LTJG DALE W. KNAGGS, USN

Class 1942

Born January 16, 1920

Died November 13, 1942

Age 22

Hometown Willis, Michigan

Lucky Bag Yearbook

From the 1942 Lucky Bag:

DALE WESLEY KNAGGS

Dale, Skonk, Bone Dome

Battalion Football; Battalion Baseball: Company Softball; Hop Committee 2, 1; Reception Committee 3, 2,1; 1 Stripe.

The Naval Academy lost a great athlete, so Dale claims, when he went unsat plebe year. A born snake, he can be seen tripping lightly at all the hops, usually with the belle of the ball. Dale’s jovial smile hides a serious and conscientious nature that is seldom seen by those who know him only slightly. His friends know him as capable and dependable, in fact, Dale was going to star one year, but never found the time.

The Class of 1942 graduated on December 19, 1941, less than two weeks after the United States entered World War II. The class had previously been scheduled to graduate in February 1942.

Loss

Dale was lost when USS Monssen (DD 436) was sunk on November 13, 1942 during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal.

Other Information

From researcher Kathy Franz:

Dale graduated from Sand Creek High School, Michigan.

In 1930, Dale lived in Madison, Michigan, with his father Wesley, a mechanic in an auto factory, mother Edna, brother Darwin, and sister Joyce. Darwin became a member of the Army Air Corp.

His parents were listed as next of kin. He is listed at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial.

Photographs

From the Lucky Bag

Class of 1942

Dale is one of 81 members of the Class of 1942 on Virtual Memorial Hall.

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