Four Brothers See Service
One of Webster City’s families which have done much to back the war effort is the O.C. Knoll family, four members of which donned the uniform of either the army or navy between September, 1942 and June, 1944.
Oldest, both in years and the point of service is Cpl. Lee A. Knoll, 27, who entered the army Sept. 23, 1942, and took mechanical training at Sheppard Field, Texas, before transferring to Chanute Field, Ill., where he became a propeller specialist. Since Sept. 24, 1943, he has been overseas in the southwest Pacific.
Next to join the service was Cpl. Howard G., 24, who left Nov. 20, 1942, and was stationed with the 11th armored division at Camp Polk, LA. He was been transferred to Camp Cooke, Cal., where he is attached to a field artillery battalion.
Richard W. 21, enlisted in the navy air corps in September, 1942, but was not called to duty until January, 1943. As a cadet he completed his progressive training courses at Ames and at the pre-flight school at Iowa City where he suffered an elbow injury. After he was transferred to Minneapolis he underwent an operation on his injured arm and later entered the naval hospital at Great Lakes, Ill. After three months of treatment he was given an honorable discharge on June 2.
Youngest of the Knoll quartet is Samuel D. 18, who enlisted in the navy June 13 of this year and reported for duty June 26. A graduate of the Webster City high school this spring, he was sent to Camp Waldron, Farragut, Idaho for his boot training. His address is Samuel D. Knoll, AS, U. S. Naval Training Station, Co. 746–44, Camp Waldron, Farragut, Idaho.
Source: Webster City Freeman, Webster City, IA - July 17, 1944
Richard William Knoll was born Oct. 9, 1922 to Orville C. and Bernice Ethel Thompson Knoll. He died Sept/ 11, 1998 and is buried in Cass Center Cemetery, Webster City, IA.
Richard served with the U.S. Navy in World War II.
Source: ancestry.com
