Kluge, John Werner (01577435) - Revision history

Admin: Biography enrichment from Wikipedia (merged with existing sources)

2026-09-25T03:38:29Z

Biography enrichment from Wikipedia (merged with existing sources)

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:38, 25 September 2026
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	== Biography ==		== Biography ==
	John Werner Kluge was born on 21 September 1914 in Chemnitz, Germany. He came to the United States at eight through Ellis Island, grew up in Detroit learning English from scratch, and graduated from Columbia University in 1937 with a degree in economics. He became a U.S. Citizen the same year. German birth and fluent German later made him useful to Army intelligence.		John Werner Kluge was born on 21 September 1914 in Chemnitz, Germany. He came to the United States at eight through Ellis Island, grew up in Detroit learning English from scratch, and attended Wayne State University for two years, and graduated from Columbia University in 1937 with a degree in economics. He became a U.S. Citizen the same year. German birth and fluent German later made him useful to Army intelligence.

	He volunteered before Pearl Harbor, expecting a year in uniform. After the United States entered the war he stayed for about four and a half years. On 7 December 1941 he was with an air-defense unit in the Los Angeles area. He went through Officer Candidate School and came out a second lieutenant—though a first sergeant once called him, jokingly, the laziest man on the post.		He volunteered before Pearl Harbor, expecting a year in uniform. After the United States entered the war he stayed for about four and a half years. On 7 December 1941 he was with an air-defense unit in the Los Angeles area. He went through Officer Candidate School and came out a second lieutenant—though a first sergeant once called him, jokingly, the laziest man on the post.
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	He helped stand up MIRS from almost nothing—even lifting light fixtures and desks from the Pentagon to furnish the place—and reported to Colonel Lovell at the Pentagon rather than to the on-site post commander, whom he dismissed as a “housekeeper.” He lived in Washington and drove out to 1142 each day.		He helped stand up MIRS from almost nothing—even lifting light fixtures and desks from the Pentagon to furnish the place—and reported to Colonel Lovell at the Pentagon rather than to the on-site post commander, whom he dismissed as a “housekeeper.” He lived in Washington and drove out to 1142 each day.

	After the war Kluge ~~built~~ Metromedia ~~and became~~ a major figure in American broadcasting and outdoor advertising. He married four times and had homes that included Virginia; he died in Charlottesville on 7 September 2010, at 95.		After the war Kluge became chairman and largest stockholder of the Metropolitan Broadcasting Corporation, successor to the DuMont network's stations, in 1958; renamed Metromedia in 1961, it made him a major figure in American broadcasting and outdoor advertising. In 1986 he sold the Metromedia television stations to 20th Century Fox for a reported $4 billion, forming the core of the new Fox network, and in 1987 ''Forbes'' ranked him the richest man in America. He gave $60 million to create the John W. Kluge Center at the Library of Congress, with its Kluge Prize, and more than $500 million to Columbia University, much of it for financial aid for undergraduates. He married four times and had homes that included Virginia; he died in Charlottesville on 7 September 2010, at 95.

	== Research notes ==		== Research notes ==
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	* c. 1942 — Officer Candidate School; commissioned second lieutenant.		* c. 1942 — Officer Candidate School; commissioned second lieutenant.
	* c. 1942–1943 — Eight months in the Aleutians (assistant transportation officer, Dutch Harbor); cleared after a false German-spy accusation.		* c. 1942–1943 — Eight months in the Aleutians (assistant transportation officer, Dutch Harbor); cleared after a false German-spy accusation.
			* 1958 — Became chairman of Metropolitan Broadcasting (renamed Metromedia in 1961).
			* 1986 — Sold the Metromedia television stations to 20th Century Fox.
	* 7 September 2010 — Died in Charlottesville, Virginia.		* 7 September 2010 — Died in Charlottesville, Virginia.
	* Pre–Pearl Harbor — Volunteered for the U.S. Army.		* Pre–Pearl Harbor — Volunteered for the U.S. Army.

