William Carl Knaack 1915 - 1945

KNAACK, BAUER

Posted By: Connie Swearingen- Volunteer (email)
Date: 9/25/2016 at 20:39:38

Correctionville News
26 August 1948

Killed in Action

Final tribute was paid here Wednesday afternoon to Tech. Sgt. William Knaack, World War II veteran who sacrificed his life in the defense of his country while fighting in the Philippines in January 1945. Business houses were closed during the short prayer service at the Wilson-Hull Funeral Home, followed by the military service at the Correctionville Cemetery. The American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars were in charge of the graveside service. Rev. A.E. Schueter, pastor of the Lutheran Church at Moville, officiated at the services which were held at 2 p.m.

Pallbearers, all servicemen, were Ray Frinkman, Ross Hart, Donald Keller, Leland Frost, Wally Jorgensen and Gerald Flemming. Duane Thies was in charge of the firing squad and taps were sounded by John V. Anderson Jr., Sgt. Robert J. Soetart of Kansas City, Mo., who accompanied the body to Correctionville, presented the family with an American flag and the identification tags in behalf of the U.S. Army.

William Carl Knaack was born June 2, 1915, in Correctionville. He was the son of William Knaack and Dorothea Bauer Knaack. He was confirmed in the Old Salem Lutheran Church in 1928. He was a member of the Luther League and was superintendent of the Sunday school several years. William graduated from the Correctionville High School and engaged in farming with his father from that time until he entered the armed forces of our country. He enlisted on February 3, 1941, and received training at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas, Ft. Warren, Wyo., Ft Leonard Wood, Mo. And Camp San Louis Obispo, Ca. from where he left for overseas in the fall of 1943. He was stationed at Hawaii, New Guinea and the Philippines. He had reached the rank of technical sergeant when he was severely wounded in action January 18, 1945 at Lunec, Luzon, Philippine Island and died January 29, 1945, of wounds received in battle while a member of Company E., 10th Infantry of the 6th Division.

His company was making an assault against the enemy and their positions were particularly difficult to approach and William was near the forefront leading his men where he was hit by enemy rifle fire. He was buried in a U.S. Armed forces cemetery on the Island of Luzon. We give you a paragraph from a letter received by William’s father, from his company commander, Lt. Keith O. Leignow. It is a beautiful tribute to this fine soldier who gave his life in the service of his country.

“Certainly words cannot console in such a time as this, but William served his country well and faithfully and justly merited your great pride in him. We who have lived with William through these war years realize the magnitude of your loss. We knew in him a fine gentleman, a capable leader and a worthy friend. His excellent character, willingness to always help others won for him the friendship and high respect of all the men in the company. His loss to the company as a whole was tremendous. William was a comrade whose memory will always be dear to us. To my own most sincere expression of sympathy, I add that of all the men in the company.”

He is survived by his father and step-mother, Mr. and Mrs. William Knaack, 3 sisters, Mrs. Adolph Herbold and Mrs. Paul Anderson of Correctionville and Mrs. Elmer Timmerman of Holstein; and 2 brothers, Henry and Laverne of this place. Also surviving are 2 step-brothers, Harry Schut of Correctionville and John Schut of California and 2 step-sisters, Mrs. Dora Cornett of California and Mrs. Holdgrafer of Ocheydan, Iowa.