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    Brookfield Korean War Veteran, William C. Knight, Home at Last

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    This document summarizes the story of William C. Knight, a soldier from Brookfield, MA who went missing in action during the Korean War in 1950. It provides details of his enlistment, time served in the 57th Field Artillery Battalion, and being reported MIA on December 6, 1950 after it's believed his unit ran into a Chinese roadblock. His remains were located in 2002 and identified in 2012 through DNA analysis. The document then outlines the plans for his memorial service and burial in Brookfield on May 10, 2013, over 60 years after he first went missing, to finally return him home.

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    Brookfield Korean War Veteran, William C. Knight, Home at Last

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    This document summarizes the story of William C. Knight, a soldier from Brookfield, MA who went missing in action during the Korean War in 1950. It provides details of his enlistment, time served in the 57th Field Artillery Battalion, and being reported MIA on December 6, 1950 after it's believed his unit ran into a Chinese roadblock. His remains were located in 2002 and identified in 2012 through DNA analysis. The document then outlines the plans for his memorial service and burial in Brookfield on May 10, 2013, over 60 years after he first went missing, to finally return him home.

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    This document summarizes the story of William C. Knight, a soldier from Brookfield, MA who went missing in action during the Korean War in 1950. It provides details of his enlistment, time served in the 57th Field Artillery Battalion, and being reported MIA on December 6, 1950 after it's believed his unit ran into a Chinese roadblock. His remains were located in 2002 and identified in 2012 through DNA analysis. The document then outlines the plans for his memorial service and burial in Brookfield on May 10, 2013, over 60 years after he first went missing, to finally return him home.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as doc, pdf, or txt
    83 views4 pages

    Brookfield Korean War Veteran, William C. Knight, Home at Last

    Uploaded by

    api-220540429
    This document summarizes the story of William C. Knight, a soldier from Brookfield, MA who went missing in action during the Korean War in 1950. It provides details of his enlistment, time served in the 57th Field Artillery Battalion, and being reported MIA on December 6, 1950 after it's believed his unit ran into a Chinese roadblock. His remains were located in 2002 and identified in 2012 through DNA analysis. The document then outlines the plans for his memorial service and burial in Brookfield on May 10, 2013, over 60 years after he first went missing, to finally return him home.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as doc, pdf, or txt
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    Brookfield Korean War Veteran, William C.

    Knight, Home at Last


    Mid-December 1950, Mr. and Mrs. Robert L. Knight receive a hand-written Western Union telegram stating that the Secretary of the Army expresses his deepest regrets that their son, William C. Knight was reported missing in action since December 6, 1950. At only 19 years old, this young outdoorsman would never again return home. William C. Knight enlisted in the United States Army in August of 1949. Shortly after, he left his home town of Brookfield, MA, leaving behind two brothers, a sister and his parents Robert and Evelyn Knight. Just one short year later he sailed to Japan on the U.S.N.S. Aiken Victory arriving in Japan on August 24, 1950. Private First Class Knight was a member of Headquarters Battery, 57 th Field Artillery Battalion, 7th Infantry Division. He was one of 2,500 U.S. Soldiers and 700 South Korean soldiers assembled into the 31 st Regimental Combat Team, also known as Task Force MacLean and later as Task Force Faith. On the 30th of November 1950 the 31st Regimental Combat Team was on the east side of the Chosen Reservoir at the Pungnyuri Inlet, having already endured four nights and three days of incessant attacks by the Chinese Peoples Volunteer Forces. During the daylight hours of November 30 th, Lieutenant Colonel Don C. Faith, Commander of the 31 st RCT, and his soldiers prepared for another night of attacks. Supplies were running low and while some supplies were airdropped, it was not enough to make a substantial difference. Brutal fighting continued for days. It is suspected that the retreating 57 th Field Artillery Battalion ran into a Chinese Army roadblock forcing trucks to drive overland and came under intense enemy fire, resulting in heavy U.S. casualties, suspected among them is Private First Class William C. Knight. December 6, 1950 marks the day that Private Knight was reported missing in action. On January 9, 1951, a confirmation letter was provided to the Knight family, signed by Major General Edward F. Witsell, Adjutant General of the Army, USA. Post mortem, Private Knight was promoted to the rank of Corporal. In 2002, a joint U.S. / D.P.R.K. team excavated a mass grave on the eastern side of the Chosin Reservoir and recovered the remains of multiple individuals. The recovery location of Cpl. Knight correlates to the location of the Chinese Army roadblock. Recovered skeletal remains underwent years of DNA analysis and in 2012, were determined to match the DNA of his two brothers Robert and Charles Knight.

    On May 8, 2013, Cpl. William C. Knights remains will be returned home, to the place he loved so dearly for a proper burial service where he will be symbolically reunited with his parents, family and friends.

    program
    May 10, 2013

    Calling Hours 9:00am 10:00am Varnum Funeral Home, 45 East Main St, West Brookfield, MA 10:00am Opening Prayer Welcome Remarks Hymn Closing Prayer

    Pastor Hayman Dawn Casavant Bob Wilder Margaret Wood Pastor Hayman

    Travel to Brookfield Town Common 11:00am 11:30am Common Street, Brookfield, MA 11:30am Memorial Celebration Opening Remarks Joe Messier, Post Commander American Legion Post #244 Guest Speakers Congressman Jim McGovern Senator Stephen M. Brewer Representative Anne M. Gobi Brookfield Selectman Stephen J. Comtois, II Prayer Chaplain Presentation of Wreath Color Guard & TAPS #244, West Brookfield Robert & William Knight American Legion Post Tom Long, Legion

    Depart for Pine Grove Cemetery, Oakham, MA Old Turnpike Road, Oakham MA

    Korean War Poem - Liberty State Park, NJ We didnt do much talking,


    We didnt raise a fuss. But Korea really happened So please - remember us. We all just did our duty But we didnt win or lose. A victory was denied us But we didnt get to choose. We all roasted in the summer In winter, we damn near froze. Walking back from near the Yalu With our blackened frozen toes. Like the surf the Chinese kept coming With their bugles in the night. We fired into their masses Praying for the morning light. All of us just had to be there And so many of us died. But now were all but half forgotten No one remembers how we tried. We grow fewer with the years now And we still dont raise a fuss. But Korea really happened

    So please - remember us. Written by LCDR Roberto J. Prinselaar, USCG (Ret),

    CPL WILLIAM C. KNIGHT MEMORIAL CELEBRATION

    MAY 10, 2013

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