Jack L. Knight

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title: "Jack L. Knight" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1917-births", "1945-deaths", "united-states-army-personnel-killed-in-world-war-ii", "united-states-army-medal-of-honor-recipients", "recipients-of-the-texas-legislative-medal-of-honor", "people-from-parker-county,-texas", "united-states-army-officers", "world-war-ii-recipients-of-the-medal-of-honor", "military-personnel-from-texas"] topic_path: "history" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_L._Knight" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::data[format=table title="Infobox military person"]

FieldValue
nameJack L. Knight
birth_date
death_date
birth_placeGarner, Texas
death_placenear LoiKang, Burma
placeofburialHolders Chapel Cemetery, Cool, Texas
placeofburial_labelPlace of burial
image_size150
captionJack L. Knight
allegianceUnited States of America
branchUnited States Army
serviceyears1940 – 1945
rankFirst Lieutenant
unit124th Cavalry Regiment
battlesWorld War II
awards{{plainlist
::

| name = Jack L. Knight | birth_date = | death_date = | birth_place = Garner, Texas | death_place = near LoiKang, Burma | placeofburial = Holders Chapel Cemetery, Cool, Texas | placeofburial_label = Place of burial | image = | image_size = 150 | caption = Jack L. Knight | nickname = | allegiance = United States of America | branch = United States Army | serviceyears = 1940 – 1945 | rank = First Lieutenant | commands = | unit = 124th Cavalry Regiment | battles = World War II | awards = {{plainlist|

Biography

Knight was born in Garner, Texas. He graduated from Weatherford Junior College, in Weatherford, Texas, in 1938, and joined the Texas National Guard with his brother Curtis on November 18, 1940.

World War II

Knight served as a first lieutenant in the 124th Cavalry Regiment, Mars Task Force. On February 2, 1945, near LoiKang, Burma, Knight single-handedly destroyed two Japanese pillboxes. Despite being wounded, he led his rifle platoon in an attack on other enemy positions but was again wounded, this time fatally. For his heroic actions, he was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously four months later, on June 25, 1945.

Knight, aged 27 at his death, was buried at the Holders Chapel Cemetery in Cool, Texas.

Medal of Honor

Medal of Honor citation

First Lieutenant Knight's official Medal of Honor citation reads: ::quote He led his cavalry troop against heavy concentrations of enemy mortar, artillery, and small arms fire. After taking the troop's objective and while making preparations for a defense, he discovered a nest of Japanese pillboxes and foxholes to the right front. Preceding his men by at least 10 feet, he immediately led an attack. Single-handedly he knocked out 2 enemy pillboxes and killed the occupants of several foxholes. While attempting to knock out a third pillbox, he was struck and blinded by an enemy grenade. Although unable to see, he rallied his platoon and continued forward in the assault on the remaining pillboxes. Before the task was completed he fell mortally wounded. 1st Lt. Knight's gallantry and intrepidity were responsible for the successful elimination of most of the Japanese positions and served as an inspiration to officers and men of his troop. ::

Texas legislative Medal of Honor

He was awarded the Texas Legislative Medal of Honor in May 1999. The medal was given to sister who was to take it to his brother Curtis who also fought in the battle.

Awards and decorations

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1st row2nd rowCivilian Awards
Medal of HonorPurple HeartAmerican Defense Service Medal
American Campaign MedalEuropean–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Medalwith one campaign starWorld War II Victory Medal
Texas Legislative Medal of Honor
::

Building Dedication

Jack L Knight was honored with a building named after him at Weatherford College on November 11, 2014.

References

:

References

  1. [http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fknzb Texas State Historical Association. Knight, Jack Llwellyn]
  2. "Hall of Honor".
  3. [https://aad.archives.gov/aad/record-detail.jsp?dt=893&mtch=4&tf=F&q=jack+l+knight&bc=&rpp=10&pg=1&rid=2076645&rlst=2076645,2105595,4014572,6837157 WWII Army Enlistment Records]
  4. [http://airwolf.lmtonline.com/news/archive/0601/pagea6.pdf] {{Webarchive. link. (2016-03-04 Laredo Morning Times, June 1, 1999, Page 6A, "Veterans honored during ceremonies"])
  5. [http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/docs/GV/htm/GV.431.htm Texas Code, Subtitle C, Chapter 431, Sub chapter J, Awards, Sec. 431.131 Texas Legislative Medal of Honor]
  6. (July 2025). "WC Veterans Day program to include 1st Lt. Jack L. Knight Building dedication".

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::

1917-births1945-deathsunited-states-army-personnel-killed-in-world-war-iiunited-states-army-medal-of-honor-recipientsrecipients-of-the-texas-legislative-medal-of-honorpeople-from-parker-county,-texasunited-states-army-officersworld-war-ii-recipients-of-the-medal-of-honormilitary-personnel-from-texas