Admin: Sort Timeline bullets chronologically

2026-09-23T04:19:44Z

Sort Timeline bullets chronologically

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:19, 23 September 2026
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	* 1922 — Immigrated via Ellis Island; grew up in Detroit.		* 1922 — Immigrated via Ellis Island; grew up in Detroit.
	* 1937 — Graduated Columbia University (economics); became a U.S. citizen.		* 1937 — Graduated Columbia University (economics); became a U.S. citizen.
	* Pre–Pearl Harbor — Volunteered for the U.S. Army.
	* 7 December 1941 — Serving with air defense near Los Angeles.		* 7 December 1941 — Serving with air defense near Los Angeles.
	* c. 1942 — Officer Candidate School; commissioned second lieutenant.		* c. 1942 — Officer Candidate School; commissioned second lieutenant.
	* c. 1942–1943 — Eight months in the Aleutians (assistant transportation officer, Dutch Harbor); cleared after a false German-spy accusation.		* c. 1942–1943 — Eight months in the Aleutians (assistant transportation officer, Dutch Harbor); cleared after a false German-spy accusation.
			* 7 September 2010 — Died in Charlottesville, Virginia.
			* Pre–Pearl Harbor — Volunteered for the U.S. Army.
	* Class 7 — Camp Ritchie intelligence training (also noted Class 5 OB / MIRS).		* Class 7 — Camp Ritchie intelligence training (also noted Class 5 OB / MIRS).
	* Brief Pentagon assignment.		* Brief Pentagon assignment.
	* P.O. Box 1142 — Commanded MIRS (~20 men); Red Book document exploitation; high-value prisoner interviews; British liaison.		* P.O. Box 1142 — Commanded MIRS (~20 men); Red Book document exploitation; high-value prisoner interviews; British liaison.
	* Postwar — Founder and chairman of Metromedia.		* Postwar — Founder and chairman of Metromedia.
	* 7 September 2010 — Died in Charlottesville, Virginia.
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Admin: Rebalance lead/framing: Ritchie Boy first; P.O. Box 1142 as one assignment

2026-09-22T04:44:08Z

Rebalance lead/framing: Ritchie Boy first; P.O. Box 1142 as one assignment

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:44, 22 September 2026
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	<div class="soldier-lead">		<div class="soldier-lead">
	'''John Werner Kluge''' (21 September 1914–7 September 2010) was a Chemnitz-born U.S. Army officer who trained at [[Camp Ritchie]] with [[:Category:Class 7\|Class 7]] ~~and~~ commanded the Military Intelligence Research Section (MIRS) at [[P.O. Box 1142]]. After the war he built Metromedia ~~and became one of America’s best-known media entrepreneurs~~.		'''John Werner Kluge''' (21 September 1914–7 September 2010) was a Chemnitz-born U.S. Army officer and Ritchie Boy who trained at [[Camp Ritchie]] with [[:Category:Class 7\|Class 7]]. He later commanded the Military Intelligence Research Section (MIRS) at [[P.O. Box 1142]]. After the war he built Metromedia.
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Admin: Enrich from NPS Fort Hunt oral history (Aleutians; Ritchie; MIRS command at 1142)

2026-09-22T04:39:55Z

Enrich from NPS Fort Hunt oral history (Aleutians; Ritchie; MIRS command at 1142)

Show changes

Admin: Expand documented full name in infobox and lead

2026-09-20T20:13:39Z

Expand documented full name in infobox and lead

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:13, 20 September 2026
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	\|surname=Kluge		\|surname=Kluge
	\|first=John		\|first=John
	\|middle=W.		\|middle=Werner
	\|class_number=7		\|class_number=7
	\|class_section=8		\|class_section=8
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	<div class="soldier-lead">		<div class="soldier-lead">
	'''[[Kluge, John W. (01577435)\|John W. Kluge]]''' (1914–2010) was a Ritchie Boy (from Germany; Protestant) who trained at Camp Ritchie in [[:Category:Class 7\|class 7]].		'''[[Kluge, John Werner (01577435)\|John Werner Kluge]]''' (1914–2010) was a Ritchie Boy (from Germany; Protestant) who trained at Camp Ritchie in [[:Category:Class 7\|class 7]].
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Admin: Admin moved page Kluge, John W. (01577435) to Kluge, John Werner (01577435) without leaving a redirect: Expand documented middle name: Werner

