Joseph W. Knittle

West Point, 1951

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by Jose Andres "Andy" Chacon on August 31, 2004:

Joseph William Knittle, Jr Born May 30, 1924 - Died March 9, 1992 Joseph William "Joe" Knittle, Jr. was born in Virginia on 30 May 1924 but was appointed to West Point from the 1st Congressional District of Colorado. His West Point classmates recall: "In order to settle the unification problem, Joe interviewed an old Marine campaigner, his father, tried three and a half years and a war in the Navy, and with three and a half years of engineering college decided to complete the survey at West Point. He will be remembered for his successful application of graphs and time study analyses on varied subjects from swimming races to academics." During his cadet days Joe went out for Swimming and Water Polo all four years and was a Cadet Sergeant his first class year. Upon graduation Joe went in the Artillery and after completing the Basic Artillery Course at Fort Sill, Oklahoma reported to the 933rd Anti Aircraft Battalion and later to the 160th Infantry Regiment in Korea in 1952 where he was decorated with two Purple Hearts for wounds in action against an enemy, and the Combat Infantryman Badge. On return to the States Joe went back to school and earned a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Colorado in 1953. From 1965 to 1966 Joe was assigned to the Infantry Replacement Training Center and he was decorated with the Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services on completion of his tour. Next Joe was appointed Commanding Officer of the 650th Military Liasion Detachment, Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, Brussels, Belgium and he served as such from 1967 to 1969. In 1970 Joe was named Executive Officer and later Commanding Officer of MR3, Republic of Vietnam where he served until 1971. He was decorated with a second Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and two Commendation Medals for distinguished service on completion of his duties. In 1974 Joe returned to school and earned a Master of Arts degree in International Relations from Boston University. He was then appointed, first as Executive Officer, and later as Commanding Officer of Computer Systems Command Team in Korea where he served from 1975 to 1977 and on completion was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for conspicuously meritorious performance of duty in a non-combat situation and a third Commendation Medal for distinguished service. Joe's last military assignment was to the Intelligence Center, Fort Huachuca, Arizona where served from 1977 until 1978 when he retired from the United States Army as a Lieutenant Colonel. On retirement Joe was awarded a second Meritorious Service Medal for conspicuously meritorious performance of duty in a non-combat situation and a fourth Commendation Medal for distinguished service. The May 1991 Assembly notes that Joe and Virginia Knittle enjoyed Christmas in Flagstaff with the Miller family, to include daughter Marygale and son Colin, a grad student at University of Arizona. Joe died in Tucson, Arizona on 9 March 1992. His widow Mrs. Joseph W. Knittle (Virginia) makes her home in Truckee, California. was an Infantryman. For the Infantryman's Creed click Creed ufa P.S. - I first met Joe at Fitzimmons Army Hospital in March of 1947. We both reported for our medical examinations on the same day. jac

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