HENRY M. KLEEMANN, CAPT, USN

Henry Kleemann '65

Date of birth: July 2, 1943

Date of death: December 3, 1985

Age: 42

Lucky Bag

From the 1965 Lucky Bag:

HENRY MARTIN KLEEMANN

Clinton, Illinois

Hailing from the corn fields of Illinois, Hammering Hank arrived here at the Academy with a slight weight problem. But after a gruelling plebe year in the fourteenth company he emerged as a physical specimen that Charles Atlas would be proud of. In high school Hank spent his fall days on the gridiron and the spring time would find him on the old cinder track. Hank amazed everybody with his ability to pull straight A's without cracking a book. I doubt if any of us will ever forget his extra instruction sessions for those of us who were lacking in mental dexterity. Hank was so impressed with our swimming program that he took extra instruction on the side stroke in the afternoons for two years. Henry always had an eye for girls, cars and food in just about that order. Henry was the subject of many jokes but he will always be remembered for his ability to laugh along with the rest of us. His good nature and academic ability will take him far in the world.

HENRY MARTIN KLEEMANN

Clinton, Illinois

Hailing from the corn fields of Illinois, Hammering Hank arrived here at the Academy with a slight weight problem. But after a gruelling plebe year in the fourteenth company he emerged as a physical specimen that Charles Atlas would be proud of. In high school Hank spent his fall days on the gridiron and the spring time would find him on the old cinder track. Hank amazed everybody with his ability to pull straight A's without cracking a book. I doubt if any of us will ever forget his extra instruction sessions for those of us who were lacking in mental dexterity. Hank was so impressed with our swimming program that he took extra instruction on the side stroke in the afternoons for two years. Henry always had an eye for girls, cars and food in just about that order. Henry was the subject of many jokes but he will always be remembered for his ability to laugh along with the rest of us. His good nature and academic ability will take him far in the world.

Loss

Henry was killed when his F/A-18 flipped on the runway at NAS Miramar on 3 December 1985. He was Commanding Officer of Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 4. Wikipedia has more information.

Career

Henry was one of pilots involved shooting down two Libyan fighters in the Gulf of Sirte on Aug. 19, 1981; as his was first, he is credited with the first air-to-air kill in a F-14 Tomcat.

Obituary

From Kleefamhist.com:

Henry Martin Kleemann was born on 2 July 1943, the oldest child of Henry and Catherine Kleemann and their only son. On 5 October 1973, Henry Martin Kleemann married Carol Anne Teano in Annapolis, MD. Carol had two children from her first marriage:
1. Steven S.S. Seiden (born 13 July 1967)
2. Susan Elizabeth Seiden (19 May 1969)
Henry and Carol had two children together:
3. Michael Andrew (26 August 1974)
4. Katherine Marie (13 October 1977)
They raised all four children together.

From a distant relative via email on July 19, 2019: "He grew up in rural Clinton, near Wapella. His family were members of St. Patrick's Parish in Wapella. His mother is the sister of Bishop Edward O'Rourke, Bishop of Peoria."

He is buried in Illinois.