Alton Knappenberger: One Man Army
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- Опубликовано: 4 авг 2022
- The brutal fighting during the Second World War on the Italian peninsula would fade in popular memory against the dramatic fighting in France after D-Day. However the Italian front remained an important part of the greater strategy, and had its share of heroes. One of those heroes was Alton “Knappie” Knappenberger, an infantryman in the 3rd Infantry Division, who in his brief service performed acts of incredible heroism
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My name is Tim Knappenberger. My father’s line comes from West Virginia, so I’m not sure how we’re related to Alton. My Dad, Willard, served in the Aleutian Islands during WWII. When my son joined the Army in 2000 and went to basic training, he passed a drill field at Fort Benning named Knappenberger Field. Neither he nor I had heard of Alton until then. Interestingly enough, my son has had the nickname “Knappy” his whole life as well. Thank you History Guy for your excellent video!
My great uncle was in the 7th ID, also in the Aleutians.
Pleasure to meet you. Your ancestor gave so much for 🇺🇸. Not that he wants any thanks. Be well!
What's now West Virginia, was once land disputed over with Pennsylvania (as in the "Mason-Dixon Line") So anything is possibble. No ? ;-)
THANK YOU for sharing. What a great story.
Wow...
Different nationality, New Zealander Charles Upham is well worth a look-up. The only combat soldier to win two Victoria Crosses, a humble guy that was a one-man demolition squad towards Germans during WW2.
I'm always amazed at the Medal of Honor receipiants who almost to a man seem to say "I just did what I had to do". Far an above what would be expected of any person.
Because honestly, it's what they truly think. That or "it's what anyone would have done".
I have known two from the Viet Nam War- plus a DSC winner- they were humble, ordinary family men, and never engaged in "War Stories" about themselves
VC recipients likewise
These are men who found themselves in a position of fight or flight. They chose fight.
I echo what the other respondents say above.
I saw an interview with the secretary of the Victoria Cross Association once and she mentioned many of them had a very deep desire to protect others - often as they had been the oldest child and had been put in a position where they had to look after siblings from a very young age.
This is my Great Grandfather. He was an amazing man... I miss him so much
I don't know how come but I always get choked up at stories of valor. Must be my gratitude strings being pulled for the price of my freedom.
Very well said...
I hold no shame in having to wipe my eyes after hearing about someone rise to the ultimate challenge and prevail.
As you say, freedom is not free; it comes at a price... Unfortunately, many these days seem to forget this.
Then don’t let the modern tyrants take it away!
My father Harold Rosenthal hailed from Pittsburgh, PA, was a BAR man and landed at Anzio with this man. Same Division, same commanding General (Mark Clark). They chewed some of the same dirt! Dad weighed just 150 pounds and had a 75 pound field pack, his Browning Automatic Rifle, several box-style 20 round ammo magazines and his Colt .45 ACP. During the march to Rome--known as the 5th Army's Po Valley Campaign--dad hunted Italian deer with the BAR and fished with a pineapple hand grenade & a net. The Italian front isn't well represented in the history annals. So glad THG did an episode on it. It brought me to tears. Thanks History Guy (Lance)!
Also, a few years back, while I attended an Air Show at Reading, PA Mid Atlantic Air Museum, I shook hands with a Black WW2 5th Army truck driver that was part of an all-Black Unit assigned to deliver supplies from Anzio to the moving front lines. What an honor it was to meet someone--ANYONE--from that outfit that MAY have helped to resupply my father as he fought the War! What an honor! I LOVE History and wish more would learn from it!
Yes . The quiet achievers that supported your father may have been even just as vulnerable to attack from the air . At times though . The allied air force did a good job .
Many quiet achievers on factories , farms and services all contributed to the great allied team effort.
God bless all the unsung heroes too. Amen .
If you were born after the war then there is a not insignificant chance that that soldier driving truck is partly responsible for your life. A mysterious thing to ponder…
This is my Great Uncle. He was always fun-always laughing, always smoking, but never said a lot. I remember him and Aunt Hazel taking me for my drivers test. They laughed the whole time!
From what I understand they wanted to make him a well known hero and a representative like they did with Audie Murphy, but he wanted nothing to do with it. He was a very simple man and was very loved by his family.
Thank you for sharing that, though. It puts a smile on my face to hear he was always laughing. That a veteran would life a long and happy life afterward is certainly my fondest hope.
