Korean War vet honored in Chester County
CHESTER SPRINGS >> A Korean War veteran who died without receiving full recognition for his service was finally honored during a special ceremony.
U.S. Air Force veteran Louis Martin Knecht was laid to rest 2½ years ago without receiving full military honors, as a result of missing military records. Two weeks ago he finally received those honors during a special posthumous ceremony surrounded by his family, friends, fellow veterans and other officials.
Since his death, Knecht’s family had been struggling to locate his military documents located so he could be honored properly for his service.
“We kept calling organizations and getting the runaround,” said Knecht’s son Louis Jr.
The family was told their father’s records were missing and they could not hold a military funeral without official proof of military service.
Frustrated by the process, Knecht’s family reached out to a friend, Michael P. Murphy, who is a member of the U.S. Army National Guard, and facility manager of the U.S. Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.
“He just kept being so persistent,” said Knecht’s daughter, Beverly Giera.
It was Murphy who contacted U.S. Congressman Ryan Costello’s office for help in tracking down the records, which were finally found after several months of searching. Costello explained the information was difficult to find because there was no veterans separation paperwork on file at the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, Mo. However, his staff worked diligently to recover the lost information.
“It was humbling,” Murphy said upon hearing Knecht’s paperwork had finally been found. “It took so long, 2½ years, to get his documents. I believe every veteran should get his service.”
Along with Knecht’s official records, several medals that he never received were also found.
“He served our country honorably and he should be thanked for his service,” Costello said.
“It’s a tremendous source of pride for us to be able to go about doing the work necessary to secure these medals and present them to family members. So that for their family history sake, their descendants have the opportunity to see them and understand their grandfather, grandmother, grandparents, great-grandparents served their country honorably.”
Costello encouraged anyone who believes they have a family member who has also earned service medals but may not have received them to contact his office.
Murphy and Costello’s office coordinated and planned a special ceremony at Louis’ home in Chester Springs. Participating were the American Legion Post 244 Honor Guard from Limerick, A Hero’s Welcome, Warrior Watch Riders, the Greater Pennsylvania Military Vehicle Historical Society and the West Vincent Township Police Department. A motorcade traveled down Route 100 to the family’s home, and conducted a full military funeral service, complete with a 21 gun salute and the playing of Taps.
“There’s so much bad in the world, to have veterans come together for someone they didn’t know. It was like their brother; it was just awesome,” Giera said, thanking Murphy specifically for his role. “It’s really emotional when somebody does something like that.”
Jason Carver, constituent services director for Costello, presented Louis with his father’s National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, and United Nations Service Medal. Knecht’s family also received a U.S. flag, copies of his military records a certificate of military service.
“My dad never talked about it,” Giera said. “For my brother to receive the medals meant for my dad that was very touching and emotional.”
“It was great,” Louis said. “I couldn’t thank Murph enough.”
When asked what his father would have thought of the ceremony, he chuckled.
“He would have laughed,” he said. “‘I’ll be damned. Somebody in office finally did something.’ It closed a chapter in my dad’s life.”
“He served our country honorably and he should be thanked for his service.”
— U.S. Congressman Ryan Costello