CAPT. J. S. KNIPE KILLED IN ACTION
Wife Told of Death on Okinawa April 12
Clear Lake -- Mrs. J. S. Knipe, nee Kathleen Newman, received a message from the war department Friday morning stating that her husband, Capt. J.S. Knipe, had been killed on Okinawa April 12. Capt Knipe entered the service in December, 1943.
Capt. Knipe was the son of Dr. and Mrs. J.B. Knipe, Armstrong. He was graduated from the University of Iowa, Iowa City, and from the university's college of medicine. His internship was at Santa Clara county hospital, San Jose, Cal. He was married to Miss Newman at Clear Lake June 8, 1943. They have one son, James Stuart Knipe, now a year old. Mrs. Knipe and son are living at 321 S. 2nd street.
Capt. Knipe visited Mrs. Knipe here and his parents at Armstrong a year ago. He was then with a medical detachment of the army at San Francisco, Cal. He went overseas last July and was recently advanced to the rank of captain.
Source: Mason City Globe-Gazette, May 4, 1945
CAPT. J.S. KNIPE MEMORIALZED
Service at Church in Armstrong June 17
Clear Lake -- Memorial services for Capt. James S. Knipe, who was killed in action on Okinawa April 12, were held at the Methodist church in Armstrong, his home town, Sunday afternoon. Mrs. Knipe, nee Kathleen Newman, and year old son, James Stuart Knipe, Jr., are now living with Mrs. Knipe's parents, Mr. and Mrs. George Newman, 514 N 3rd street.
Services were conducted by the Rev. Nelson F. Grote, pastor, with the American Legion post of Armstrong assisting. W.A. Ortmeyer paid a tribute to Capt Knipe and appropriate poems were read and hymns sung.
Capt. Knipe, son of James B. and Grace Knipe, was born at Estherville Nov. 18, 1918, and baptized in the Armstrong Methodist church Jan. 7, 1920. He was graduated from Armstrong high school, the University of Iowa, and from the university's college of medicine, receiving his M.D. degree Feb. 20, 1943. He interned at Santa Clara county hospital in San Jose, Cal. He was a member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity and of Nu Sigman Nu medical fraternity. He and Miss Newman were married at Clear Lake June 8, 1943.
He embarked on active army duty in January 1944, was assigned as battalion surgeon in March, went overseas in July and was promoted to captain in September. He participated in the invasion of Leyte last October and of Okinawa in April of this year. His last letters were dated April 8.
Besides his wife and son he is survived by his parents, 2 sisters, Mrs. W.B. Campbell, Gilmore City, and Miss Marilyn Knipe at home and a brother W.J. Knipe, Spencer.
Mrs. Knipe has received a letter from Maj. William H. Hewes, commander of the medical corps to which Capt. Knipe was attached, telling particulars of his death. "The aid station," he said, "was set up in a cave and a large mortar shell struck it and tons of rock fell, killing those in the cave instantly. He was buried on Okinawa with full military honors.
Speaking of Capt. Knipe's record as a battalion surgeon Maj. Hewes said, "During the Okinawa campaign he displayed unusual skill, courage and efficiency in the treatment and evacuation of casualties from the front lines. As a result many lives were saved. It cannot be stressed enough the part the surgeon plays in this war and because of heroic efforts of medical officers like Jim many a soldier will walk or use a limb that otherwise might have been lost. The officers and men of this detachment and Jim's many other friends throughout the regiment join me in extending sincere sympathies.
Persons from Clear Lake attending the memorial were Mrs. Kathleen Knipe, and her son; her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Newman and family, Mr. and Mrs. Tom Hayes and daughter and Mrs. John Hayes. Mrs. Knipe and son remained in Armstrong for a couple of weeks.
Source: Mason City Globe-Gazette, June 19, 1945 (photo included)
Capt. Knipe is buried in Armstrong Grove Cemetery, Armstrong, IA
Source: ancestry.com
