Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: Alton W. Knappenberger ~ July 22, 2013
Serving The Best Troops and Veterans In The World !! | StarCMC

Posted on 07/21/2013 5:02:57 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska


Our Troops Rock!  Thank you for all you do!
 
For the freedom you enjoyed yesterday... Thank the Veterans who served in The United States Armed Forces.
 
Looking forward to tomorrow's freedom? Support The United States Armed Forces Today!
 
 
~ Hall of Heroes ~

Alton W. Knappenberger

Info from this website and also here.

ArmyPatch small   NavySeal small   Air Force Seal   Marines Seal small   Coast Guard Seal small (better)
Alton Knappenberger was working on a Pennsylvania pig farm when he was drafted in 1943 at the age of nineteen. He landed at Anzio, on the Italian coast, on January 22, 1944, as part of the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division, and although he did not know it at the time, he was about to become engaged in one of the toughest combat actions of World War II. “Knappie,” as his friends called him, was surprised by how little resistance the Germans initially offered. But as his unit slowly pushed inland over the next few days, he could sense that the enemy was regrouping. It rained constantly. He never forgot the mud; it was so thick and viscous that he worried it might suck off his boots.

On February 1, as Private First Class Knappenberger’s battalion neared the small town of Cisterna di Littoria, the Germans launched a strong counterattack with tanks and artillery that nearly overwhelmed the U.S. force. It was the Germans’ intent to push the Americans into the sea. With American soldiers taking heavy casualties all around him, Knappenberger crawled to a rise so that he could see the enemy. A German machine gun about eighty yards away opened fire, its slugs hitting right in front of Knappenberger and kicking mud into his face. He scrambled to a Browning Automatic Rifle lying beside one of his dead comrades, stood up, and aimed a burst at the machine gun, killing the three Germans operating it. Two Germans crawled to a point within twenty yards of Knappenberger’s knoll and threw potato masher grenades at him. Knappenberger wheeled and killed them both with one burst from his automatic rifle.

He was moving forward when a second German machine gun opened fire from a range of a hundred yards. Knappenberger silenced it with the BAR. Shortly afterward, a German 20 mm antiaircraft gun directed fire at his unit. He took out the German position with his BAR. For the next two hours, Knappenberger single-handedly held off the enemy infantry, which was threatening the efforts of the U.S. force to organize a defense. When he ran low on ammunition, he crawled through heavy fire to the body of another fallen American and grabbed clips from his pack. He resumed firing and repelled a German platoon armed with automatic weapons. Despite heavy fire, shells bursting within fifteen yards of him, he held his precarious position while continuing to fire at the enemy. Finally, his ammunition supply completely exhausted, he rejoined his company, having disrupted the enemy attack for more than two hours. Only six men out of his company of two hundred had not been killed or wounded.

Over the next few weeks, the breakout from Anzio stalled and developed into a stalemate between Allied and German forces as each regrouped. Knappenberger was in a foxhole not far from where the February action had occurred when he was informed that he was to receive the Medal of Honor. It was presented to him on June 8, 1944, by General Mark Clark, commander of the 5th Army, with American troops looking on and the regimental band playing. Soon therafter, Knappenberger was sent home and traveled around the country telling his story as part of a war bond drive. After the war, he returned home to Pennsylvania and worked as a truck driver and supervisor of an asphalting crew.
The President of the United States
in the name of The Congress
takes pleasure in presenting the
Medal of Honor

to


    KNAPPENBERGER, ALTON W.

    Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, 3d Infantry Division.
    Place and date: Near Cisterna di Littoria, Italy, 1 February 1944.
    Entered service at: Spring Mount, Pa.
    Birth: Cooperstown, Pa. G.O. No.: 41, 26 May 1944.


    Citation:

    For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty in action involving actual conflict with the enemy, on 1 February 1944 near Cisterna di Littoria, Italy. When a heavy German counterattack was launched against his battalion, Pfc. Knappenberger crawled to an exposed knoll and went into position with his automatic rifle. An enemy machinegun 85 yards away opened fire, and bullets struck within 6 inches of him. Rising to a kneeling position, Pfc. Knappenberger opened fire on the hostile crew, knocked out the gun, killed 2 members of the crew, and wounded the third. While he fired at this hostile position, 2 Germans crawled to a point within 20 yards of the knoll and threw potato-masher grenades at him, but Pfc. Knappenberger killed them both with 1 burst from his automatic rifle. Later, a second machinegun opened fire upon his exposed position from a distance of 100 yards, and this weapon also was silenced by his well-aimed shots. Shortly thereafter, an enemy 20mm. antiaircraft gun directed fire at him, and again Pfc. Knappenberger returned fire to wound 1 member of the hostile crew. Under tank and artillery shellfire, with shells bursting within 15 yards of him, he held his precarious position and fired at all enemy infantrymen armed with machine pistols and machineguns which he could locate. When his ammunition supply became exhausted, he crawled 15 yards forward through steady machinegun fire, removed rifle clips from the belt of a casualty, returned to his position and resumed firing to repel an assaulting German platoon armed with automatic weapons. Finally, his ammunition supply being completely exhausted, he rejoined his company. Pfc. Knappenberger's intrepid action disrupted the enemy attack for over 2 hours.


Lots more to read about this hero here.
Please remember the Canteen is here to honor, support and entertain our troops and their families.  This is a politics-free zone!  Thanks for helping us in our mission!


