PFC Lawrence Elmer Knight

Lawrence Knight was born April 19, 1923, in Parkin, Arkansas. His parents, Elmer and Pearlie, had already welcomed older sister Lorine, and Lawrence would be followed by Nadene and Grover. The Knights were a young couple; the 1930 census listed Elmer as 28 and Pearlie as 27.

Lawrence grew up on the family's cotton farm, and was eighteen by the outbreak of the war. He enlisted in the Marine Corps, and as a resident of Arkansas would have attended boot camp at Parris Island. He wound up as a rifleman in A Company, 24th Marines, in Lt. Roy Wood's platoon. Lawrence was a capable Marine, and was promoted to Private First Class. He completed advanced training with the company at Camp Pendleton, California, and shipped out with them for Operation Flintlock.

PFC Knight, twenty years old, stormed ashore at Namur Island on February 1, 1944. As the company pushed ahead, the young Marine was at the very front of the advance - until he and several other comrades went a little too far ahead. They encountered a trench full of Japanese and were brought to a skidding halt.

[I believe this to be the dozen or so Marines that Phil Wood mentions seeing cut off and fighting furiously, as noted in his letter of April 2, 1944. There are too many similarities between a period newspaper account and his letter; so much so that the same phrase is used to describe them - the "Daring Dozen"- Phil even puts the phrase in quotes. Also, it is known that Phil Wood and Roy Wood, though not related, respected each other and fought side by side on Namur, which would put Roy's platoon in the vicinity of Phil's - even allowing for the confusion of combat.]

An unknown newspaper published on February 7 told the story in part:

"Namur Island, Kwajalein Atoll. Some 200 Japanese defenders of this war-battered island met their nemesis in 12 amazing Marines.... They were thrown together in the sweeping push across this small island on 2 February, [note: date should read 1 February] a few hours after the place had been assaulted by the Fourth Division. Battalions and companies were moving ahead so rapidly that officers collected men wherever they could to form small assault groups and the daring dozen was one of them. The group was pinned down, however, when the encountered a trench full of Japs straight ahead of them... The lieutenants estimated the nondescript little outfit faced 200 of the enemy, and, alone, held the Japs at bay for four hours until reinforcements arrived.... Others who fought with the daring dozen and could be identified included... Lawrence Knight."

And Phil Wood, who was there, wrote home:

I found my other runner, gave him directions as to the disposition of the mortar sections, and he went back to tell them where to go. When I turned, the rest of them [note: referring to Sgt. Frank Tucker, 1Lt Harry Reynolds, 1Lt Roy Wood, a "Corporal Robbins" and "two or three from Roy's platoon'"] had gone on – running, stopping to fire when they saw a fleeing Jap – following the beachline along the island. Imm, my other runner – 17 and, literally, has never been kissed – and I started after them, heard heavy firing, and stopped to reconnoiter. We were almost up to a wide, cleared area, just off a road running parallel to the beach. The “daring dozen” were across the clearing, and apparently having a hell of a fight in the scrubbed area 100 yards ahead of us. We crawled into a shell hole with a Lt. from D Company – he told us to stay down for Christ’s sake, the road and the clearing were machine gun lanes, and the Japs had been killing anyone who tried to go up....

- Phil Wood letter, April 2 1944

The "daring dozen" received the help of Sgt. Tucker's sharpshooting (see entry for June 17), but had remained in their position until well after night had fallen. Sometime during the fighting, PFC Knight took a gunshot wound in the face. He didn't think it serious, but Lt. Roy Wood disagreed and ordered him off the line. Although not life-threatening, the wound was considered serious enough to warrant evacuation to Pearl Harbor, and Lawrence Knight preceded the company to Hawaii aboard a hospital ship.

PFC Knight was evidently a very personable young man, and the newspaper cameras loved his handsome face, wound or no. His family collected several newspaper clippings, and were almost able to track his progress through the media.

"Arkansas Marine Sang Before Fight -U.S. Pacific Fleet Headquarters, Pearl Harbor, February 14. Five wounded Marines among 350 to return from the Marshall's invasion scene on a hospital ship told Monday how they and their buddies approached the shores of Namur Island in Kwajalein Atoll singing the Marine Hymn and then 'just went ahead and did our job' when they hit the beach. Pfc. Lawrence Knight, 20, of Parkin, Arkansas told how a Marine corporal whose helmet was shot off dashed into a trench and retrieved it."
- unknown newspaper, 14 February 1944

[following a photograph]
"Pfc. Lawrence Knight of Parkin, Ark., and three other wounded Marines, who were evacuated to Pearl Harbor after the assault landing on Namur Island in the Kwajalein atoll, swap stories of the invasion."
- Commercial Appeal, 17 February 1944

His fellow Marines liked him, too.

"I am writing about your son, P .F .C. Lawrence E. Knight who was wounded while serving under my command in Namur Island. My purpose in writing you is three-fold. One to tell you, you should be proud of your son, he was in the fight all the time and when wounded had to be ordered to leave, his spirit was such that although wounded, he wanted to stay with the platoon. Second, was to assure you his life was not in danger and that he will receive the best of care. Thirdly, I mean this more than you know. If at anytime I or any of our company officers can be on any assistance, what so ever to you or your son, please feel free to call on us."

- from a letter written by 1Lt. Roy Wood, February 26, 1944

PFC Knight was eventually cleared for duty, and traveled to Camp Maui to rejoin his platoon. He returned in time to board the ships for Saipan.

Knight slogged through the heat and destruction of Saipan with the company. His luck held until 5 July. PFC Knight was one of the five Able Company men killed in a Japanese ambush.

"Larry was a good Marine, in camp and in combat, well liked by all, capable of doing any job well. As you know he was in my platoon on Namur and rejoined us after he got out of the hospital. I know there is nothing I can say that will lessen your sorrow, but I want to tell you how he met his death. Our company was in the attack on the 5th of July. We had sent out a platoon which had been ambushed by the enemy. It was during our attempt to get to these men that Lawrence was killed. He gave his life in an effort to help his buddies."

- from a letter written by 1Lt. Roy Wood, August 10, 1944

Lawrence Knight was buried with the other slain members of the patrol in the 4th Division Cemetery on Saipan. In 1949, he was reburied in the Punchbowl Cemetery in Plot A, Grave 85.



(The picture, and most of preceding information, is from Cross County Bank website who run an excellent little site dedicated to the veterans of Cross County, Arkansas)