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Marlin E. "Monte" Kinder
Monte Kinder in the cockpit of his F6F Hellcat while aboard
the U.S.S. Hancock CV-19. Sept 1945.
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This web site it dedicated with great respect to Marlin E. "Monte" Kinder.
Monte was born on a farm located a few miles northeast of Cambridge, Nebraska on February 27, 1922.
The Bob and Stella Kinder family with sons: Bernard, Albert and Monte and daughter "Dottie"
were neighbors and lived close to Art and Mary Pahl and their four children, Harold, Camella, Herschel and Phyllis.
The children of the Pahl and Kinder families grew up together: however, later on, they attended different
schools and went in different directions except "Monte" and "Hersch" who remained close enough
to keep an eye on each other. They attended college at both University of Nebraska at Kearney and Lincoln, only
at different times. Both were involved in the various athletic programs. "Monte" was a track man (high
jumper) while "Hersch" played football at both schools.
Hersch joined the Navy and became a Navy fighter pilot and had made one combat deployment with Fighting
Squadron Six (VF-6) while Monte was going through Navy flight training with high hopes that he too would become
qualified and trained to fly fighter planes.
During that time we stayed in contact with our own parents and then our parents remained in visiting
contact with each other.
Our parents were secretly in hopes that Monte would be able to join the same squadron (VF-6) so that
the two of us could be together.
As luck would have it, Monte received orders to join Our Fighting Squadron Six while it was reforming
and retraining at Santa Rosa, CA in July '44. I was surprised and well pleased when Monte showed up with orders
to VF-6. I was able to get him assigned to my division for training purposes.
It was then that we really got to know each other as professionals and gained a lot of respect for
each other. I was very pleased that Monte was a very good fighter pilot. He was tall and had long legs and fit
very well into the new F6F-5, which we were receiving in our squadron about that time.
My wife, Bonnie and I lived in a rented summer home on the Russian River at Hosienda, and tried to
enjoy life as much a possible -- knowing full well that we would soon be deploying to the Pacific for another carrier
based combat tour against the Enemy. During that time Monte visited in our home with another old friend Cherry
Klingler and others.
Ensign Monte Kinder visited Hersch and Bonnie Pahl at their
rented home at Hosienda, CA near Santa Rosa Summer 1944.
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After completing rocket training and Carrier qualified on the old USS Ranger (CV-4) we deployed to
Hilo Hawaii (aboard a troop transport) to continue training while waiting for a carrier further west.
A group of young (VF-6) Ensign pilots at Hilo, Hawaii after
"Happy Hour". Front row, L-R: Charles Campbell, Willis Moeller, Monte Kinder, Lem Herd, Jerry Hoveland,
Back row L-R:- Glessner, James A. Long, Art Flynn, Ford, Leonard M. Nearman,_____, and Flemming.
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Willis Moeller, left and Monte Kinder right. Happy hour while
training at Hilo Hawaii. Dec.1944.
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For various reasons Monte was assigned to another division when we went aboard the Hancock and ready for combat.
Unfortunately he was not happy after flying in that division for a while, because the leader was one of the senior
pilots that came from the training command. He, (that leader) seemed to try to avoid the possibility of making
contact with the enemy by going the other way or doing various things to try to avoid combat. It was difficult
for Monte to make the change, but he finally talked to the right person and became assigned to the division lead
by Cliff Seaver, an old timer. Cliff's division and mine were many times assigned to the same missions so, in a
way, Monte and I were flying together which is what we had always hoped for.
One day while returning from a long strike mission we were flying in a loose formation, with our
engines throttled back conserving fuel when Monte happened to see an enemy plane down at a lower altitude.
Monte pealed off and in short order dispatched the enemy in a ball of flames. I just watched and
gave him a bit of encouragement over the radio. It took him a while to catch up and return to his place in the
formation - a happier man. Up until that moment the mission had been boring and unfruitful like some missions were.
Monte Kinder, taken in Tokyo bay in Nov. 1945 as the Hancock
with VF-6 aboard was leaving for our return trip to the States.
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Group shot (cropped out from a larger photo), back row L-R:-
Billy Brackman, Monte Kinder, Willie Moeller, Jim Driver, and Cliff Seaver. Front row: L-R:- Ray Killian, Smiley
Anderson, Maurie Shay, Terpie, and Corwin Wickham.
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After the war, Monte left the Navy and got married to a beautiful red head. Then Lois and Monte returned
to school at the University of Nebraska, where he earned a Maters degree and taught school in a Nebraska high school.
