Comics: Bernard Klein, Artist, Boxer and Combat Photographer

Bernard Klein was born on July 26 or 29, 1918, in Trenton, New Jersey. The first date was from his World War II draft card. The second date was recorded on a headstone application filed by Klein’s father. 

Klein has not yet been found in the 1920, 1930 and 1940 United States Censuses. 

The Trenton Evening Times said Klein graduated from the School of Industrial Arts in Trenton. 

He was profiled in the Trenton Sunday Times-Advertiser, November 29, 1936.

Making Good

Cartoonist Has Aimed for Job Since 2d Grade.

If perseverance is truly the pathway to success, you’ll be hearing some day of the eminent cartoonist, Bernard Klein. 

Since the second grade the 18-year-old Trenton, N.J., boy has been aiming toward his ambition “to make good on a newspaper or magazine.”

Recognition came when Bernard was a sixth-grade student and received an honorable mention in a cartoon contest. “The next year,” Bernard writes from 1109 Division street, “I took first prize in a school contest with a picture of ‘Popeye.’ In the eighth grade I began drawing for a high school paper, the first ever to do so without having reached high school.”

His work has appeared in The Trenton (N.J.) Advertiser.

The Trenton Evening Times, November 18, 1938, said

Boys from All Walks of Life in K. of C. Try-County Tourney

Boys from all walks of life are contenders for championships of the eight weight divisions in the Knights of Columbus Tri-County amateur boxing tournament at the Arena. ...

... Bernie Klein, a flyweight hopeful, is employed in a grocery store, but is better known as an amateur cartoonist. He has several times drawn cartoons depicting well-known boxers. Perhaps he dreams of sketching one of himself sometime. ...

The Trenton Evening Times, January 27, 1939, published a photograph of Klein who was competing in the flyweight division of the third annual Trenton Times A. A. Golden Gloves amateur boxing tournament. The flyweight division was won by Harry Varava.

The Comics Journal #271, October 2005, published an interview with Jerry Robinson who broke into the comics in September 1939, according to Jim Steranko’s History of Comics (1970). In the interview Robinson recalled meeting Klein at a New Year’s party and described him as a young John Garfield. Klein had been a Golden Gloves boxer who worked on the loading dock at the Trenton Times newspaper and also contributed sports cartoons. Eager to get into comics, Robinson explained to Klein what to do. 

On October 16, 1940, Klein signed his World War II draft card. His address was 1109 Division Street in Trenton. Klein’s employer was M. L. J. Magazines. He was described as five feet five-and-a-half inches, 130 pounds, with brown eyes and black hair. Some of Klein’s credits are at the Grand Comics Database. 

Steranko said 

Robinson shared an apartment on 33rd Street with another DC artist, Bernie Kline [sic]. They had installed two drawing boards, one of which was so big that two people could work on it at the same time. The flat became a hangout for comic men. Frequently a half dozen artists and writers like Charles Biro, Bob Wood, Mort Meskin and Whit Ellsworth would congregate there to finish a few pages and discuss storytelling techniques.

I believe the location of the apartment was on Robinson’s draft card: 207 East 33rd Street. He signed the card on June 30, 1942.

Samples of Klein’s art

Silver Streak Comics #11, June 1941

Daredevil Comics #2, August 1941

Silver Streak Comics #18, February 1942

Military Comics #8, March 1942

National Comics #23, June 1942

The Trenton Sunday Times-Advertiser, May 31, 1942, said

Bernard Klein, son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry C. Klein of 1109 Division Street, has joined the United States Army Signal Corps. Klein, who is stationed at Fort Monmouth, near Red Bank, enlisted on May 22.

Klein became a photographer. 

The Trenton Sunday Times-Advertiser, April 11, 1943, said

Corporal Bernard Klein, son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Klein of 820 Southard Street, is in North Africa with the U.S. Army fighting forces. Corporal Klein is a member of a signal detachment. 

Sports page readers of Trenton and vicinity will recall cartoons drawn by Klein a couple of years ago and published in the Sunday Times-Advertiser. One of his cartoons was on Golden Gloves boxers, and so enthused the young artist that he decided to try his own hand as an amateur boxer. He was eliminated in his first bout, however, and decided to be a cartoonist instead of boxer. He went to New York and obtained a position with a syndicate publishing cartoon magazines. He has continued to draw cartoons since entering the service, and has had several of them used in army publications.

The Trenton Evening Times, September 29, 1943, published Klein’s portrait of General Mark W. Clark. 

Klein’s death was reported in the Trenton Evening Times, March 15, 1944.

Sergeant Klein Killed in Action

Trenton Artist Victim of Italian Campaign, Officials Report

Sergeant Bernard Klein, Trenton artist, was killed in action in Italy, according to word received yesterday from the War Department by his father, Harry Klein, 820 Southard Street. 

A graduate with high honors of the School of Industrial Arts who had had his drawings published often on the sports pages of the Trenton Times and Sunday Advertiser, young Klein attracted the attention of art circles in New York and before his enlistment was a staff member of a comic strips company. 

Sergeant Klein sketched, by official request, Generals Douglas MacArthur and Mark Clark and had received personal notes of congratulation from both. His sketches were published in “Stars and Stripes.”

A member of the 163d Signal Photo Detachment he had served in many of the African and Italian campaigns and many of his photos of warfare in action were published by leading newspapers throughout the country.

