|
 Although
the specific date of his enlistment is unknown, less than five months
after gradating high school his hometown newspaper announced his
imminent departure for Hawaii. [source: Warren
Times Mirror, Warren, PA, Sat, Sep 14, 1935, page 2]
 Pvt
Gilbert Knupp sailed from Fort Slocum, New York to Honolulu, HI aboard
the USAT Republic on 10 October 1935 l
He returned to the U.S.
mainland in December 1937 and reported to Fort Monroe, VA for duty.
Later, as a member of the
502nd PIB, he was summoned from leave and told to return immediately to
Fort Benning, GA, undoubtedly because of the attack on Pearl Harbor and
the declaration of war. [source: Warren Times
Mirror, Warren, PA, Mon Dec 15, 1941, page 6] |
Pvt Knupp advanced to
corporal and then staff sergeant before being tapped for OCS.
2nd Lt Knupp was
transferred from the 507th PIR to the 508th PIR on 16 October 1942 as a
member of the cadre team. He was assigned to Company H.
On 24 April 1944, a
letter home reported his safe arrival in Italy with the 509th Parachute
Infantry.
A War Dept telegram
reported he had been WIA in France on Sept 26, 1944 and evacuated to a
hospital in Italy. A letter from him told his family that he had
shrapnel wounds in the knee and hip.
 Following
the war, he was treated in the Valley Forge General Hospital,
Phoenixville, PA. As seen in this article, he was home on leave
for the 1947 Christmas holiday.
However, he would not be released from the hospital for discharge
until 10 September 1948. |
Pennsylvania WWII Veterans Bonus application filed by
Gilbert Knupp on 18 January 1950.
He was credited with 50
months service and automatically awarded the full $500 bonus.
(courtesy of Jimmy Stacks) |
