Another One of the Old Guard Leaves
Apr. 12th, 2011 06:41 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
boogieshoesLadies and Gentlemen, if you will, please raise a glass for Robert Knieriem, born in Cleveland, OH, veteran of World War II, died April 8th, 2011 in Oregon. Robert was my great-uncle, sister to my Grandmother Eva Beeman. Eva's still alive, the last of her siblings, so I imagine she's not having the best time right now.
Robert flew spotter planes in WW2 (not sure this is the actual bird he flew, but to give you an idea...). These were the guys that found the targets for the bomber planes, such as the Enola Gay, who came behind, and thus, were high-priority targets for the Germans (he fought in the European theater). I only met him a couple times as a child, and don't know any stories, except for a one-off comment that he'd landed his plane in so many places it wasn't supposed to go that he really... didn't like flying anymore. No kidding.
Robert liked carpentry, and his wife, who pre-deceased him by a few years, liked miniatures and gardening. I remember their house with roses that seemed like a foot across, and the big 'dollhouse' that was full of 1/16th scale exacting miniatures. Robert was big flirt, making a shy child!boogie flush. I remember them both very fondly.
*drinks a shot of whiskey*
To Robert!
*throws glass in fireplace*
-bs
PS. as a side note, when i was searching for Great-Uncle Robert's name at the WW2 memorial, i searched 'Kn', because i wasn't entirely sure of the spelling. there were over 5460 Americans with the last name beginning with the 'Kn' construction in WW2. Just over 500 of those are 'Knapp's, not counting variations, or people not on the registry.
PPS. If you know someone who fought in WW2, look for them in the registry. If they're not there, please add them. We should remember those who have gone before.
Robert flew spotter planes in WW2 (not sure this is the actual bird he flew, but to give you an idea...). These were the guys that found the targets for the bomber planes, such as the Enola Gay, who came behind, and thus, were high-priority targets for the Germans (he fought in the European theater). I only met him a couple times as a child, and don't know any stories, except for a one-off comment that he'd landed his plane in so many places it wasn't supposed to go that he really... didn't like flying anymore. No kidding.
Robert liked carpentry, and his wife, who pre-deceased him by a few years, liked miniatures and gardening. I remember their house with roses that seemed like a foot across, and the big 'dollhouse' that was full of 1/16th scale exacting miniatures. Robert was big flirt, making a shy child!boogie flush. I remember them both very fondly.
*drinks a shot of whiskey*
To Robert!
*throws glass in fireplace*
-bs
PS. as a side note, when i was searching for Great-Uncle Robert's name at the WW2 memorial, i searched 'Kn', because i wasn't entirely sure of the spelling. there were over 5460 Americans with the last name beginning with the 'Kn' construction in WW2. Just over 500 of those are 'Knapp's, not counting variations, or people not on the registry.
PPS. If you know someone who fought in WW2, look for them in the registry. If they're not there, please add them. We should remember those who have gone before.
