Samuel J. Cleckner – Master Sergeant, United States Army

From a contemporary press report

A memorial service for one-time Korean War prisoner of war Samuel Cleckner will be held at 7 pm tomorrow at the Monbarren funeral home at 131 N. Portage St. in Doylestown, Ohio.

The 74-year-old Cleckner, a retired railroad worker from both the Erie and Akron, Canton & Youngstown railroads, died December 28, 1995 at the Dayton, Ohio, Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

Cleckner was a prisoner of war in North Korea near the Manchurian border for 27 days in late 1950, his wife said.

He served in the Army during both World War II and the Korean War, and received a Bronze Star for action in Italy during World War II. He served with 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division during World War II. In 1948 deployed with the 8th Cavalry to Korea.

During the Korean conflict was wounded and taken prisoner. After his return to the U.S. in 1952 he was discharged. His medals included Combat Infantryman Badge, Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, POW Medal and Parachutist Badge.

Among those surviving him are his wife, Beverly, of Somerset, Ohio; daughters, Catherine Foster of Edmunds, Washington, and Julia Scroggins of Akron; sons, James Cleckner and John Cleckner of Akron; and three grandchildren.

Mr. Cleckner will be buried at with full military honors January 11, 1995 at Arlington National Cemetery.

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Combat Infantryman’s Badge

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