About a month ago the last Medal of Honor of WWII passed. It was sad and quiet frankly a little scary; to think I grew up with WWII veterans and never thought the day we will lost them all. Easy Company is gone. The same with Korean War vets. We will lose our Nam vets next in masses in a few decades.
Ha, fun to think I have a few decades left.
Those who serve and sacrifice the most for their country will live on forever In the hearts and minds of all true Americans. We will never forget them. 🇺🇸
I'm almost 61. It's possible before I die, all WWII, Korea and most Vietnam vets will have gone.
I think the loss of the Vietnam veterans has begun. I am 68, and when I reported to West Point every single officer and non-commissioned officer I saw was a veteran of at least one tour in Vietnam. Some, but very few, of the older NCOs had also fought in Korea. All of them were anywhere from eight to twenty years older than me, which means the youngest is now in his mid-70s' The veterans I see wearing "Vietnam Veteran" hats at the VA hospital all appear to be in their late 70s or early 80s, so we will start losing them in large numbers soon.
Kind of makes me wonder what happened to that 18 year-old kid from 1972.
@@ferengiprofiteer6908 Don't worry brother. I'll be there following you, just not anytime soon. But I don't think people will remember Afghan vets like you guys.
No wonder he was withdrawn from active service. It was noticed that medal of honour recipients, when returned to the front, often died trying to surpass themselves, and that wasn’t good for morale.
Later, Patton decided that in 3rd Army, recipients of the Medal of Honor or Distinguished Service Cross would be away from the fighting.
Something about them going home and fathering brave children for future wars.
@@corbinmcnabb Sounds like how Patton would have phrased it to the troops. Actually it was a decision higher up, and it was for moral and pr purposes. When Stars & Stripes wrote about medal of honour recipients to next issue confirm their death, people start thinking about their own mortality. I don’t remember if it was a hard rule, or a strong
recommendation.
In 1980 I worked at a metal fabricator not that far from Coppersburg where this man lived. My supervisor at the shop was an expert machinists and welder. He was deferred all through WWII. His skill set was timing the machine guns to shoot through the airplane propellers. In the beginning, the plane guns and propellers had to be synchronize. He never was drafted because he could kill more nazi with a lathe than a gun. These are the behind the scenes men who also made a difference and deserve to be remembered. His name was Harold Rader. Thank you Harold.
My Beloved Father passed away in 2021, at the age of 97. In June of 1942 he graduated from high school, and at the age of 17 he is drafted into WWII. He was assigned to the hospital unit. They would follow the front lines. After the battle they would go and pick up the dead, and body parts. He never had a gun. I think that haunted him for years after the war, because he had a Love of Life. I miss my Dad, and greatly RESPECT him for what he did, for our great nation. Joseph Sferrazza, 1924-2021. RIP Dad !!
There's a sea story I heard about a shipyard worker who was carrying his heavy toolbox up the forward plank nearest his work on the ship when the OOD ordered him back down and come aboard via the aft gang plank. He went. The ship got a phone call from the shipyard office saying that a Medal of Honor winner would like to visit the ship soon. The OOD arranged a suitably dressed Guard of Honor to pipe him aboard, watched and waited. He came back and pulled out his Metal of Honor that was stored in the office safe from his toolbox and put it on over his work clothes. He explained to the Captain that he wanted to teach the arrogant Officer something and after a nice chat went to work.
A hero is someone who is afraid but still presses on despite his or her fear.
Flight or fight. Fear fuels flight. Fight fades fear.
Right on! I heard it as 'being scared to death (and the situation is truly lethal) , but pressing on anyway'. A person who claims to have 'no fear' is an idiot.
Was it necessary to include political correctness in your statement? The word someone is the same as saying some person which is inclusive of all genders and races. So why the need to add "his or her" which is a redundancy? Your statement would have had the same meaning if you had used their, also inclusive, instead of his or her.
@@drats1279 👎🏿
@@drats1279 I'm so sick of PC. In Iraq there was a Marine in one of the battles for Fallujah who wouldn't stop referring to the brutal Al Qaida enemy as, "f**king Hadjiis". Some higher-up told him that if he kept using that term he'd be Courts Martialed. At the time I remember thinking, "So we can throw everything in our arsenal at them to kill 'em, but we're not allowed to call them names, as it might hurt their feelings." We live in a very strange age.
