Washington County, WI – On Saturday, May 20, 2023, 88-year-old Korean War Army veteran William “Bill” Klink of Allenton, WI, will be joining 14 other Washington County vets on the Stars & Stripes Honor Flight to Washington D.C.
Bill Klink enlisted in the United States Army at the age of 19 in Hartford, WI. Following Basic Training, Klink was stationed at Ft. Leonard Wood in the 643rd Engineering Company.
He worked laying gas pipelines, building fuel tanks for storage and pumping gas. “We laid down a line in Kansas City for an air force base. Up in Michigan, we built a firing line for the National Guard,” he said.
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Klink was then transferred to the 697th Engineering Company in Ft. Polk, LA, and spent time with the fire department for maneuvers. “I liked it when I was in the Fire Department. When we went to Louisiana for maneuvers, the pipeline company had a fire truck. It used foam because that’s all you could really use on a gas fire,” said Klink, “One guy went to work and threw a hand grenade on a pipeline, so we had to put that out.”
By the end of his term of service with the Army, Klink had attained the rank of Corporal.
Klink and his wife, Mary Joan have been married for 65 years; together they have five children: Phillip, Steve (deceased from a motorcycle accident), Jane, Amy, and Keith. They also have 12 grandchildren (3 are deceased), eight great-grandchildren, and four step-great-grandchildren.
After receiving an honorable discharge from the Army, Klink became a career farmer while moonlighting for Jack Walters, building sheds. Following retirement, Klink drove a carrier service truck all over the United States for 18 years.
Klink’s, daughter, Amy, who resides in Delafield, will be his chaperone for the Honor Flight.
“I’m looking forward to having a good time and learning a lot on the Honor Flight,” Klink said.
Klink is one of 15 veterans from Washington County, WI
that are traveling on the May 20 Honor Flight.
Stars and Stripes Honor Flight is the Milwaukee area hub of the Honor Flight Network. Founded in 2008, Stars and Stripes Honor Flight has flown more than 7,600 WWII, Korean War, and Vietnam War veterans from southeastern Wisconsin on a one-day, all-expense-paid trip to Washington D.C.
Two veterans have asked their names not be made public.
