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<p>Born at Camp Wheeler, GA on December 23, 1942 during the height of World War II, <em>Robert Eugene “Knapper” Knapp Jr.</em> was destined to be a soldier. His parents, Robert Sr. and Frances (Williams) Knapp, were stationed at Camp Wheeler. His father, an Army captain, was preparing to deploy to Europe as part of the 106th Infantry Division (“Golden Lions”), 424th Infantry Regiment. Then Captain Knapp would eventually be awarded the Bronze Star for fighting off the last German offensive near St. Vith, Belgium during the Battle of the Bulge. Robert’s formative years were spent in Dewitt, NY, where he was an accomplished football player. He completed high school at Riverside Military Academy in Gainesville, GA and received a congressional appointment to West Point. Years later, when asked by his young son why he wanted to be a soldier, he told him that he had always wanted to be a cowboy or a soldier, but “I was afraid of horses,” so soldier it was, and since the best soldiers are forged at West Point, “that’s where I went.” </p>
<p>Robert quickly adapted to the rigors of West Point. Being a couple years older than many of his classmates, his charismatic personality and innate leadership abilities, as described by classmates, were evident early on, both in garrison and as a member of the Sprint Football Team and the Rugby Team. He was strong, passionate, fearless and possessed a love for his classmates and friends that knew no bounds. Later in life, Robert would be written about in several books. In Daniel Evans and Charlie Sasser’s book Doc: Platoon Medic, he was described as “a warrior’s warrior who always led from the front and whose troops would follow him to hell and back.” In David Hackworth’s book Steel My Soldiers’ Hearts, he was described as “the type of officer you would follow through hell without a canteen of water.” Robert loved West Point and all that it stands for, and he believed attending the Academy was an honor and graduating from it was one of the greatest achievements of his life. One of the most important aspects of his time at West Point was the forged bond with his classmates that would eventually lead to so many cherished and lifelong relationships. </p>
<p>In June 1967, Robert was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Infantry and promptly married the love of his life, Arlene “Leney” (Kirschenheiter) Knapp (whom he had been dating throughout his time at West Point), in his hometown of Dewitt. After completing the airborne and Ranger schools at Fort Benning, GA, he received orders to the Republic of Vietnam, where he served as the Bravo company commander, 4th Battalion, 39th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division from 1968 to 1969 under Coronel David H. Hackworth. During his combat tour in Vietnam he was awarded two Silver Stars, five Bronze Stars (two “V” device) and two Purple Hearts. Robert and Arlene welcomed a son in 1969 and a daughter in 1972 while stationed in Germany, after returning from Vietnam. Robert received an MBA from Purdue in 1976 and shortly thereafter returned to West Point as a regimental tactical officer for Company B-3 and taught leadership. Following assignments at Fort Leavenworth, KS and Schofield Barracks, HI, he returned to West Point in 1982 as the assistant athletic director and head coach of the Sprint Football Team. His last duty station was as the professor of military science at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, where he was the commanding officer of the school’s ROTC program. Robert retired from active-duty military service in 1989 as a lieutenant colonel.</p>
<p>Post retirement, he embarked on a second career in the civilian construction market, working for Butler Manufacturing as vice president of construction and engineering. In 2007, Robert and Arlene retired for good to a quiet golf community in Pinehurst, NC and enjoyed making new friends and learning to play golf. After 17 wonderful years in Pinehurst and a lifetime of memories and adventures with Arlene and his children, God called him home. On February 1, 2025 he took his last breath, in his home, with his loving family by his side. This warrior’s warrior was welcomed into Heaven to the blaring of trumpets, the thunder of drums and the deafening clamor of swords against shields.</p>
<p>Robert was a devoted husband and father, an extraordinary soldier, and a loyal and caring friend. He was the kind of man everyone knew you could rely on in a crisis. He touched many lives and will be fondly remembered and so sorely missed by those of us fortunate enough to have known him. Well Done, “Knapper”; Be Thou at Peace.</p>
<p><em>— Arlene, Kimberly, and Robert E. Knapp III</em></p>
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