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FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: Alton Knappenberger ~ 29 April 2019
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Posted on 04/28/2019 5:01:52 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska
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~ Hall of Heroes ~ Alton W. Knappenberger Info from here. |
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Alton Knappenberger (Dec 31, 1923 - June 9, 2008) 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.
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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! |
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TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Free Republic
KEYWORDS: canteen; heroes; military; troopsupport
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To: Kathy in Alaska
Hi Everybody!
((((HUGS))))
2
posted on
04/28/2019 5:05:22 PM PDT
by
left that other site
(For America to have CONFIDENCE in our future, we must have PRIDE in our HISTORY... DJT)
To: left that other site
Good evening, ML...((HUGS))...how is your sinus headache?
All gone, I hope?
Were you and Penny able to get out, or do you need an ark?
3
posted on
04/28/2019 5:14:07 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: Kathy in Alaska
Penny and I did a lovely BOARDWALK hike (3 miles) on a special trail built so kids could ride their bikes to school and not have to ride on the main highways. It goes through the woods, and had several streams rushing beneath it. They will dry up later in the summer, but right now it is quite picturesque.
And Penny’s paws stayed dry!
Blue is still at my brother’s house, awaiting her journey home. It’s still too rainy and COLD!
I feel much better now, thank you!
(((HUGS)))
4
posted on
04/28/2019 5:19:04 PM PDT
by
left that other site
(For America to have CONFIDENCE in our future, we must have PRIDE in our HISTORY... DJT)
To: The Mayor; PROCON; mylife; ConorMacNessa; SandRat; mountainlion; Publius; Jet Jaguar; ...
5
posted on
04/28/2019 5:24:43 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: left that other site
WOW! What a great walk you had.
6
posted on
04/28/2019 5:28:59 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: Kathy in Alaska
Hai Kathy! (((HUGS))) Stuck now in Kansas City - flights delayed; in another hour I bag it for the day, hit my ten hour limit.
7
posted on
04/28/2019 5:40:15 PM PDT
by
SkyDancer
( ~ Just Consider Me A Random Fact Generator ~ Eat Sleep Fly Repeat ~)
To: Kathy in Alaska
Freep mail me to be on or off the Daily Bread ping list
April 29Understanding Lifes Trials
To God belong wisdom and power; counsel and understanding are his. Job 12:13
My friends father received the dreaded diagnosis: cancer. Yet, during the chemo treatment process, he became a believer in Jesus and his disease eventually went into remission. He was cancer free for a wonderful eighteen months, but it returnedworse than before. He and his wife faced the reality of the returned cancer with concern and questions but also with a faithful trust in God because of how He saw them through the first time.
We wont always understand why were going through trials. This was certainly the case for Job, who faced horrendous and unexplainable suffering and loss. Yet despite his many questions, in Job 12 he declares that God is mighty: What he tears down cannot be rebuilt (v. 14) and to him belong strength and insight (v. 16). He makes nations great, and destroys them (v. 23). Throughout this extensive list, Job doesnt mention Gods motives or why He allows pain and suffering. Job doesnt have the answers. But still despite everything, he confidently says, to God belong wisdom and power; counsel and understanding are his (v. 13).
We may not understand why God allows certain struggles in our lives, but like my friends parents, we can put our trust in Him. The Lord loves us and has us in His hands (v. 10; 1 Peter 5:7). Wisdom, power, and understanding are His!
By Julie Schwab
Today's Reflection
What struggle are you going through? How does it help to know that God is with you?
8
posted on
04/28/2019 6:02:44 PM PDT
by
The Mayor
(He is risen! Alleluia!)
To: Kathy in Alaska
oooops, I got caught up watching Game of Thrones.... So sory
9
posted on
04/28/2019 6:03:37 PM PDT
by
The Mayor
(He is risen! Alleluia!)
To: Kathy in Alaska
They built it for the school kids but Penny and i get to use it too! LOL! :-)
10
posted on
04/28/2019 6:11:30 PM PDT
by
left that other site
(For America to have CONFIDENCE in our future, we must have PRIDE in our HISTORY... DJT)
To: Kathy in Alaska
Thanks Kathy!
Mr. Knappenberger was quite the marksman, a true All-American Hero.
11
posted on
04/28/2019 6:35:02 PM PDT
by
PROCON
('Progressive' is a Euphemism for Totalitarian)
To: MoJo2001; 007; 1 FELLOW FREEPER; 11B3; 1FreeAmerican; 1stbn27; 2111USMC; 2LT Radix jr; 300winmag; ..
~ Hall of Heroes: Alton Knappenberger ~
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12
posted on
04/28/2019 6:35:10 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: SkyDancer
Good evening, Janey
((HUGS))..stuck again. Weather?
Get a good night’s sleep. Then home?
13
posted on
04/28/2019 6:38:33 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: y'all; Kathy in Alaska; PROCON; radu; Publius; The Mayor; SandRat; mylife; ...
🦅 PFC Alton Knappenberger
Dec 31, 1923 - June 9, 2008
Awarded the Medal of Honor
For "Conspicuous Gallantry and Intrepidity"
God Rest The Soul of this Hero! 🇺🇸
14
posted on
04/28/2019 6:39:40 PM PDT
by
luvie
(The bravery and dedication of our troops in keeping us safe & free make me proud to be an American!)
To: Kathy in Alaska
Hai! - yeah, wx delayed the flight I was supped to fly - I would have made my hours but the flight being delayed went over my duty day so heading to the crew hotel. I’m supposed to take a flight from KC to Orlando tomorrow.
15
posted on
04/28/2019 6:41:30 PM PDT
by
SkyDancer
( ~ Just Consider Me A Random Fact Generator ~ Eat Sleep Fly Repeat ~)
To: Kathy in Alaska; LUV W; HiJinx; AZamericonnie; Jet Jaguar; SandRat; laurenmarlowe; beachn4fun; ...
Greetings to all at the Canteen!
To all our military men and women, past and present,
THANK YOU
for your service!
His guardian angel was with him those two horrific hours.
16
posted on
04/28/2019 7:09:21 PM PDT
by
radu
(God bless our military men and women, past and present)
To: Kathy in Alaska
Howdy, Kathy.
Were you able to arrange to have your new washer delivered tomorrow since you’ll be home?
17
posted on
04/28/2019 7:26:14 PM PDT
by
radu
(God bless our military men and women, past and present)
To: PROCON
Howdy, PRO.
Now that Spring has arrived, have you and your son gone out for any range time?
I THINK Spring is finally here to stay. We’ve waited long enough for it. LOL
18
posted on
04/28/2019 7:41:49 PM PDT
by
radu
(God bless our military men and women, past and present)
To: LUV W
Howdy, LUV.
Hope your day was good.
Did it get as hot as they said it would?
It was a comfy day here but will heat up tomorrow through most of the week.
19
posted on
04/28/2019 8:05:02 PM PDT
by
radu
(God bless our military men and women, past and present)
To: The Mayor
Good evening, Mayor, and thank you for today’s sustenance for body and soul.
Rested and ready for the new week?
20
posted on
04/28/2019 8:07:45 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
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