Chili Palmer
Master of My Domian
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I get these posts on my FB account every now and then, showing how these men fought with such courage and bravery to stop these evil dictators from attempting to take over the world. These are all kids - I look at all the F'd up youngsters out there today who don't even know if they are a man or a woman or they are upset that the history of our country was not inclusive, and now all want all statues and names associated with that time period because they feel it is offensive to them, removed. I'm glad we have had people like this defending us and hope the pendulum swings back around.
Thank you and God Bless all those who served and are serving.
Alton W. Knappenberger was presented the Medal of Honor 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.
'You're a One Man Army.' said a beachhead general to 20 y.o. Pvt. Alton W. Knappenberger from Spring Mount, PA, shown here cleaning his fondest possession, an automatic rifle. With it, he killed approximately 40 Germans.
Along with two buddies (killed in this action) 'Knapp' (now single-handed) fired 600 rounds of ammo returned for more- then killed more Germans, including an officer and 7 men who ordered him to surrender. He thought he had killed a 'nice bunch' when questioned regarding his lone 1 hr. 'blitz'. Signal Corps Radio Telephoto from Italy. 16 April 1944
When a heavy German counterattack was launched against his battalion, Private 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, Private 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 Private 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 Private 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. Private Knappenberger's intrepid action disrupted the enemy attack for over 2 hours.
Alton W. Knappenberger, 84, of Boyertown, Pennsylvania, passed away Monday, June 9 2008, at Pottstown Memorial Hospital.
Colourised PIECE of JAKE
Source: http://arlingtoncemetery.net/awkappenberger.htm
Thank you and God Bless all those who served and are serving.
Alton W. Knappenberger was presented the Medal of Honor 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.
'You're a One Man Army.' said a beachhead general to 20 y.o. Pvt. Alton W. Knappenberger from Spring Mount, PA, shown here cleaning his fondest possession, an automatic rifle. With it, he killed approximately 40 Germans.
Along with two buddies (killed in this action) 'Knapp' (now single-handed) fired 600 rounds of ammo returned for more- then killed more Germans, including an officer and 7 men who ordered him to surrender. He thought he had killed a 'nice bunch' when questioned regarding his lone 1 hr. 'blitz'. Signal Corps Radio Telephoto from Italy. 16 April 1944
When a heavy German counterattack was launched against his battalion, Private 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, Private 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 Private 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 Private 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. Private Knappenberger's intrepid action disrupted the enemy attack for over 2 hours.
Alton W. Knappenberger, 84, of Boyertown, Pennsylvania, passed away Monday, June 9 2008, at Pottstown Memorial Hospital.
Colourised PIECE of JAKE
Source: http://arlingtoncemetery.net/awkappenberger.htm
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