My later Mother’s Second Cousin, Maurice ‘Footsie’ Britt was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge, Congressional Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star, Bronze Star w/Valor (Second Bronze Star), Four Purple Hearts for his actions in North Africa & Italy. Lost his right arm in Italy, came back to Arkansas & became a successful businessman & two term Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas
Ordinary men who had extraordinary accomplishments in combat and in civilian life afterwards.
Drop the Congressional part, sir. The proper title is simply Medal of Honor.
@@patrickmccrann991 Selfless service is nothing to be ashamed of , even as a Lieutenant Governor .
@@biketech60 I never said anything about his service. However, the correct title is Medal of Honor not Congressional Medal of Honor.
One thing I find common among metal of honor recipients. They are very humble men. Generally always hard working and would give you the shirt off their back.
I have met many veterans from WW2. Pretty much all of them are humble and just said they had a job to do and they did it. Truly the greatest generation.
That fully automatic BAR shooting those 30-0-6 rounds was accurate, hit hard, and were effective at range.
Was insanely heavy though.
great weapon aside from the fact that every one had to haul ammo for it.
@@nokiot9 About 22 pounds loaded with a bipod. Many soldiers and Marines removed the bipod to save weight. The WWII version of the BAR had two settings - slow and fast. On the slow setting you could get off single shots, but since it fired from an open bolt, there was a delay before it slammed home and fired. This made accurate aiming difficult unless you used the bipod or some sort of rest to stabilize it.
@@johnwoodward5643 thanks, I was wondering where Knappy kept “finding ammo” for it
BAR used the same round as the Garand and the Browning 1917 and 1919 mgs. I am sure he and his buddies were loading 20 round mags(the real weak point of the BAR) by stripping Garand enbloc 8 round clips.
In Australia, (and the UK), the Victoria Cross is somewhat similar to the US medal of honour. The Australian war memorial in Canberra has the Hall of Honour that has the stories of the VC recipients. Anyone who can go through that and read the stories and not be affected would have to be soul dead. Since 1900 only 96 Australians have received this honour.
There are some truly bonkers stories of WWII MoH recipients. Some of theme were simply "dove on grenade," but, man, some of them are wild...you wouldn't believe it if they put it in a movie. Like, Hacksaw Ridge left a ton of details out because id they had been included, folks would have assumed that they were embellishments. One dude in Europe (I thought he was called "The One Man Army" but I guess I was mistaken), kept getting busted down in rank because he wouldn't follow orders. He finally got in an outfit where the CO basically gave him free reign. He would get a grease gun and sneak behind enemy lines and go building to building looking for Germans. If he found some, he would poke his grease gun through the window or whatever and give the room a quick hose. Then he would offer to take prisoners. He would walk these long columns of enemy prisoners back to the American lines to drop off. He had a thing for wrist watches so he would raid all the dead Germans for watches and also his prisoners and drop them off at his war chest when he returned to the line. They said he would come back with wrist watches going up both arms...
I have found that most of the best marksman in WWII seemed to be hunters during the Depression. My Dad was on the Air force Rifle Team, and that was because he would hunt rabbits on the way to school so he would have meat for supper. He was too young for WWII, but his Brother James E Johnson is buried in Luxemburg along with George S Patton.
I seem to remember that Audie Murphy grew up poor and hunting for food.
@@tygrkhat4087 Yep. Your memory is good.
@@tygrkhat4087
Wasn't Sgt. York famous for that too?
Said something like, '...used to shooting them turkeys. You don't want to spoil the meat, so I'd shoot them in the head... and a German helmet is a lot bigger than a turkey's head...'
@@neighbor-j-4737 Never heard that, but it makes sense. Rural living back then meant hunting and fishing not as hobbies, but putting food on the table.
Sargent York was a farmer and a crack shot .
My great-uncle was wounded at Pearl Harbor (the first casualty officially recorded in the infirmary) while driving pilots out to their planes. Several of my other uncles also served in WWII; in Europe and in the Pacific. I am a Vietnam era Navy vet myself and studying the history of these "everyday hero's" is one of my pastimes now that I am retired. I enjoy your videos and admire the work you do to help these men and women not be forgotten. Thanks!
He and my father could have been twins. Same size, about the same age, growing up during the Depression, with little schooling. They both spent a lot of time hunting for food for the family. My dad's poor nutrition growing up was so bad, that the military wouldn't take him, so he joined the merchant marines, and spent the war on tankers in the Pacific. He could have gotten a deferment, not only as 4-f, but also because he worked for a war industry company and was married and a father(I was born January 1942), But like many other young men, he wanted to do his part in the war. They really were the country's "greatest generation".
