Lynn L. Kleckner – Master Chief Boatswains Mate, United States Coast Guard

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29 SEPTEMBER 1935 to 10 APRIL 1978
AGE 42 Years 7 Months

Master Chief Boatswains Mate Lynn L. Kleckner, USCG, known as “Red” to his friends, joined the Coast Guard in August 1954. After graduation from boot camp, he spent his first seven years of service in the Ninth Coast Guard District. During this time he served tours aboard the cutters WOODRUSH, and MACKINAW and at Lifeboat Stations BEAVER ISLAND and CHARLEVOIX.

In 1961, Master Chief Kleckner was transferred to the Intelligence and Law Enforcement Division of the Twelfth Coast Guard District where he served with great distinction until 1965.

“Red” Kleckner then came to Governors Island to begin what would become a twelve-year tour. Master Chief Kleckner's initial assignment was with the Security Division of BASE NEW YORK, where he was the Assistant Security Officer for five years.

It was also in 1966 that Master Chief Kleckner began his twelve-year involvement in community affairs on Governors Island. He served the members of the Chief Petty Officer's Open Mess in every capacity from Board Member to Mess President. However it was the Youth of Governors Island that “Red” was at his best. Although Master Chief Kleckner and his wife Esther had no children, “Red” acted as Coach, Advisor, and Big Brother to the children of his Island family for many years. He was Youth Activities Council Member, President of Youth Activities Baseball, Chief Umpire of the Island Little League and Advisor to the Junior rifle club. He provided “sustained, responsible and dynamic leadership in all youth activities on Governors Island.”

Then in 1971, Master Chief Kleckner made another move, this time to TRAINING CENTER GOVERNORS ISLAND, serving first as an investigator and then as the unit's first Senior Enlisted Advisor. As the Command Senior Enlisted Advisor, Master Chief Kleckner made great improvements in the uniform appearance of the Training Center's staff and students. Master Chief Kleckner produced and published a guide and instruction on uniform regulations, which was, accepted Coast Guard wide.

On Monday 10 April 1978, after coaching one of his baseball teams, Master Chief “Red” Kleckner died at age 42 of a heart attack.

“Red” Kleckner's high personal standards of morality and industry, his civic spirit, and most of all, his loyalty to the service and his shipmates epitomize the ideals of the Chief Petty Officer's Association and the United States Coast Guard. It is because of the example he set that the Kleckner Chapter of the Chief Petty Officer's Association bears his name with pride.

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