SSG Elmer Kleinjans was born 25 Nov 1920 in Wyoming, Michigan to Edward and Martha (Moll) Kleinjans. His father worked as a cabinet maker in a furniture factory.
Elmer was working as a meat cutter when drafted in August 1942. After completing his initial training, Elmer was sent to England and assigned to I Company 116th Infantry. He trained with the unit for the amphibious assault that would begin the invasion of "fortress Europe" and was with the unit on D-Day, 6 Jun 1944. PFC Kleinjans was wounded on 7 Jun 1944 and evacuated to hospital. He returned to the unit from the replacement depot on 24 Jul 1944. He was promoted to SGT on 1 Sep 1944 and was again promoted, this time to SSG, on 23 Nov 1944. SSG Kleinjans was wounded on 4 Dec 1944 and again evacuated to hospital where he died of his wound(s) on 10 Dec 1944.
SSG Kleinjans was repatriated in 1948 and now rests forever in Grandville Cemetery in Grandville, Michigan.
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