RECRUITING STATION CLEVELAND, Oh. -- (The following letter was submitted by Mr. Rick Klusmann to the Commanding Officer of Recruiting Station Cleveland on November 5th, 2002. His letter serves to reinforce the special brotherhood we share as Marines while exemplifying our Corps Values of honor, courage and commitment. His son, 2ndLt. Brad Klusmann, is currently attending The Basic School in Quantico, Va.)
Sirs,
My family wishes you all the very best for what you did to help us
with Brad's commissioning. Last Thursday, it was my turn to stay with dad at the hospital. I remained there until 0300. He was given morphine and started to rest peacefully. Friday morning I went to work. About 0930 I was called at work and my sister told me to get down to the hospital. I called Jane and Brad. Jared, my son attending Miami University, was going to be coming back home after classes. My wife got my daughter out of school (she's a senior at Strongsville High) and we all met at the hospital. My sister from Buffalo and my other sister who lives in town were waiting for us with my mother.
Several times that day we thought we lost him. I told Brad he should call in to work and stick around. At 1500 the phone rang in the hospital room. It was Brad's OSO, Captain Maureen Moore, USMC. She told Brad that she had just received a fax with his commissioning papers and was willing to come up to Cleveland to do the ceremony. She told us she
could be there in 2 hours. Brad ran home to change into his blues and
called a couple of his buddies who were planning and giving the first
salute. Jane and I followed him home to get the camera and the silver
dollars.
When we got back to the hospital, Brad's friends were already there, in their blues waiting. The Captain and Staff Sgt arrived and we moved around my Dad's bed. He was fading in and out, so I took the bars and talked to him. I told him that he probably couldn't put the bars on, but I had placed them by his hand. He reached out and touched them, then squeezed my hand. Brad received his commission and his Mom and I put his bars on, then his buddies lined up for the first salute at the foot of my Fathers bed so he could see, if he could see. It was the most moving ceremony I have ever witnessed.
Dad made it though the night. On Saturday we all went back to the
hospital and he really took a turn for the worse. I had committed to DJ
the Marine Corps Ball and waited for as long as I could. We had talked
about this earlier in the week, when he was still alert and he told me
that he wanted me to be their for the Marines. Brad and I left to go
home and get dressed. Jane came along because she was driving me. We
loaded the equipment and dressed. Brad got to wear his Officer's Blues.
Just before we left, Jared, my son, called from the hospital. Dad died
about 1530.
At the Ball that night, the United States Marine Corps, Weapons
Company, 3D Battalion, 25th Marines gave the following toast to my Dad:
"To Staff Sgt. R.T. Klusmann, U.S. Army,
28th Infantry, Pennsylvania National Guard, Easy Company,
Veteran of World War II, survivor of the Battle of the Bulge.
He loved his Country, his family, his God.
Let us celebrate his life."
At that time, every Marine in the room stood and toasted my Dad with an "OOH-RAH!" Without the help of the fine Marines in the Cleveland area, we never would of made it. My Dad would not of been aware that his Grandson was committing himself to his country. Words cannot express the deep feelings of gratitude for your efforts in making this happen. Thank you. God Bless You, and God Bless America.