1LT James Leonard Knobles

4/42 Artillery 1 BDE 4 INF Div

(attached to HHC 1/22 Infantry)

KIA 09/11/70

Grade at loss: O1
Rank: First Lieutenant
Note: Posthumous Promotion as indicated
MOS: 1193: Field Artillery Unit Commander

James Knobles was killed when the OH-6A helicopter in which he was a passenger,
crashed and burned after leaving FSB Winnie, at grid reference BR529325,
approximately 12 kilometers south/southeast of An Khe.

1LT James Knobles' decorations

In early September 1970 Company C 1/22 Infantry had encountered an NVA bunker complex
while on Search and Destroy. On September 11, 1970 LTC Neal and LT James Knobles left Fire Support Base Winnie
to join Company C at the location of that bunker complex, in order to inspect and examine the complex.
As can be seen by the official report below, the aircraft crashed soon after leaving the
firebase and both officers were killed. We grunts on the ground at the bunker complex got the word of their deaths
almost immediately, though it would be at least a week before we got the official cause of the crash.
Until we got that official word, we speculated that the aircraft had been shot down by the enemy.

- SGT Michael Belis Company C 1/22 Infantry 1970-1971

LT James Knobles in Vietnam (on right)

Photo from Rachel's Revelations

* * * * *

Soldier, Soldier who has gone to fight in distant wars,

Till even the sound of the word home is only an echo in your mind -

Far, far away to you who did not return to loving arms and familiar faces,

from dawn to dusk on this day Taps remembers your name

on lips salted by tears of those still seeing your smile and your last wave.

Sleep well in memory's love.

Yours is this day that holds you dear in the Nation's heart.

Your shadow,

always there,

reflected between the Stars and Stripes.

Used by gracious permission of Peggie Knobles

* * * * *

Burial:
Stockdale Cemetery
Stockdale
Wilson County
Texas, USA

Photo by Eugene Cornelius from the Find A Grave website

For a tribute to James Knobles click on the following link:

Together We Served

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