So funny when you was about to mention his injury of the blister I thought he was going to say it was on his trigger finger I imagine the blister on his foot was from running around trying to find ammunition to keep pulling that trigger he's lucky he didn't have two blisters it's usually the ones that are more afraid and up being the most brave and they don't even know it while they're doing it my hat's off to all who served
I agree- I imagine that in the heat of the moment, he did not notice the heat in his boot.
Hehe, I know this sll to well. Afghanistan. Me and my k9 partner did lot of footwork looking for IED's and baddies and never let it slow me down.. and you're absolutely welcome! I got to work with a great k9. Kimba!
@@elfpimp1 Thank you so much and all the others who serve, where would we be without you? Wishing you a long and happy life.
Carlton Rouh is a Medal of Honor winner from my hometown for action on Peleliu. I've never found anything on RUclips that even mentions his name. I think his action is worthy "history to be remembered."
You are absolutely right. But they are not winners, they were awarded. That’s what makes them so respected! Take care, Semper Fi my friend!
Of course it is!
you don't win a medal , you earn it
I've lived around Coopersburg most of my life, tiny quaint town, never knew such a big figure came from there. Hamburg, down the road, has its own MoH recipient and they let everyone know it.
I think that many "Heros" were more afraid of letting down their buddies or just not doing their best than they were of getting hurt. God bless their souls. They earned their place in heaven.
Alton lived next door to our farm, in a little trailer with a small shed of his own for his chickens and a few pigs. The stars of his menagerie were his grand daughter's horses. He never seemed to have any money himself, but he bought hay from us for those horses. Quiet and unassuming, He never let on about his service or his medal. We just knew him as "Knappy". It was years later on a 4th of July special that we learned of his heroics. We were flabbergasted.
I met a couple in my life. All friends of my parents. Some from the Korean War. Distant cousin, "Pappy" Boynton got one. I never met him. One day the Government may finally release my Dad's records for his past missions. All his was as a civilian component in extensive gurilla warfare in The Korean War (even inside Communist China), French Indochina, later Laos, the Philippines, South America and the Middle East. His agent stuff was in Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Europe during the Cold War. Some of his missions were over 70 years ago and still "under lock & key" in the top secret files. He's a legend.
They are called the greatest generation for a reason. A good reason. And I can't help being taken in by his smile...
A good and humble man. He deserved more in his life. Thank you Sir for our freedom. May perpetual light shine upon you.
I just wanted to make everyone aware of the forgotten soldiers who served during ww2 as cooks, drivers, clerks...etc we tend to report the infantry and they carried the brunt but what about the Graves registration te or the mechanics. Or the sailors who did laundry in the bowels of aircraft carriers. These men should not be forgotten.
My grandfather was a cook in the Army in Guam during WW2. I have his flag and a picture of him and my grandmother on their wedding day. He will not soon be forgotten in our family. Thank you for highlighting those who served more in the background of the services.
Truly said,my father USAAF,served on Iwo Jima working on the B-29 bomber engines and I could not be more proud of him for his service.
Yes . The unsung heros and quiet achievers all deserve to be remembered.
any decent successful ongoing modern army, has a dozen such grunts backing up each of the 'trigger-pullers'
You are always a soldier no matter if you are a clerk, mechanic, cook or any other support trade. When the shit hits the fan they put down the tools of their trade and pick up their gun, against the Japanese in Burma and India often the situation was such that these men did their soldiering duty.
Addendum to my prior comment about the lack of coverage of the war in Italy - Maybe THG should do an episode on one of the major battles in Italy. Montecasino (Sp?) is one of the few that has gotten any coverage. But there are many others just as brutal. Following the 82nd Airborne would be a good topic - as they were first bloodied in Sicily and Salerno.
I've had the pleasure over the years to meet and shake the hands of two MOH awardees. Well, actually one of the hands was a prosthetic. One was a WW II submarine Captain and the other was a young man that was given the award for service in Iraq. He had lost his right arm to an explosion. Both humble men. Both said they wore the medal for those who sacrificed.
I just want to say thankyou for keeping the memories of men like these alive.
I was born in Allentown and came back because I love the history around here. I want to thank you for showing me I still have lots to learn about the Lehigh Valley. I never miss a episode. Thank you for keeping up with history that should never be forgotten.
Love this guy.
