Klingler, James Frederick
Army Private 1st class

James Frederick Klingler from Ohio.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Unknown
Death details: In early February 1951, the United States, Republic of Korea (ROK), and United Nations forces moved out from Wonju, South Korea, and launched a large-scale counteroffensive against invading Chinese Communist Forces (CCF). Company L of the 3rd Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, took part in the action, establishing a position on the west side of Wonju and advancing through the hilly terrain amid light resistance from the CCF. However, on February 11, the CCF launched its own major counteroffensive against the advancing U.S. forces. Company L held their ground initially, but soon the CCF’s superior numbers forced the unit to withdraw back through Wonju. Private First Class James Fredrick Klingler, who joined the U.S. Army from Ohio, was a member of L Company of the 3rd Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division. He was captured on February 14 when his unit was engaged by a large Chinese force as they attempted to withdrawal to Wonju. Following the end of hostilities, surviving prisoners of war reported that they saw Private First Class Klinger alive in enemy captivity as late as April 1951. Private First Class Klinger is thought to have been taken north to temporary holding camps in Suan, North Korea. A POW who later died passed information to a POW returnee that Klingler died at the Suan Bean Camp at an unknown date. His body has not been found, and he could not be associated with any of the remains that North Korean officials returned to U.S. custody after the war. Today, Private First Class Klingler is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. His name is also inscribed on the Korean War Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, DC, which was updated in 2022 to include the names of the fallen.

Source: Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency