey to the temporary grave site.  Falling to her knees as she looked over the beaten mounds of earth which are still preserved to this day was a spiritual moment as it was a point of closure for her.    Approximately 3,000 men were placed in those graves and now she understands to a greater degree the sacrifices for freedom.  Knowing that he died for freedom willingly (according to his letter) has created a great sense of pride.  She also realizes that people have a difficult time understanding the importance of supporting our troops. No matter whether you believe in the current war or not that we are fighting, the men who are willing to sacrifice everything are around the world protecting the right for freedom.

Carol feels strongly about the sacrifices made and being made in order to maintain, sustain and preserve our democratic republic.  She further knows that without appropriate education and celebration, the sacrifices will become like unmarked graves.  The brave heroes must be remembered---”lest we forget”.  To forget is to allow tyranny, corruption and totalitarianism to flourish.  She was instructed in the lost letter to speak up for her rights because he “ is fighting for them.”  This is present tense and she has taken this to heart.

The mission now is for Carol to speak up for our rights as American citizens in a free country.  She feels so deeply about this issue that she is currently working on a her own book of memoirs to share with friends and other people around the world who are interested in “why” an American would fight for freedom in a foreign country.

Her motivation comes from the lost letter where Capt. Klinger wrote:

“I'm writing this just in case I don't come back from this war so you'll know your Father loves you and that you were really wanted.  I love you with all my heart, although I have never seen you and your sweet mother that I'm fighting for. I want you and your children to enjoy the same freedom that we have. Freedom— yes, you must always keep your freedom.  It's a cherished possession of every American, and you my child are an American........But remember child, be an American now and always. Stick up for your rights, you have them.  I'm fighting for them, so you will have them to do as you see fit in your own  mind.”

Now, Carol, in her own mind, can no longer be silent as his words have given her a clear purpose which is to carry the torch of freedom forward as the men did at the Battle of the Bulge.  As she has seen more and more erosion of these precious rights trampled on by several activist groups who have in many cases never even worked at a regular job, served in the military, nor studied the constitution in order to articulate the values upon which it was written. She is sure that  her father's letter was no accident, but was placed by God in her hands to share the message of freedom.

Now, more than ever, Carol feels the urgency to boldly tell her father's story.  He died for freedom, the essence of a democratic republic,  designed “by, for and of the people”.  To sit back and be complacent and forget the price of freedom is to forget all the present and past sacrifices.

Celebrating the 65^th Anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge, “lest we forget” and lose those values our heroes fought for so diligently, bravely and courageously, is ironically congruent with the last thrust to maintain our nation as a true democratic republic, in her opinion.  Her prayer is,  that as a country,  we will confess our sins and ask God to once again  bless this country.  She believes that if we come together as a nation asking for this, God will grant us victory as we experienced in the Battle of the Bulge.

God bless the people of this country who are willing to stand calmly and steadfastly for the rights and freedom of  Americans and others. Speak up Americans! Speak up All Countries! Many have fought and given their lives for your rights as an American and for the freedom of many other countries. .  We must be always diligent to maintain freedom and liberty.  We  still have the people power with God's help to win.  Don't forget.  Please remember.

Love and Thank You Dad,
Carol Ann Klinger Woolbright, Ed.D

(Orphan Daughter of Capt. Jack R. Klinger, 17^th Airborne,