Our pastor used to read from the Congressional Medal of Honor book. A fascinating read. But to have it read to you so you can envision the scene is especially interesting. Our pastor served 4 years in the Marines. Went to Dallas Seminary. Then was a pastor in the Army for 26 years. Then our pastor. Fourth of July was special in that he would play the anthems for all branches of the service and when yours played you were to stand up. It was a great church and congregation and honored veterans as they should be.
I enjoy hearing YOU retelling these stories of bravery and heroism for without you these brave men, women and 4 legged hero’s would have been long forgotten. Thank you Sir from a retired Sailor
We need that character of life again. Responsible young men, who love and care for their families, in turn learn a skill and tenacity for keeping us free. Imagine young boys carrying guns and being responsible. We need alot of ordinary men, with extraordinary character. "There are no great men, there are only great challenges that ordinary men are forced by circumstances to meet."
ADM William F. Halsey
A generation of heroes. They have my utmost respect.
Thank You, many people today, do not know the meaning of that word - Respect.
You sir are the patron saint of Valor. Thank you for keeping these stories and the names of the men who live them alive.
We're losing more of these fine men everyday. If you know one, talk to them. If they're reticent, ask again, politely. If we don't get their stories from them there will soon be none left to tell the tale of our Greatest Generation.
THIS MADE ME SO HAPPY TO SEE! I've been a fan of your channel for years, and to see my family in an episode made me absolutely ECSTATIC!! Thank you for covering him! I sent this to my dad :)
We can't honor these men enough. We live in a time when men are being cancelled just for being men. I have a good friend Gary Rose who won the MOH during a secret mission in Loss. He's the most humble man you'll ever meet. Let's stand up and salute real heroism. God Bless America!
My father was a merchant marine in 42 43 44. He helped stock pile the depots in Italy and met and shook hands with general mark Clark. He seemed impressed with general Clark and his attitude. My dad made it to the age of 89. He worked up to the age of 88. Like the energized bunny he wouldn't stop. He tried retirement for a couple of months and it was driving him crazy.
I have always found stories of recipients of the MoH truly inspirational. It is my hope, perhaps as a fellow South Dakotan, that you might tell the story of Woodrow Wilson Keeble. Woodie was a member of the Sisseton -Whapeton tribe on the Lake Traverse reservation. I most sincerely believe that his is history that deserves to be remembered.
Thanks for bring up that information. I read about Woodrow Wilson Keeble's actions, what a hero.
@@johncollins7062 I am curious how being inspired shows hubris? I would think that finding inspiration in something shows a level of humility rather than hubris.
My abbreviation was a result of an occupational habit. You are correct that I did use the wrong abbreviation. The medal is correctly called the Congressional Medal of Honor, or CMH. Note that the word "of" is not capitalized?
Finally, I think the word you are looking for is hubristically. A quick look at my dictionary does not show the word hubrisly.
@@johncollins7062 I have two things to thank you for. First, I looked up the citation of GM3 Carr. I don't disagree that he is fully deserving of a Medal of Honor.
Second, I looked up ChatGTP. You see, all of my comments, replies and, yes all of my mistakes are purely organic and of my own creation. Perhaps this AI tool would improve my writing.
Finally, the occupational habit that I've acquired regards the daily creation of a CoA. A Certificate of Analysis. I meant no slight towards you or anyone else
Have you considered doing a video on US Army chaplain Emil Kapaun? He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during combat and immediately after capture. He died as a POW in a North Korean prison camp.
Yes to this one.
Wow, thank you for covering this great hero! I consider myself pretty knowledgeable about WWII, and had never heard this amazing story. There is precious little coverage of the war in Italy, relative to Normandy, and the major battles across Northern Europe. There is even more coverage of the North African campaign than the battles in Italy. Italy was a brutal slog that doesn't get enough coverage
A forgotten hero, until now.
This is my favorite program to watch. Thank you for everything that you do to bring history to life. Our young people need a better understanding of why they have so much freedom and high standard of living.
Like many other children of the 70's, we grew up with Adam 12, and Emergency (Squad 51), I joined the Navy in 1979 during high school, to be a US Navy Hospital Corpsman, dreaming of the exploits of Gage and DeSoto. Many others did, like my brother who became a cop, thanks to the many Cop shows of the era, like Dragnet, Adam 12, and CHIPS. I chose Hospital Corpsman when I joined Navy. What I learned and experienced as a Navy Corpsman led me to a career as a Paramedic, but not in the "knife and gun club" of the inner city but rather, as a provider in the rural areas of Minnesota. My own opinion is that inner city emergencies are handled rather quickly, versus rural emergencies that require much longer transport and treatment times. And much more complicated treatment modalities. I would love for you to give us the history of EMS.