To fulfill his hunger for flying, he spent some time flying a crop duster aircraft and did many dangerous
hours dusting huge wheat fields in Kansas.
Years later after we had been out of touch with each other, and after our parents had passed on,
we chanced to both be living in the San Diego area. He was proud of his two bright red headed sons as I was of
our three sons. Our sons were able to get acquainted while there dads remembered old times and recalled all those
near misses and close calls during WWII.
Many years after that, my wife Bonnie and I were honored to visit in the home of Monte and Lois in
Red Bluff, Ca. It was great to become reacquainted and recall old times.
Unfortunately, Monte has had to go on alone and is currently taking care of himself in his red Bluff
home while his married sons keep an eye on him.
USS Hancock Reunion in 1984
Monte Kinder at the USS Hancock Reunion at Charlston, NC in
1984. Photo was cropped out of a group photo which follows...
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The Group Shot...
Monte Kinder in a group at Hancock reunion at Charleston NC.
1984.
L-R: Ahern, Marsh Squires, Dan Lamb, Decker, Ray Killilan, air group pilot, David Kipp, Fleming, Monte Kinder,
and Baker.
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Note: Monte's sister, Dottie, passed away at the age of 90 and was proud of the fact that she had worked
for the city of Cambridge, Nebraska all her life and had never been out of the county.
As of 10-2-08 Monte was still in his own home in Red Bluff, CA and was getting along quite well with
a full time care taker.
In February of 2010, I received a report of Monte's passing. It is with sadness that I say good-bye
to my long-time friend and fellow Squadron mate. The following is his Obituary which was published by Hoyt-Cole
Chapel of the Flowers, of Red Bluff, California...
Monte's Obituary
Monte E. Kinder
February 27, 1922 - February 1, 2010
LCDR Marlin Monte E. Kinder
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On February 1, 2010, Monte E. Kinder passed away peacefully at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Red Bluff,
California. He was 87.
The youngest of four children, Monte was born on a farm in Cambridge, Nebraska, on Feb. 27, 1922.
He lived in Cambridge until the age of 21, when he enlisted in the Navy to serve his country in WWII.
In the Navy, he was a decorated carrier fighter pilot in the Asiatic Pacific.
Monte was later recalled to active duty to serve again as a pilot in the Korean conflict. He was
honorably discharged from the service in 1957, with the rank of Lt. Commander.
Monte graduated from the University of Nebraska, where he was a member of the Delta Upsilon Fraternity
and the University of Nebraska Lettermenfs Club for his participation in the school's Track and Field team. A
gifted athlete, Monte won several collegiate championships in the high jump.
In 1948 Monte married the love of his life, Lois Cline. They would be married for 47 years. Lois
died in 1995.
In 1959 Monte and Lois settled in Red Bluff, where they would raise their four children.
Following several business endeavors, Monte worked many years for the State of California as a real
estate appraiser.
Monte and Lois were both avid golfers, and life members of Wilcox Oaks Golf Club.
An easy-going, gentle, and generous man, Monte possessed a sharp wit and a wonderful sense of humor.
With a special interest in politics and world events, Monte followed the events of the day with a keen intelligence
and an octogenarian's wisdom - which he freely shared with anyone within earshot. It's safe to say that Monte
did not suffer fools gladly, no matter what their position or political party.
Monte will be missed by many - most especially by his surviving family: daughter Kim Desmarteau,
her husband Ed Desmarteau, and children Pete, Kellen, and Mandi Desmarteau of Indepependence, Oregon; son Larry
Kinder, and his wife Roberta Kinder, and children Tommy Kinder, Michelle, Michael, and Bobby Hooper, of Roseville,
California, and Red Bluff; son David Kinder and his wife Candace Hellstrom Kinder, of San Diego, California; and
son Roger Kinder, his wife Karen Hoel Kinder, of Walla Walla, Washington, and their children, Kai Kinder, of Portland,
Oregon, and Kate Kinder Doyle, and Kate's husband Micelis Doyle, also living in Portland.
In September 2009, Monte was pleased to meet his first great-grandchild, Malik.
Monte will be interred at Oak Hill Cemetery, next to his late wife, Lois.
Arrangements were handled by Hoyt-Cole Chapel of the Flowers.
At Monte's request, no services were planned.
Thanks Monte -- you did well and I consider you one of the greatest friends an old Navy fighter pilot
could ever hope to have.
- Hersch Pahl
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"For those who fought for it...
freedom has a flavor the protected will never know!"
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