He recently sent to his father a collection of war souvenirs seized from German forces. 

The Trenton Evening Times, April 18, 1944, said

Tribute Is Paid to Klein’s Record

High tribute was paid the combat service record of the late Sergeant Bernard Klein, cartoonist and former Trenton Times artist, by his commanding officer, Captain Ned Morehouse, in a letter received by Harry C. Klein, 820 Southard Street, father of the youthful sergeant killed in February.

The officer wrote: “Bernard was a fine man, a true soldier, a happy friend. His faithfulness, continued eagerness to be on the job of photographing the war are signs which everyone is following in taking up where he left off. He has a long combat record and many, many fine pictures to his credit. I think his eagerness to go back on the job time after time when he had already been through other complete campaigns are indications of the highest type of American manhood. He knew, with the wisdom of a veteran, what he was facing each day, but was always eager to go and could not stand being idle.”

Mr. and Mrs. Klein also were informed by the Jewish chaplain, Aaron Paperman, that, at the traditional Hebrew rites, all members of Sergeant Klein’s unit, including his commanding officers, were present, according him all due military honor.

Klein’s father’s April 24, 1944 letter to entertainer Bob Hope was edited and transcribed in the book, Dear Bob ... Bob Hope’s Wartime Correspondence with the G.I.s of World War II (2021). 

The Trenton Evening Times, May 9, 1944, said

Posthumous Award for Sergeant Klein

The Purple Heart has been awarded posthumously to a former Trenton artist, Sergeant Bernard Klein, killed in the North African area February 23.

The emblem was received by the late artist’s father, Harry C. Klein, 820 Southard Street, along with the army’s expression of condolence from General Marshall and President Roosevelt.

A letter signed by Secretary of War Stimson to Mr. and Mrs. Klein read: “At the request of the President, I write to inform you that the Purple Heart has been awarded posthumously to your son, Technical Sergeant Fourth Grade Bernard Klein, Signal Corps, who sacrificed his life in defense of his country. Little that we can do or say will console you for the death of a loved one. We profoundly appreciate the greatness of your loss, for in a very real sense the loss suffered by any of us in this battle for our country is a loss shared by all of us. When the medal, which you will shortly receive, reaches you, I want you to know that with it goes my sincerest sympathy, and the hope that time and the victory of our cause will finally lighten the burden of your grief.”

The Trenton Evening Times, February 2, 1949, said

Body of Klein Coming Home

The body of T4 Bernard Klein is being returned from the Mediterranean area aboard the Army transport Eric G. Gibson. His father, Harry C. Klein of 820 Southard Street, has been notified by the War Department.

Klein, 28, a promising cartoonist here before entering the service, was killed at Cassino, Italy on February 23, 1944. He served with the Signal Corps as a member of the 163d Photo Detachment. 

As a cartoonist he had created several comic strips and his drawings of prominent local athletes appeared on the sports pages of the Trenton Times.

Klein was born in Trenton and attended public schools here and the School of Industrial Arts.

The Trenton Evening Times, March 4, 1949 said

Sgt. Klein’s Rites Sunday

A military funeral will be held Sunday for Sergeant Bernard Klein, talented young Trenton artist, who died of wounds received at Cassino, Italy, February 23, 1944.

Service will be held at 2:30 o’clock at the Ullrich Funeral Home, 199 Brown Street. Rabbi S. Joshua Kohn will officiate. There also will be a service by the jewish War Veterans. Burial will be in Brith Sholom Cemetery.

Sergeant Klein is survived by his father and stepmother, Mr. and Mrs. Klein of 820 Southard Street, and a stepsister, Mrs. Vivian Higgins of 1011 Division Street. He was nephew of the late Harry Charlip of Euclid Avenue.

Klein, who was 25 years old, was attached to the 163d Signal Photo Detachment. He served in many of the African and Italian campaigns during the late war. Many of his photographs of battle action were published in the country’s leading newspapers.

During his military career he had the opportunity to make sketches of General Douglas MacArthur and General Mark Clark and received personal notes of congratulations from both. The pose of General MacArthur has been used many times by newspapers and magazines. The original sketch of General Clark is now at West Point.

Klein was part of the “Bloody Five” which made the original landings in North Africa. He was recommended three times for the Legion of Merit and was awarded the Purple Heart.

A graduate of the Trenton School of Industrial Arts, Klein contributed many drawings to the sports page of the Trenton Times before the war. 

He also sketched for “Memo,” a magazine, and did portraits of many of the State’s leading personalities. 

While in service, he made sketches of Bob Hope, Al Jolson and other entertainers, and many of his works were published in “Stars and Stripes,” the Army publication.

Headstone application

The Trenton Evening Times, April 28, 1950, said

Unveil Monuments in Joint Ceremony

Monuments in Brith Sholom Cemetery, Cedar Lane, will be unveiled in a ceremony Sunday at 2 p.m. for Harry Charlip, formerly of 250 Euclid Avenue, and a nephew, Bernard Klein, formerly of 820 Southard Street, a war casualty. Members of the family and friends will attend.

Further Reading

The Rattle of Theta Chi, August, September, October 1948

Internet Archive, C-Span 2, World War II U.S. Army Signal Corps Photos

Naval History and Heritage Command, Operation Shingle: Landing at Anzio, Italy, January 22, 1944 

(Next post on Monday: A Few Details About George Salter, Calligrapher, Designer and Teacher)