By Diane Smith
Record-Courier staff writer
ATWATER — A 1973 fire kept Atwater resident Donald J. Knapp from receiving the Bronze Star and other medals he should have been awarded following World War II.
But recently, Knapp and his family had an emotional celebration as the 88-year-old was awarded the medals by a brigadier general.
The ceremony, a surprise to Knapp, took place at the annual Charlotte and Michael Knapp reunion, where more than 60 family members witnessed the family patriarch receive the medals 64 years after his departure from military service.
All these years, Knapp said, he never knew he had more medals coming.
“I imagine there are a lot of people who deserve medals and didn’t get them, and if it hadn’t been for my grandson-in-law, I wouldn’t have them either,” he said.
Over the years, Knapp described his military service in vivid detail to his children and grandchildren. The Atwater native shipped off to Europe just as his wife, Maxine, gave birth to their oldest daughter, Dorothy. He did not see his daughter until she was about 14 months old.
During his service, the machine gunner served in the Battle of the Bulge, the largest battle of World War II. Later, while fighting in the Ruhr Pocket, a shotgun shell struck him in the face. After he was treated for his injuries in Paris, he opted to return to his unit. A few months later, the war ended.
His daughter, Carol Knapp of Randolph, said her father never made a big show of his military service over the years. Many veterans, she said, didn’t know how to go about getting additional medals, or didn’t realize they were entitled to them.
“He’s just a very humble person, and he did his duty,” she said.
When Knapp’s youngest granddaughter, Allison, first began dating her future husband, Jared Smith, last December, she introduced him to her grandfather. Smith, a member of the Army Reserve, asked to see Knapp’s medals.
After seeing Knapp’s Purple Heart, European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, Combat Infantryman’s Badge and Presidential Unit Citation, Smith, who came from a military family, thought Knapp should have received more medals than this.
He learned that a fire in 1973 at the National Personnel Records Center meant that Army historians were unable to research Knapp’s military history to properly award the medals he earned, and got details from Allison’s mother, Lorri Murphy. Smith then submitted this information to the Army Board for Correction of Military Records.
After learning it could take up to a year for Knapp to receive his medals, Smith contacted Sen. George Voinovich’s office and was connected to Michael Dustman, veteran’s liaison and director of constituent services, who helped expedite the process of obtaining the medals.
In addition to his other medals, Knapp received the Bronze Star, Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, WWII Victory Medal, and the WWII Army Occupation Medal with Germany clasp. He also was Cited in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army for action at the Siegfried Line, in the Ardennes and at Elsenborn Crest.
Although it had been previously awarded, Brigadier General Jack Lee expressed his personal desire to pin the Combat Infantryman’s Badge on Knapp. In addition, Knapp was presented with the brigadier general’s personal Coin of Excellence.
At the ceremony where Knapp was awarded his medals, his granddaughter, Sarah McKendrick, hailed her grandfather’s sacrifice. She said he and his fellow “battle babies” were initiated in the six-week-long “Battle of the Bulge.”
“He has never bragged or expected recognition for his heroism,” she said “He never felt the need to display stickers all over his car, wear shirts, or hats to let everyone that he was in the war and that he is a veteran. He just did what he was asked to do — he did his job, did it proudly, did it 100 percent, was faithful to the men he served with, and he didn’t do it for the glory or the recognition.
“He truly represents what selfless service is, and exemplifies a true American — he is an amazing example of why they are the Greatest Generation.”
Knapp and his wife, Maxine, who celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary this year, are the parents of Dorothy Strabel, who lives with her husband, George, in North Muskegon, Mich.; Norma Roessler of Parma; Dick, who lives with his wife, Maggie, in North Olmsted,; Barbara Slattery and her husband, Mike of Randolph; Carol Knapp of Randolph; and Lorri Murphy, who lives with her husband, Bob, in Stockport.
His six children presented him with a shadow box, displaying all of his medals and citations.
“I’ve got them displayed on my wall now,” he said.