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Free Republic
KEYWORDS: canteen; heroes; military; troopsupport
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-87 next last
To: ConorMacNessa


Honoring Our Fallen

41 posted on 07/21/2013 6:21:46 PM PDT by BIGLOOK (Keelhaul the usual suspects!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: carlo3b

Welcome to the Canteen, carlo3b, and good evening.

Pvt Knappenberger really put a dent in the Germans being able to push the Americans into the sea. Gallant indeed.


42 posted on 07/21/2013 6:29:17 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska ((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Kathy in Alaska

Off and On.

And Lynn-DAH HATES thunder.

Eek!


43 posted on 07/21/2013 6:37:42 PM PDT by left that other site (You Shall Know the Truth, and the Truth Shall Set You Free...John 8:32)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]

To: left that other site

Good idea. I could do two per week.


44 posted on 07/21/2013 6:56:04 PM PDT by Publius
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]

To: Publius

Yes...each movement is an entity until itself and deserves careful consideration.

My Favorite is the Pathetique...although 90% will probably choose the Moonlight (which I also LOVE).

It will be a Hugh and Series Hit, I am willing to bet!


45 posted on 07/21/2013 7:01:08 PM PDT by left that other site (You Shall Know the Truth, and the Truth Shall Set You Free...John 8:32)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 44 | View Replies]

To: ConorMacNessa

TAPS

Welcome Home and RIP

HM/3 (FMF) Michael B Judd, USNN
Alpha Co, 3rd Recon Bn, 3rd Marine Division


Eternal Father Strong To Save - click

46 posted on 07/21/2013 7:03:50 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska ((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: left that other site

32 sonatas = 16 weeks. That’s a good project.


47 posted on 07/21/2013 7:56:47 PM PDT by Publius
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 45 | View Replies]

To: left that other site

Does she fit in your lap in extreme circumstances?


48 posted on 07/21/2013 8:24:07 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska ((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 43 | View Replies]

To: Kathy in Alaska

She is learning to shoot and having an absolute blast, if you’ll pardon the pun!

School starts here on August 5th, so we’re definitely starting to think about getting back to it. She’s ready - she’s had a good summer vacation and is looking forward to seeing old friends in school again.


49 posted on 07/21/2013 9:10:13 PM PDT by HiJinx (Romans 8:28-29)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies]

To: LUV W

?


50 posted on 07/21/2013 9:14:42 PM PDT by luvie (All my heroes wear camos! Thank you David, Michael, Chris Txradioguy, JJ, CMS, & ALL of you heroes!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 40 | View Replies]

To: HiJinx

That is so neat that she is learning the correct things so young. She will be so grounded in the right things, in the 2nd Amendment.

WOW, school really starts early there.

Not sure when it starts here, but the stores are REALLY geared up already!


51 posted on 07/22/2013 12:04:33 AM PDT by Kathy in Alaska ((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 49 | View Replies]

To: ConorMacNessa

TAPS

RIP

Pvt Erroll D A Milliard, USA
36th Engineer Brigade


Amazing Grace

52 posted on 07/22/2013 12:26:14 AM PDT by Kathy in Alaska ((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: ConorMacNessa

TAPS

RIP

SSG Sonny C Zimmerman, USA
1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment
4th Brigade Combat Team


Amazing Grace

53 posted on 07/22/2013 12:36:14 AM PDT by Kathy in Alaska ((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: Kathy in Alaska; StarCMC
A very pleasant good morning to everyone at the Canteen and to all our military at home and abroad. Thanks for your service to our country.

((HUGS))Good morning, Ladies. Thanks for this morning's thread, Star. How's it going?

54 posted on 07/22/2013 1:40:36 AM PDT by E.G.C.
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: The Mayor

Good morning, Mayor, and have a great week.

Thank you for today’s sustenance for body and soul.


55 posted on 07/22/2013 2:02:13 AM PDT by Kathy in Alaska ((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: E.G.C.

Good morning, E...((HUGS))...hope you and Bo had a nice weekend.

Have a great Monday.


56 posted on 07/22/2013 2:05:26 AM PDT by Kathy in Alaska ((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 54 | View Replies]

To: blackie; E.G.C.; Arrowhead1952; ConorMacNessa; Allegra; Mrs.Nooseman; beachn4fun; Jet Jaguar; ...



57 posted on 07/22/2013 2:08:07 AM PDT by Kathy in Alaska ((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 56 | View Replies]

To: Kathy in Alaska
Good afternoon/evening/night Troops, wherever you are.

Thank you for doing your part to help keep all of us free and safe.

Thanks, unique, for the pastries.

Coffee is always on........

How about a cupcake?

Cookies?

Pancakes?

Treats?


58 posted on 07/22/2013 2:09:25 AM PDT by Kathy in Alaska ((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 57 | View Replies]

To: Jet Jaguar; txradioguy; JemiansTerror; MEG33; Laurita; CMS; OneLoyalAmerican; Defender2; ...
God bless and keep safe our troops worldwide.

Good night.


Statler Brothers ~ How Great Thou Art


59 posted on 07/22/2013 2:11:13 AM PDT by Kathy in Alaska ((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 58 | View Replies]

To: Kathy in Alaska
Good morning, Kathy!

*HUGS*

Heading out the door in a few minutes. It's still hot here - 78 degrees at 0600.

Sweet dreams - I'll see you on the flip side!


America demands Justice for the Fallen of Benghazi!

Genuflectimus non ad principem sed ad Principem Pacis!

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

60 posted on 07/22/2013 3:11:53 AM PDT by ConorMacNessa (HM/2 USN, 3/5 Marines RVN 1969 - St. Michael the Archangel defend us in Battle!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 59 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-87 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson