Valerian Emet Klein, who entered this world on 26 April 1920 in Peru, Illinois, was the first-born son of Henry A. and Clara M. (Zaniecki) Klein. His early years in his Roman Catholic family were marked by the hardworking ethos of his father, grandfather, and uncle, all employed at Westclox—a local clock factory. Tragedy first struck the family with the death of Valerian’s grandfather, a German immigrant, who succumbed at age 60 to flu and pneumonia when Valerian was just under a year old. Throughout his childhood, Valerian experienced further personal loss; his younger brothers, Howard and William Edward, passed away in infancy and early childhood, respectively.
Growing up at 2004 State Street in Peru, Illinois, Valerian lived in a home filled with both joy and sorrow. Alongside his sister Lorraine and brother Gerald, the family navigated their formative years with resilience. Valerian registered for the draft on 1 July 1941, when he was 21 years old. At that time, he worked for Westclox, mirroring the path of his father and other male relatives. His draft card noted his distinctive features: standing six feet tall, weighing 142 pounds, with blue eyes, blonde hair, and a scar on his left cheek.
Enlisting in the Army on 5 March 1942 in Peoria, Illinois, Valerian soon found himself a world away from the clock factory of his youth. He was assigned to the 726th Bomb Squadron, 451st Bomb Group (Heavy). While he was deployed, his younger brother Gerald followed into military service, joining the U.S. Navy and serving in the Pacific theater.
On 22 August 1944, 1 LT Valerian Klein faced his final mission as the pilot of a B-24J Liberator aircraft, nicknamed “Wet Dream” (#42-51300). The crew flew out of Italy that day on a strategic bombing mission over the Lobau oil storage installations near Vienna, Austria. That morning, their formation encountered heavy enemy resistance. According to the Missing Air Crew Report (MACR), approximately 30 FW 190s attacked, targeting Valerian’s aircraft. His number two engine caught fire, leading to catastrophic failure. The aircraft veered off, exploding, and ultimately going down in flames in Hungary near Lake Balaton and Pápa. Despite the deployment of several parachutes, Valerian was believed to have been trapped by the fire, leading to his untimely death. Six of the crew survived.
Initially listed as missing in action, Valerian was later confirmed killed in action on that fateful day. His final resting place is the Ardennes American Cemetery and Memorial in Neuville-en-Condroz, Liège, Belgium, in Block B, Row 10, Grave 15. His sacrifices were posthumously honored with multiple commendations, including the Purple Heart Medal, Air Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross, and American Campaign Medal, WW2 Victory Medal, and the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal.
1 LT Valerian Klein’s story is one of bravery, service, and ultimate sacrifice. His life, marked by both personal loss and heroic dedication, remains a poignant reminder of the costs of war and the bravery of those who fight. His legacy endures, memorialized both in the quiet streets of Peru, Illinois, and the solemn fields of Ardennes.
This story is part of the Stories Behind the Stars project (see www.storiesbehindthestars.org). This is a national effort of volunteers to write the stories of all 421,000+ of the US WWII fallen saved on Together We Served and Fold3. Can you help write these stories? These stories will be accessible via smartphone app at any war memorial or cemetery.
If you noticed anything erroneous in this profile or have additional information to contribute to it, please email feedback@storiesbehindthestars.org.
- SBTSProject/Illinois/LaSalle
- SBTS Historian: Pam Broviak
You can also access this story at the following sites:
Fold3 Memorial: https://www.fold3.com/memorial/664256990/1-lt-valerian-emet-klein-service-no-o-819407/stories
Sources:
- 1920 U.S. Census, Joseph Klein, Ancestry.
- 1930 U.S. Census, Henry Klein, Ancestry.
- 1940 U.S. Census, Henry Klein, Ancestry.
- “Illinois Deaths and Stillbirths, 1916-1947,” William Edward Klein, FamilySearch.
- “Illinois, U.S., Deaths and Stillbirths Index, 1916-1947,” Howard Klein, Ancestry.
- “U.S., World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946,” Valerian E. Klein, Ancestry.
- ”U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947,” Valerian Emet Klein, Ancestry.
- ”U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947,” Henry Andrew Klein, Ancestry.
- “U.S., Headstone and Interment Records for U.S., Military Cemeteries on Foreign Soil, 1942-1949,” Valerian Klein, Ancestry.
- “U.S., World War II and Korean Conflict Veterans Interred Overseas,” Valerian E. Klein, Ancestry.
- “US, Missing Air Crew Reports (MACRs), WWII, 1942-1947,” MACR 8002 (42-15300), Fold3.
- “U.S., Rosters of World War II Dead, 1939-1945,” Valerian E Klein, Ancestry.
- Lorraine Sorrentino Obituary, Legacy.com.
- https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/40270932/gerald-r.-klein
- https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/112181486/joseph-klein
- https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56359170/valerian-e-klein