2026-09-20T20:13:38Z

Admin moved page Kluge, John W. (01577435) to Kluge, John Werner (01577435) without leaving a redirect: Expand documented middle name: Werner

← Older revision	Revision as of 20:13, 20 September 2026
(No difference)

Admin: Link Camp Ritchie class and team mentions in lead/biography

2026-09-19T00:07:03Z

Link Camp Ritchie class and team mentions in lead/biography

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:07, 19 September 2026
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	<div class="soldier-lead">		<div class="soldier-lead">
	'''[[Kluge, John W. (01577435)\|John W. Kluge]]''' (1914–2010) was a Ritchie Boy (from Germany; Protestant) who trained at Camp Ritchie in class 7.		'''[[Kluge, John W. (01577435)\|John W. Kluge]]''' (1914–2010) was a Ritchie Boy (from Germany; Protestant) who trained at Camp Ritchie in [[:Category:Class 7\|class 7]].
	</div>		</div>

Admin: Remove redundant Notable Ritchie Boys slides research note

2026-09-16T15:01:18Z

Remove redundant Notable Ritchie Boys slides research note

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:01, 16 September 2026
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	* Also Class 5 OB MIRS		* Also Class 5 OB MIRS
	* Metromedia owner; billionaire philanthropist		* Metromedia owner; billionaire philanthropist
	* Portrait and summary from Notable Ritchie Boys slides ( )

	== Technical record ==		== Technical record ==

Admin: Sort Timeline chronologically; drop clear junk bullets

2026-09-15T03:42:48Z

Sort Timeline chronologically; drop clear junk bullets

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:42, 15 September 2026
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	* Born 21 September 1914 in Chemnitz, Germany. When his father died in.		* Born 21 September 1914 in Chemnitz, Germany. When his father died in.
	* 2 March 1942 — ? Enlisted in Army as Pvt (ASN 36169776).		* 2 March 1942 — ? Enlisted in Army as Pvt (ASN 36169776).
			* 15 April 1943 — Returned to Camp Ritchie.
			* 12 June 1943 — Graduated with Class 7 (IPW Ge).
	* September 1942 — As 2nd Lt, assigned to head Army Transportation Unit in Aleutian Islands.		* September 1942 — As 2nd Lt, assigned to head Army Transportation Unit in Aleutian Islands.
	* September 1942 — As 2nd Lt, assigned to head Army Transportation.		* September 1942 — As 2nd Lt, assigned to head Army Transportation.
	* 12 June 1943 — Graduated with Class 7 (IPW Ge).
	* 15 April 1943 — Returned to Camp Ritchie.
	* Placed in charge of black engineer aviation unit in California.		* Placed in charge of black engineer aviation unit in California.
	* Placed in charge of black engineer aviation unit in.		* Placed in charge of black engineer aviation unit in.
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	* World War I, his mother married Oscar Leitert and family moved to Scheinau.		* World War I, his mother married Oscar Leitert and family moved to Scheinau.
	* mother married Oscar Leitert and family moved to Scheinau.		* mother married Oscar Leitert and family moved to Scheinau.

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Admin: Remove Research notes URLs (review list retained offline)

2026-09-11T04:24:22Z

Remove Research notes URLs (review list retained offline)

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:24, 11 September 2026
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	* Also Class 5 OB MIRS		* Also Class 5 OB MIRS
	* Metromedia owner; billionaire philanthropist		* Metromedia owner; billionaire philanthropist
	* Portrait and summary from Notable Ritchie Boys slides (~~[https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1ij8PP9weF976Lb5_Ic4bFimcuAZzXRn3cHfNCk5nTdM source]~~).		* Portrait and summary from Notable Ritchie Boys slides ( )

	== Technical record ==		== Technical record ==