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FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: Alton W Knappenberger ~ February 23, 2009
Serving The Best Troops and Veterans in The World!!
| StarCMC and Huckleberry Hound
Posted on 02/22/2009 5:00:10 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska
Our Troops Rock! Thank you for all you do! |
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For the freedom you enjoyed yesterday... Thank the Veterans who served in The United States Armed Forces. |
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Looking forward to tomorrow's freedom? Support The United States Armed Forces Today! |
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~ Hall of Heroes ~ Alton W. Knappenberger Info from this website and also here. |
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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.
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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; military; troopsupport
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To: Kathy in Alaska
2
posted on
02/22/2009 5:00:45 PM PST
by
philly-d-kidder
(Those who know the truth, no explanation is needed. those who refuse 2 know, no explanation is enuf!)
To: Kathy in Alaska
Thank You Troops and families for your sacrifice for our Country YOU are what makes it Great!
3
posted on
02/22/2009 5:02:28 PM PST
by
philly-d-kidder
(Those who know the truth, no explanation is needed. those who refuse 2 know, no explanation is enuf!)
To: StarCMC; Kathy in Alaska; All
Good morning Troops, Veterans and Canteeners.* * * * * * * * * * * *
Our Flag Flying Proudly One Nation Under God
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Lord, Please Bless Our Troops, They're fighting for our Freedom.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
God Bless Our Republic
Prayers going up
4
posted on
02/22/2009 5:03:22 PM PST
by
HopeandGlory
(Hey, Liberals . . . PC died on 9/11 . . . GET USED TO IT!!!)
To: Kathy in Alaska
5
posted on
02/22/2009 5:04:02 PM PST
by
philly-d-kidder
(Those who know the truth, no explanation is needed. those who refuse 2 know, no explanation is enuf!)
To: StarCMC; MoJo2001; 007; 1 FELLOW FREEPER; 11B3; 1FreeAmerican; 1stbn27; 2111USMC; 2LT Radix jr; ...
Please note: The author of the Hall of Heroes is StarCMC. Please thank her for todays thread.
Hall of Heroes: Alton W. Knappenberger
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6
posted on
02/22/2009 5:04:41 PM PST
by
Kathy in Alaska
(~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)
To: philly-d-kidder
6th
7
posted on
02/22/2009 5:05:01 PM PST
by
darkangel82
(I don't have a superiority complex, I'm just better than you.)
To: All
Thanks...
8
posted on
02/22/2009 5:05:52 PM PST
by
philly-d-kidder
(Those who know the truth, no explanation is needed. those who refuse 2 know, no explanation is enuf!)
To: darkangel82
9
posted on
02/22/2009 5:06:32 PM PST
by
philly-d-kidder
(Those who know the truth, no explanation is needed. those who refuse 2 know, no explanation is enuf!)
To: Kathy in Alaska
Evening Kathy, Hugs.
Hound of the evening is Solitare.
10
posted on
02/22/2009 5:07:20 PM PST
by
TASMANIANRED
(TAZ:Untamed, Unpredictable, Uninhibited.)
To: Kathy in Alaska; StarCMC
Supporting our Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Airmen, and Coast Guardsmen at more than 1,000 places across the U. S. and around the world.
~Tribute to Our Troops~
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To: TASMANIANRED
12
posted on
02/22/2009 5:08:39 PM PST
by
philly-d-kidder
(Those who know the truth, no explanation is needed. those who refuse 2 know, no explanation is enuf!)
To: Kathy in Alaska; TASMANIANRED
13
posted on
02/22/2009 5:10:04 PM PST
by
philly-d-kidder
(Those who know the truth, no explanation is needed. those who refuse 2 know, no explanation is enuf!)
To: txradioguy; tongue-tied; SoldierDad; mike1sg; Milo828; mystery-ak; CMS; The Sailor; Jet Jaguar; ...
