CHARLES A. KNOCHEL, LT, USN

Charles Knochel '62

Date of birth: February 12, 1940

Date of death: September 22, 1966

Age: 26

Lucky Bag

From the 1962 Lucky Bag:

Charles Allen Knochel

Buck Creek, Indiana

Hailing from Buck Creek, by way of Purdue University's NROTC unit, Chuck came to Canoe U. with definite plans for success. This he achieved academically, on the sports field, and in becoming one of '62's best-liked members. Disaster befell this young Hoosier during his youngster year, but after nearly 100 consecutive hours of ED and three months of restriction, Chuck was still in the thick of things, with his sense of humor unimpaired. No matter where life takes him, Chuck is bound to return to Buck Creek, and in the interim, he will have found many new friends and have reached the upper rungs on the ladder of success.

Charles Allen Knochel

Buck Creek, Indiana

Hailing from Buck Creek, by way of Purdue University's NROTC unit, Chuck came to Canoe U. with definite plans for success. This he achieved academically, on the sports field, and in becoming one of '62's best-liked members. Disaster befell this young Hoosier during his youngster year, but after nearly 100 consecutive hours of ED and three months of restriction, Chuck was still in the thick of things, with his sense of humor unimpaired. No matter where life takes him, Chuck is bound to return to Buck Creek, and in the interim, he will have found many new friends and have reached the upper rungs on the ladder of success.

Loss

Charles was killed in action with North Vietnamese forces on September 22, 1966 when his AH-1H Skyraider was hit by ground fire over Mu Ron Ma. He ejected over the sea but his parachute was seeing to be wildly gyrating and he hit the water hard; by the time a rescue helicopter arrived he could not be located. He was a member of Attack Squadron 176 (VA 176), flying from USS Intrepid (CVS-11).

Obituary

From Find A Grave:

Navy Lt. Charles Allen Knochel, 26, Buck Creek, died Thursday, Sept. 22, when his Navy Skyraider fighter plane was shot down during a mission over North Viet Nam.
His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Fern L. Knochel, who live on Route 5 at the edge of Buck Creek, were first informed their son was missing by Navy personnel from Purdue university.
Later Thursday they received a telegram from the Navy Department saying he had been killed in action.
The officer's father said they were told his son's jet had reached the open sea, presumably on the flight back to the carrier, and that he successfully bailed out. Skyraiders do not have ejection seats.
Since Lt. Knochel was a proficient swimmer, the older Knochel said, "we assume he either was wounded and unable to further help himself, or became entangled in his parachute." There is no hope of locating the flier's body.
Lt. Knochel as a part of Squadron VA176 was assigned to the carrier USS Intrepid last March in the waters off South Viet Nam.
His widow, the former Harriet Tyler Heise of Annapolis, Md., said he never had indicated the number of missions he had flown, but had been looking forward to rest and recuperation in the Philippines, and hoped to leave for home the latter part of October or early November.
He was graduated from Buck Creek high school in 1957 and after a year at Purdue entered the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Md.
He was graduated in 1962, took flight training at Pensacola, Fla., and received his wings at the Corpus Christi (Tex.) Naval Air Station in 1963.
Last year he took part in a cruise on the carrier USS Shangri La in the Mediterranean Sea and through last winter was stationed at the Jacksonville (Fla.) Naval Air Station.
He recently was awarded an Air Medal with gold star aboard the Intrepid "for meritorious achievement in aerial flight."
The officer's widow has been living with her sister in Williamsburg, Va., whose husband is also in Viet Nam. The couple's daughter, Elizabeth Merritt, is eight months old.
Lt. Knochel's father is a Republican member of the Tippecanoe County Council from the 2nd District.
Also surviving are a brother, John of Indianapolis; two sisters, Mary J and Jane, at home; grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Gust Knochel and Mr. and Mrs. P.W. Merritt of Remington; and numerous other relatives in the Remington area.

He married Harriet Heise on December 27, 1964 in Annapolis.

Shipmate

From the November 1966 issue of Shipmate:

Lt. Charles A. Knochel, USN, was killed in hostile action on 22 Sept. when the Skyraider he was piloting was shot down over the Gulf of Tonkin. Memorial services were held on the 24th in the carrier USS INTREPID, in which he was serving with Attack Squadron 176 . Services with full military honors were held in the Methodist Church at Buck Creek, Ind., on the 25th.
Lt. Knochel, who was born in Rensselaer, Ind., attended Purdue University before entering the Naval Academy, from where he was graduated in 1962. He first served in USS OKINAWA, then entered flight training at the Naval Air Station, Pensacola, with advanced training at NAS Corpus Christi, Tex. He was designated a naval aviator in March 1964.
After serving as fleet replacement pilot with Attack Squadron 122, he was assigned to Attack Squadron 176 . He attended the Naval Justice School in Newport in October, 1964, after which he rejoined VA-176 aboard USS SHANGRI LA. He was deployed to Southeast Asia in the INTREPID last April.
Lt. Knochel was nominated for the Lt. Stephen Prior Patterson Award for Leadership, which was awarded posthumously by the Squadron. He was recently awarded a gold star in lieu of the fifth Air Medal, for meritorious services in the INTREPID, and had been nominated for the Distinguished Flying Cross and Navy Commendation Medal with Combat "V."
Survivors include his widow, the former Harriet Tyler Heise, and a 9-month-old daughter, Elizabeth Merritt, of 61 College Ave., Annapolis, Md.; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Fern L. Knochel of Buck Creek; a brother, Mr. John L. Knochel of Indianapolis, and two sisters, Mary Joanne and Jane Merntt, of the home address.

In the Class of 1962 column in the November 1966 issue:

The class wishes to express its deepest sympathy to Harriet and Charlie's family and relations. He was a brave, dedicated, and exemplary officer and a fine friend. He will be deeply missed by all of us.

In the Class of 1962 column in the December 1966 issue:

One of the most sincere and heart-warming letters I have ever read arrived last month from Rich GINIECZKI who is serving in VAW-12 Det 66 aboard USS AMERICA. In the letter he talks about the untimely death of our classmate and his company mate Chuck KNOCHEL. In the letter Rich recalls many Academy incidents concerning Chuck, his courtship of Harriet, and part of his short career. In all respects Chuck was a fine classmate and friend and a devoted officer. The loss was hard and it is difficult to put these thoughts into words but those of us left here must strive and fight to preserve the principles for which Chuck and our other classmates have so valiantly defended with their last full measure.

Remembrances

From Wall of Faces:

I never knew my father because I was an infant when he was shot down. It is enough for me to know that he did what his nation asked of him. He did it bravely and he did it gladly.
I am proud of this legacy, and prouder still to be the mother of his two bright, brave grandchildren who resemble him in body and spirit. ELIZABETH MERRITT KNOCHEL WHALING, 10/29/09