I always enjoy the history guy, but this one, honoring our brave American Heros is the best. A thumbs up like is not good enough, I would give this man 100 thumbs up.
Respect and Honor for all of our American service men and women
Thank you so much! l
I can echo the sentiments of you other commenters. I several years ago had the privilege of meeting a retired vet from the 101 St Airborne, who was visiting my woman's shoe shop.
He was qonuietly sitting on the couch as 1 or 2 of the giggling young ladies he was watching over (grandchildren? niece's?... Don't know) came to show him shoes, to hug and kiss him....they were having a great day.
I went to great him, and noticed his unit insignia on his jacket. When I asked where he had served, he simply stated that he was a Pathfinder on D Day! When I tried to express my feelings, he quietly said: "It was no big deal...it was our job, son "
Funfact: Winston Churchill said that had it been in his power, he would've had General Mark Clark shot for disobeying orders.
He wasn't kidding around.
Because he disobeyed direct orders by going to be the first General to liberate Rome , which Churchill thought prolonged the war by at least 12 months.
Clark was not that well liked by anyone..privates up to other generals. Guy has a somewhat checkered career. He was viewed as a " glory hound", pompous & slightly incompetent. Sorry is that offends anyone. I just read alot.
It always seems to be the scrappy little guys who are the most fierce in combat. Whether its Audie Murphy, or Rodger Young, or Alton Knappenberger, they all prove the old adage, "It's not the size of the dog in the fight that counts, but the size of the fight in the dog."
And there you go, right at the end. A tremendous idea for a book, rather a series of books, much in the vein of this wonderful video. Make it about all 473 Medal winners, with their each individual stories.
I've been a subscriber for years now. And am still delighted to see a new upload from you..... you and Mark Felton are my go to channels here.
Might I also suggest Drachinifel, Operations Room, and the various Dark Docs channels. All excellent history channels.
This guy was the real deal.He should be more widely known.
Suggestion: do a story on MOH holder USAF Captain Lance Sijan, who served in the Vietnam war. One reason his story is unique is that a lot of the testimony to support the award came from the enemy .... Even though there was a book published in the 1980s (Into the Mouth of the Cat), I am sure that few of the general public are aware of it.
Thank you history Guy for this and all of what you do. I've balled my eyes out to this one. It's people like Alton that make me proud to be a Pennsylvanian. It also makes it more disgusting when traitors to our vets like Pat Toomey, and traitors to our country like Scott Perry call my state home. I know Alton and my grandfather are both rolling in their graves knowing we've let our grip on democracy loosen to this extent. I only hope we can hold on to it for their sacrifices. Country, not party nor King.
One of the finest families I ever knew was originally from the rural areas of NW Pennsylvania. When the father passed away, our whole neighborhood mourned. It's a cliche, but they truly were the salt of the earth.
It saddens me to see people bring their politics into a channel like this. Let's just enjoy the history.
@@baldeagle5297 To each their own. Politics and history are inseparable. To think otherwise is naive. What a cleansed view you must have,
@@burner8959 Yes, there is no need to stir dissent. Please keep modern politics out of apolitical sites, there are more appropriate places to discuss them.
@@baldeagle5297 NO.
Another Amy Sergeant that deserves remembering is Sgt Lewellan Chilson, 45th Infantry Division, US Army in WWII.
That dude's multiple Distinguished Service Cross citations are amazing...
He should have received the MOH in lieu of the DSC for one or two of his actions. Stupid Army!
@@donalddowning4108 makes you wonder. Ever notice that he's looking off to the side and up in every picture? Like just his gaze was enough to kill!
Strange I was just asking him to do it be on Bill Mauldin. Maybe a combo? The 45th ID museum is awesome.
@@Platypusklr never been there, but I know it's cool. I'm friends with a woman that runs the place on instagram.
I often lament the lost stories, good and bad, that are taken to the grave with our veterans. When I can I try to promote the idea of writing them down or verbally recording them. Some things are hard to remember, painfully so, but such stories do not need to be shared to exalt the soldier. They should be shared so that we can remember them, and to learn what it was like so we can understand the many dynamics of war's terrible nature.