Honoring Our Heroes AbnSarge USA Allegra 3 sons (armymarinemom and amdad) Brett USN (CindyDawg) Brother and Son-in-Law (kalee) Cannoneer No. 4 CAPT Future Snake Eater USA (RightOnline) CAPT Jason Clendenin (friend of Frou) Chris USA (amom) Chuck USA (RightOnline) COL Mike (gpapa) CMS USA David USAF (LUV W) Defender2 Deven USA (Shimmer) Ethan USMC (georgiabelle) Fred (DocRock) GulfWar1Vet USA IS2 Brianne USN (My Hearts in London - Everett) IS2 Heather USN (My Hearts in London - Everett) Jade Falcon USN JemiansTerror USA (Jemian) Jet Jaguar USAF Joel (NEMDF) Jonathan USMC (AZbushgal) Josh USN (doug from upland) Karen USA (fatima's granddaughter) Kenneth (Sweetbaby/LadyPilgrim) Kevin USMC (skimask) Kevin and David USA (vigilante2) Laurita USA LCPL Carter USMC Lindsay (Sweetbaby/LadyPilgrim) LT David (Coldwater Creek) M1911A1 USMC (M0sby) M1Tanker Major joma89 USAF MEG33's Navy Grandson Michael USAR (RightOnline) Mike1Sg USA (mystery-ak) Milo828 USA (mystery-ak) Nate USN (sneakers) Old Sarge USA OneLoyalAmerican USCG PFC Dan USA (son of swmobuffalo) PFC Jake USMC (son of Enough_Deceit) Pvt Alex USA (son of Enough_Deceit) Robert, Jeremy, Daynnis USA (SoldierDad) Sat-Com Chris USA (son of KC Burke) SGT Brian USA (repubmom) SGT Dusty USA (MountainDad) SGT Ev USA (Mozie) SGT Gray USA (colorcountrys son) SGT Sean Reed (preed) Son USCG (GodBlessUSA) SPC Mike USA (AbnSarge) SSG Mitchel USA (tina07) SSG Spencer USA (grame) SSGT Don May Jr USMC (debm29palms) SSGT John Linde USA (JFoxbear) Terrence USN (Sweetbaby/LadyPilgrim) The Sailor tongue-tied USN/USA Tonkin USN/USCG txradioguy USA Valerie USAF (Shimmer) Victor and Tony D USMC (weldgophardline) William USA (jackv)
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14
posted on
02/22/2009 5:11:07 PM PST
by
Kathy in Alaska
(~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)
To: philly-d-kidder
15
posted on
02/22/2009 5:12:40 PM PST
by
TASMANIANRED
(TAZ:Untamed, Unpredictable, Uninhibited.)
To: redrock; All
16
posted on
02/22/2009 5:12:41 PM PST
by
Kathy in Alaska
(~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)
To: Kathy in Alaska
Freep mail me to be on or off the Daily Bread ping list
February 23, 2009
Waiting For The Harvest
First the blade, then the head, after that the full grain . . . . The harvest has come. Mark 4:28-29
In the book Whats Gone Wrong With the Harvest? James Engel and Wilbert Norton illustrate on a graph how people often go through a series of preconversion stages before stepping over the line of faith and receiving Jesus as their Savior.
When we hear individuals share their conversion experience, we may conclude that faith happened all at once. But their salvation frequently carries an extended back-story of spiritual pilgrimage before they made that decision. They needed time to reflect on the gospel. For them, coming to the Savior was a process.
This is similar to the process of farming: Months of waiting come to an end and workers stream into the fields to help with the harvest. One of our Lords parables illustrates how faithlike a cropneeds time to develop. Responding to the gospel is like a seed that grows first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain, until finally, the harvest has come (Mark 4:28-29).
Because people may need time and multiple exposures to the gospel before they are ready to make a decision, we need to be sensitive to where they are in their faith-journey. In the meantime, we can cultivate spiritual interest, pray for them, and wait for the harvest!
Have you thought of where youre going
When this earthly life is past?
Will the seed that you are sowing
Bring a harvest that will last? Jacobson
17
posted on
02/22/2009 5:13:07 PM PST
by
The Mayor
( In Gods works we see His hand; in His Word we hear His heart)
To: HopeandGlory
18
posted on
02/22/2009 5:13:16 PM PST
by
TASMANIANRED
(TAZ:Untamed, Unpredictable, Uninhibited.)
To: All
19
posted on
02/22/2009 5:13:39 PM PST
by
Kathy in Alaska
(~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)
To: darkangel82
20
posted on
02/22/2009 5:14:08 PM PST
by
TASMANIANRED
(TAZ:Untamed, Unpredictable, Uninhibited.)
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