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
GEORGE KNOLL DIED MARCH 18
W. C. Soldier Killed in Action in Germany With 34rd Army.
Cpl. H. George Knoll, 25, son of Mr. and Mrs. O. C. Knoll of this city was killed in action in Germany, March 18, his wife and parents have been notified by the war department.
Corporal Knoll was attached to the 11th armored division of General Patton’s Third army which has been scoring spectacular gains in the battle for Germany.
The Webster City soldier had been in service since November, 1943, and had been overseas since October, being assigned first to a station in England. His parents last heard from the corporal in a letter dated March 15 in which he spoke of being bombed.
Besides his parents, his wife and baby daughter, Georgeanne, 2. Corporal Knoll is survived by five brothers and three sisters: Sgt. Lee, in the Dutch East Indies; Sam, S 2/c, serving aboard a destroyer in the Pacific theater; Richard, now attending aeronautical school at Tulsa, Okla.; Robert and Herbert at home; Mrs. Helena Rairdin, Mrs. Muriel Olson and Margaret Knoll, all living in this city.
Source: Daily Freeman Journal, Webster City, IA - Apr. 3, 1945
MEMORIAL FOR GEORGE KNOLL
Services to Be Held at U. B. Church Sunday Afternoon.
Memorial services will be held in the Webster City United Brethren church, Sunday at 3 p.m., for Cpl. Howard George Knoll, who was killed in action, March 18, 1945, in Germany.
Cpl. Howard George Knoll, son of Mr. and Mrs. Orville C. Knoll was born Nov. 22, 1919. He attended the Webster City schools, graduating with the class of 1939 after which he was employed at the Hart-Carter Mfg. Co., until he entered the service. On Nov. 24, 1940, he was married to Betty Boucher, and to this union was born one daughter, Betty Georgeanna.
He was inducted into service on Nov. 17, 1942, at Camp Dodge, and was first stationed at Camp Polk, La., with the 11th armored division, where he took his basic training. In August, 1943, he was transferred to Camp Barkley, Texas. On Oct. 23, 1943, he was sent to Camp Ibis, Cal., for desert training, and on Feb. 1, 1944, he was transferred to Camp Cooke, Cal., for special training, before going to New York for overseas duty.
He was stationed in England for three months, then in France, Belgium and Germany, where he saw action with General Patton’s Third army. He was killed in action on March 18, 1945, in Germany, and is buried in Luxembourg.
Besides his wife and parents, he is survived by one daughter, Betty Georgeanna; three sisters, Mrs. Helena Rairdin, Mrs. John Olson, and Margaret Knoll; five brothers, Sgt. Lee of Biak, southwest Pacific, Richard of Tulsa, Okla., Samuel, S 1/c in the Pacific, and Herbert and Robert at home; one niece, Esther Rairdin; and three nephews, Ernest Rairdin, John and Roland Olson.
George was converted and joined the local United Brethren church when a small boy, and was faithful unto the end.
Source: Daily Freeman Journal, Thursday, June 20, 1945
NOTES:
Howard George ‘George’ Knoll was born Nov. 22, 1919 to Orville and Bernice Thompson Knoll. He died Mar. 18, 1945 and is buried in Luxembourg and has a cenotaph in the Cass Township Cemetery, Webster City, IA.
Sources: Daily Freeman Journal; ancestry.com and the World War II Memorial
