PAUL KNAPP, LT, USN

Paul Knapp '42

Date of birth: June 13, 1918

Date of death: August 13, 1944

Age: 26

Lucky Bag

From the 1942 Lucky Bag:

PAUL KNAPP

Auburn, Nebraska

Pablo

Quiet and unhurried, Paul goes about his business. He came to us a real "cornhusker"; but, despite the call of the farm, he has changed his ways to those of the sea. In fact, he has taken such a fancy to the water that he can be found paddling around the pool most any afternoon. Pablo's good nature and helpfulness make him a perfect "wife," be you stagging, dragging, or in need of a little academic advice.

Battalion Football; Boat Club 2; C.P.O.

The Class of 1942 graduated on December 19, 1941, less than two weeks after the United States entered World War II. The class had previously been scheduled to graduate in February 1942.

PAUL KNAPP

Auburn, Nebraska

Pablo

Quiet and unhurried, Paul goes about his business. He came to us a real "cornhusker"; but, despite the call of the farm, he has changed his ways to those of the sea. In fact, he has taken such a fancy to the water that he can be found paddling around the pool most any afternoon. Pablo's good nature and helpfulness make him a perfect "wife," be you stagging, dragging, or in need of a little academic advice.

Battalion Football; Boat Club 2; C.P.O.

The Class of 1942 graduated on December 19, 1941, less than two weeks after the United States entered World War II. The class had previously been scheduled to graduate in February 1942.

Loss

Paul was lost when USS Flier (SS 250) was sunk by a mine in the Balabac Strait, Philippines, on August 13, 1944.

Other Information

From researcher Kathy Franz:

Paul won the Omaha World-Herald’s county citizenship contest for 1933-34. He graduated from Nemaha High school and then attended Peru State Teachers college. He won a freshman citation from the Mathematics Club in June 1937. The yearbook listed his activities as Crawdads; Football; Basketball; Track.
He was nominated to the Naval Academy by Representative C. Luckey (D., Neb.) In August 1938, Paul wrote the Nemaha County Herald a letter about the Naval Academy. “I like it fine here and think I will like it better as time goes on. They keep us moving right along and don’t give us much time to loaf. I’ve certainly learned a lot already this summer. The summer is spent in learning seamanship, infantry drill, rifle range and gym work. The academic year doesn’t start until the last of September.
“To give you some idea of the routine we have I will give you the schedule for Monday. At 6:15 we have reveille and breakfast at 6:40. After breakfast we clean up our rooms and make our beds. At 7:50 we have rifle range, which lasts until 11:30. Lunch is at 12:15 and from 1:10 until 2:40 we have seamanship. From 3 to 4:30 we have gymnasium. From 4:30 to 7 we have liberty and can go out for some sport or read or do whatever we want to.
“At 7 o'clock we have dinner and a lecture at 8:15. Tattoo rings at 9:55 which means that everyone has to get into his own room and at 10 o’clock we have Taps.
“When the academic year starts the routine will be different, of course. I’ll write you then and give you an idea of the schedule.”
After graduation from the Naval Academy, Paul was assigned to USS Indianapolis. He served in the Aleutians and later in the southwest Pacific war area.
Paul married Betty Van Emon on April 16, 1942, in San Francisco.
His father Richard, a county commissioner and farmer, wrote a letter about his children to the Nemaha County Herald newspaper that was published in January 27, 1944. He wrote that Alfred was an ensign on a merchant marine ship. Donald returned from Africa and was in Los Angeles with his family. Kenneth, a naval radio technician, was sent from Chicago to San Francisco. Paul just finished two years in the Pacific, ate Christmas dinner with his parents, and then went to New London, Connecticut, to submarine school. Frances was in the WAVES and worked in Washington, D. C. Richard, Jr., was in the navy air corps and would leave shortly for Ontario, Oregon.
After Flier was sunk, Paul got off and was swimming in the ocean. The commander informed his parents that he had talked with him while in the water and that he reported he was all right and was not injured. However, he was not in the group which made it to a coral island 13 hours later.

His wife, Elizabeth Ruth Knapp, was listed as next of kin. He was the fourth of six children. He is listed at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial.

Photographs

From the Lucky Bag
father: Richard Raymond Knapp Sr, mother: Maude Elizabeth Kenton Knapp, Lt. Paul Knapp, wife, Betty, brother: Richard Raymond Knapp Jr.
Paul with his parents.
From his time at Peru State Teacher College (Nebraska)
From his time at Peru State Teacher College (Nebraska)