History classes and documentaries tell us of national motivations, advances, turning points, and endings. And while war is often too big to become personal, it is still VERY personal for every soldier. They all have reasons, motivations, thoughts, fears, and justifications. To ignore the individual level and their sacrifices removes the primary reason to avoid war if at all possible, and to fight them with utmost intensity if you must. Lives are lost and destroyed by war. To lose their stories is losing a huge part of it all, the part that glues it all together. We should listen more.
My Dad served the USA as a Military Policeman, guarding hundreds of German and Italian POWS and ferrying them across the Atlantic to POW camps in the USA, multiple convoy crossings. Tried to enlist Monday Dec 8th, was turned down due to age, and then later drafted and trained as an MP. Later told my mother that he was terrified for his life during the convoy crossings and became the devout Christian believer that marked the rest of his life.
As a Gun guy let me give my 2 cents on the BAR. I highly suggest you look up the History on that fine weapon. They were highly accurate for a "Machine" gun. They did things to try and make it less accurate because they didn't want two bullets to go thru the same hole.
In a skilled marksman's hand, it was possible to get a one shot one kill ratio. The 30-06 rd, used by the BAR, was the same as used by M1s. Picture Alton crawling around his fallen friends taking their ammo to reload into his BAR magazines. His small size probably didnt save him. Accurate and sustained fire on the enemy did. Like a fighter pilot.. the first one to see his Foe.. would have a huge advantage. He was stationary, probably covered in mud. Germans moving would be highly viable. 100 Yrd shot for Alton would be EASY. This is the American way, still today. Literally Millions of hunters still take to the woods every year for deer hunting. The 5th largest standing army, in the world, boots on the ground, people able to kill from 200yrds easily...... The State of Wisconsin Deer Hunters.
What have YOU done to enable our grandchildren to enjoy the freedom of our GREAT COUNTRY? I challenge you to teach the younger generation our rich History. Without your effort, we risk loosing our freedoms.
Agree about hunters. The 30.06 round is pretty common round for hunting white tails here in Michigan. Most everyone who hunts has one. It may have been the round Alton could have been familiar with before he ever joined the military. Of course, the 30.06 used for hunting, is not an automatic, and a share of those used are bolt action single shots or clips.
Very interesting. Thanks for bringing this story to our attention. If your listeners want to learn about the Canadian version of the One Man Army, check out Leo Major.
Another member of the greatest generation. More worried about others than themselves. That's what we need now.
Thank you for this story, THG.
The reason Knappy held off the Germans was because of his selection of the BAR. It had a longer range, more accuracy and a high rate of fire than the weapons the Germans brought to bear.
Why'd he pull it off a dead man then? I would watch saying "The tool the craftsperson used is why the work is so good"...cause tools dont use themselves...
@@brianbarrett2487 it wasn't just the tool. When the the Germans are throwing a platoon size element at a squad, there has to be an overcoming of fear. Alton was ready to fight to the death and he held his ground. The BAR that he picked up had a 20 round magazine, as opposed to the 8 round clip of the M-1 Garand. Both weapon are chambered in 30.06 Cal. but the BAR can fired in semi or full automatic. He was probably going with the magazine rather than clip since you can load the magazine from the clip but not feasible in the reverse.
@@ralphalvarez5465 BAR has two modes. 300 and 600 rounds per minute. I may be off on the rounds but confident of no semi auto mode
History Guy, you need to read Phantom Warrior the story of John R Mckinney. He was much like this fellow but a lot less likely to be able to do so. This fellow's story deserves to be told.
These are awesome!!! Can you do one on Bill Mauldin? I live here on OK near the 45th ID museum and can help out with some photographs if needed. He was one hell of a guy, and history is starting to forget his contributions!
Google "Bill Maudlin" and then click on video. There's a bunch of videos on him.
Great story and Knappy seems to be no different to the other two MoH recipients I have met. They dislike the attention and hub bub. They have all been simple ordinary men that have done the extraordinary under impossible circumstances. I had the honor to serve during Desert Shield and Desert Storm with CSM Robert Patterson and he too fit this mold. The Sergeant Major is a man that to this day I would walk into the mouth of hell for without question. May ALL The Few We Happy Few We Band Of Brothers find peace in their lives.
They wore the medals for their comrades who died. A heavy burden.
