Robert Van Klinken - His Dear John Letter & Tragic Death In Holland - Band of Brothers/East Company

[@dougbrowne9890]

I thank God for you. You are keeping the names of these important Men alive. The Men who fought and died overseas (and those that came back) are far more important than any tiktoc influencer. Thank you.

[@War_And_Truth]

I appreciate that.

[@MARYREED-nh7gb]

Thank you for the research on this one. To me, the life of an "average Joe" is as important as any general! I am very thankful that Pvt Van Klinken's family and friends provided for a living memorial scholarship in his name. So much more meaningful than anything else. RIP Pvt Van Klinken. Your sacrifice has not been forgotten.

[@War_And_Truth]

Well said

[@curtgomes]

The Greatest Generation..... God Bless Robert Van Klinken

[@VaderGhost124]

“Tell Robert we love him and haven’t forgotten” 🥺

[@nickielouder5853]

RIP Robert and also hats off to the medic as they're just a different breed to just walk out in no mans land and retrieve a wounded man wow.

[@nicholasmuro1742]

I believe the Germans respected the medics and wouldn't shoot.

[@tonylittle8634]

I didn’t think that I’d enjoy this one but wow!! I thoroughly enjoyed his reaction to the Dear John Letter😂. He was a true character. He reminds me of my oldest son. Thank you Mate

[@War_And_Truth]

Never judge a book by its cover hey? :)

[@tonylittle8634]

@@War_And_Truth indeed🎯💥

[@richardtaylor9798]

Thank you for your work on these men as each and every one of them deserves to have their stories told so that future generations can truly appreciate the work of f the Greatest Generation.

[@War_And_Truth]

Thanks for listening

[@AngryMarine-il6ej]

He was typical of most young men in the U.S. during that period. I learned from grandmother how things were during the 1940s. It seems that Van Kinken had a lot of hard choices to make. Stay home with a good paying job or enlist. As the type of mechanic he was, (earning $450 a month in the 1940s, that equals out to over $10,000 a month today, i.e. over $120K a year) had he stayed with the defense industry job he would have retired on a decent income and most likely with a family. In hindsight, he was doing what a lot of other men were doing. He would have not had a problem enlisting on his own. The age limit for Selective Service in 1940 was 36. After Pearl Harbor, they raised it to 45. So, he was not alone. I liked that line, 'Jumps into hell and chases the Devil off with his own fork'!! I'll to remember that one. Keep'em coming!!

[@ericjohnson9906]

My family visited his grave while on a "Band of Brothers" tour that was organized in the U.S. last year. People who were on the B of B tour laid flowers on as many "E" company graves as possible when visiting the Cemetary's in Normandy and Holland. I took lots of pictures during the visit and I'm happy to report after visiting my photo library that Robert Van Klinken's headstone was covered with beautiful flowers from very grateful Americans who visited that cemetery on that sunny day in September of last year.

[@War_And_Truth]

Great experience, thanks for sharing.

[@gerhardwuhrer6764]

Once again a tragic story about an before unknown person to me. It makes Robert Van Klinken unforgotten😢

[@KOHTAOMURDERSDEATHISLAND]

👍👍 I’m glad he didn’t dwell on the girl who sent the “Dear John” letter!

[@War_And_Truth]

He backed himself with the ladies. Plenty of other fish in the sea :P

[@pfdrtom]

Outstanding! (as usual)

[@War_And_Truth]

Thanks again!

[@pvtjohntowle4081]

Never heard of this soldier. So many forgotten stories behind Band of Brothers and men just seemingly left out of the mini-series. Yes I know they are restrictions how much can be shown in the given time for each episode. Just a pity IMHO.

[@hawkeyegeorge]

I believe the only time you hear his name is in episode 4 when he gets killed pushing through the hedges.

[@waldoman321]

Nice job as always. Once again HBO messed up and made this man look like a Market Garden replacement

[@War_And_Truth]

Yes well said.

[@myballs24]

I hate it when they did that in the series not giving some of the men the proper credit they deserve, they did the same with Kenneth Webb a man who died in Foy, in the series they introduce him as a replacement having just got to Easy in time for Bastogne, but in reality he was a veteran of Normandy and market garden.

[@colleenbush3608]

Ty again for more Information on a falling soldier . Great video.❤❤❤❤

[@War_And_Truth]

Thank you again.

[@MarkBluck]

I believe Robert being shot is depicted in the series. It's good to learn about other members of Easy.

[@TrickiVicBB71]

Yes. He is the soldier shot going through the hedges in EP4 with Hoobler and Webster. The only mention of his name.

[@JulezWinnfield]

Anyone else not surprised that "Joyce" moved on so quickly after professing her love for Van Klinken.

[@miguelservetus9534]

James Jones described this phenomenon in his novel “Whistle”.

[@Royalmerc]

Well, he took that breakup pretty well. I've only driven through Twisp, sad to see a fellow Washingtonian not make it through the war.

[@pvtjohntowle4081]

Where do you get all these stories from? You really shed a light on their lives and their feelings and thoughts through a dark time in history.

[@War_And_Truth]

I have a lot of the research material that was used for the book and series.

[@robertroth287]

Enjoy the biographies.....particularly the less known of the PIR

[@spg77777]

Like number 556. WOOT!

[@colin9981]

Visited his grave in Margraten last year (2023).

[@War_And_Truth]

Nice.

[@nigelsailing]

It seems to me that every war gives its "Dearest and the best".

[@War_And_Truth]

Well said.

[@briancooper2112]

Wish 11th airborne would get a document show. Only Airborne divisioni Pacific.

[@HollywoodMarine0351]

Netherlands. Holland is a region that consists two provinces of North Holland and South Holland.

[@War_And_Truth]

I have not ever heard [read] one veteran refer to it as The Netherlands so I am not going to call it that.

[@otten5666]

While true I am pretty sure Holland was used extensively by the guys actually liberating The Netherlands. I am pretty sure if we could ask Robert where he was fighting on the 20th of September 1944 he would've said Holland. And that is completely fine by me. Anyone risking their life liberating my country can call it whatever they want.

[@War_And_Truth]

@@otten5666 Every combat and intelligence report from 1944 is written under the title Holland.

[@otten5666]

@@War_And_Truth I was responding to HollywoodMarine. I agree that there is no point in correcting Holland to The Netherlands in this context.

[@War_And_Truth]

@@otten5666 Yes I know. Thanks mate.

[@otten5666]

Nuenen, not Neunen, greetings from Eindhoven!

[@War_And_Truth]

Typing too fast :P Cheers.

[@pvtjohntowle4081]

So his GF shacked up with another Soldier and officer , there was a high chance he would also be sent overseas for a long period of time without seeing each other.