VIETNAM WAR
Updated January 2024
BLAIR ROBERT KNAPPENBERGER, JR. (1942-2006)
Blair Robert Knappenberger, Jr.
Blair Robert Jr. was born 30 July 1942 in Homestead, PA and died 26 November 2006 in Arlington, Texas. Blair was a Marine and served in Vietnam. His military training as a radar technician lead him to a career of computer repair, working initially for NASA and finally starting his own business, Micro-Fix in Arlington. Blair was the son of Blair Robert Knappenberger, Sr. (1913-1982) and grandson of Robert “Scott” Knappenberger (1893-1968). Blair was buried in Dallas-Ft. Worth National Cemetery.
CLIFFORD W. KNAPPENBERGER, JR. (born 1944)
Clifford W. Jr. was born 8 January 1944 and is the son of Clifford W. Knappenberger and grandson of John Jacob Shafter Knappenberger. He descends from Conrad Knappenberger. Clifford enlisted in the US Army in June 1969 and was honorably discharged in December of 1971 as a Sergeant. He served in Vietnam for 11 months with the III and IV Corps of South Viet Nam and Cambodia as a Weapons Support Radar Maintenance Technician working with Counter Battery/Counter Mortar radar device called a “Q4”. Clifford received the Bronze Star Medal as his father did in World War II.
DALE RUSSELL KNAPPENBERGER (1943-2005)
Dale R. was born 5 August 1943 in Allentown, PA and died 5 December 2005 in Port Jervis, New York. He was the son of Russell L. Knappenberger, a World War II veteran, and the grandson of Charles Franklin Knappenberger. Dale was a U.S. Navy veteran of the Vietnam era and achieved rank of noncom petty officer.
GARY EARL KNAPPENBERGER (1938-1969)
Gary Earl was born 9 May 1938 in Janesville, Wisconsin and died 25 July 1969 at Travis AFB. He served two tours of duty in Vietnam and was a Sergeant in the Air Force. After his accidental death, the Air Force promoted him to Staff Sergeant. He was the brother of Dennis Ralph [see below]. Gary was the son of Arthur Earl (1915-1994), grandson of Earl B. (1889-1978) and great-grandson of Benjamin Henry (1860-1936) of DeKalb County, Illinois.
DENNIS RALPH KNAPPENBERGER (1944-2017)
Dennis Ralph was born 6 September 1944in Janesville Wisconsin and died 26 March 2017 in Deltona Florida. He was a brother of Gary Earl Knappenberger [see above]. Dennis was the son of Arthur Earl Knappenberger (1915-1994) and grandson of Earl B. Knappenberger (1889-1978). He enlisted in the Air Force in 1963 and served until 1989. He retired as a Master Sergeant and served in Germany, Panama, the Philippines, Spain and throughout the United States.
EDWARD F. KNAPPENBERGER, SR. (born 1940)
Edward F. was born 11 August 1940 in Philadelphia, PA. He is the son of Benjamin David (1910-1992) and grandson of Edward Benjamin (1886-1973) of Lehigh County, PA. Ed served in the US Air Force from 1959 to 1964 and then reenlisted in the service from 1970 to 1980 serving in South Dakota, Alaska, and as an Air Force Recruiter from 1976 to 1980 in Lansing, Michigan. He received two Air Force Commendation medals. He left the Air Force as a Tech Sergeant working as a nuclear weapons technician.
PAUL W. KNAPPENBERGER (1950-2014)
Paul W. served for fifteen years in the US Army during the Vietnam War era. He was the son Alton Knappenberger who was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for service during World War II. Paul descended from Johan Michael Knappenberger (original immigrant) through his son Johan Henrich “Henry” Knappenberger who fought in the Revolutionary War.
ROBERT EUGENE KNAPPENBERGER (JR.) (1954-2023)
Robert of Wheelersburg, Ohio was a Marine Veteran serving during the Vietnam War. He was the son of Robert E. Knappenberger and Lena Kelley. Robert was born 6 March 1954 in Scioto County, Ohio and died there 19 October 2023. He descends from Col. Jacob Knappenburger who fought in the Civil War.
STEPHEN A. KNAPPENBERGER, SR. (1949-2014)
Stephen was born 24 December 1949 in Lehigh County, PA and died 23 February 2014 in Walnutport, PA. He was the son of Wilson E. Knappenberger (1908-1954) and grandson of Amandus John Knappenberger (1868-after 1940). Stephen served with the US Army in Vietnam.