A lot of the soldiers who have earn the Medal of Honor have received it posthumous. They have received the medal either by sacrificing their lives to save their comrades or died as a result of holding off the enemy. so their comrades can retreat and survived. For those who received it while surviving, they point out that most of the heroes are the men who died well fighting. These soldiers have honor those who have sacrificed their lives.
i served with a MOH awardee. found out purely by accident--saw his foto and citation on the corpmans' MOH hall in NAB little creek's Boone clinic. you'd never know it. nice guy. took out a trench full of VC machine-gunners with a flat blade screwdriver.
recipient? syntax shaming or what is your goal here? do you now feel somehow superior with that? or just trolling? creeper. @@johncollins7062
I would like to hear more on the Medal of Honor history from WWII. That awesome to hear his story.
EXCELLENT!! The war hero stories are my favorites. We CAN'T forget these brave men!
Great American!!!
I had four uncles serve in WWII. The last one died in July 2022. He was almost 101 years old. He went in the Army Air Corp about a month after the attack on Pearl Harbor. He was a bomber pilot on the P-51 Mustang bomber.
Very good this man and others like him humble me just great to learn their stories. Even if it was to short.
Our grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren know nothing of WW2. Thank you for helping fill a serious gap in their knowledge.
Another great story, definitely worth remembering. RIP Alton.
Would be an amazing documentary to have all medal of honor recipients, brought to light. Maybe a two or three part series…thank you for what you do, good sir.
If you gave every recipient just 5 minutes it'd still take a solid 39 and a half hours to cover all of them. So they'd be two or three really long parts.
Another great history lesson 👍 I like history very much
Thank you to all service men and women who serve/served🎖🏅
I would love to go to Rome. My gpa spent some time there as a young man but that was way back in the 40s.
A story well told and deserving of memory! After all, we're all just stories, in the end. Make it a good one.
Audie Murphy was a member of the 3rd Infantry Division and also served at Anzio. I believe he was in the 15th Infantry Regiment.
All gone, real patiots we are so thankfull, as kids of greatet gen we are now passing too.
a hero is a hero
It would be interesting to learn about Rodger Young who is called out in Robert Heinlein's starship troopers.
Beautiful story, well told and I hope you tell 471 more CMOH stories from WWII
Working on it: ruclips.net/p/PLSnt4mJGJfGgouBlpQiUHwVMLUqly7Ia6
That could be a great series. Could be a great combined series with "The History Underground" channel
-C Just MOH.
@@shawnr771 that is somewhat of a misconception. While the award is named the “Medal of Honor,” it is awarded “in the name of congress” and the enabling legislation uses both “Medal of Honor” and “Congressional Medal of Honor.” Simply put, Congressional Medal of Honor is not incorrect, and is merely another description of the same decoration.
Thanks Lance and team!
History Deserves to be Remembered and
Told by the History Guy
Thanks History Guy 😀
My pappy served as a sergeant in WW2 who trained new pilots. One day he was shaving in a field and a Japanese plane flew down. Everyone gets ready for the fight but he just flies away. The next day the same thing happens: he swoops low then leaves. He began to do this daily around the afternoon. Why he didn't attack no one knew but they never fired at him. My pap said they called him "charlie." One day a new group of men arrives. Thinking nothing of it my pappy was doing some work alone in his post near by after briefly talking to the new guys when he hears multiple fire outside. He runs outside to see the new group cheering "they got him!" And he saw a plane crash down. He soon realized they shot down "Charlie."
"Uncommon Valor was a common Virtue."
@@johncollins7062 I don't understand your reply, John. Are you insulting Alton Knappenberger or myself? Either way you seem to be a small-minded person.
Thanks History Guy and you are right they do deserve to be recognized and remembered.
An ordinary Joe who fought in an extraordinary manner...I salute him.
Amazing story of a guy "just doing his job"... as did so many millions of men on all sides of that terrible conflict! May GOD rest them all in peace!
My experience with war is, no one that goes there, comes back unwounded. And all are issued a medal of some type; so I say , we all gave some and some gave it all!
Man... what a ribbon bar. CMOH, EAME, Good Conduct... that's it. Wow.
Flight or fight. Fear fuels flight. Fight fades fear.
The correlation between courage and humility is very high.
Yes . They deserve to be remembered.
A true defender of freedom. May he RIP 🙏.
Absolutely outstanding!!!
It may prove to be time consuming and tedious, but I would really love to see a whole series of all the medal of honor recipients of from The Civil War through World War II.
I always look forward to your videos on RUclips.
Working on it: ruclips.net/p/PLSnt4mJGJfGgouBlpQiUHwVMLUqly7Ia6
How appropriate that all 473 stories be remembered. Thank you HG.