Spc. Allen J. Knop of Willowick, Ohio didn't have any delusions about war when he re-enlisted in the Army during his first tour of duty in Iraq in 2003. He understood the realities of combat, yet felt such a sense of pride in his country, that he answered his call to duty without question. He spent 13 months in heavy duty war, firing machine guns and having bullets flying past him. It was the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, that moved him to enlist. He was still a senior at North High when he enlisted. To help ease his father's fears of him joining he told him, 'Just think, dad. If everybody thought like you, there wouldn't be anybody over there fighting now.' Allen even passed up an opportunity to come home to see his family so another soldier with a family of his own could. They gave him a pass for leave. He gave up that pass to another soldier who wanted to go home to see his wife and kids. That's just the kind of guy Allen was. But being a soldier wasn't the only thing Allen was good at. After his parents got divorced, he was still sure to keep up with his grandmother living down the street and he'd be there on his bike, going to see granny. And he was always joking, always pulling pranks, just being a happy-go-lucky guy and he would do anything in the world for you. He touched the lives of countless people, including friends and acquaintances in his native Willowick and in Geauga County, where he attended Chardon High School during 10th and 11th grade and worked at the McDonald's in Chardon. He died in Baghdad, Iraq, from non-combat related injuries at age 22.
Army's
2nd Battalion
502nd Infantry Regiment
2nd Brigade Combat Team
101st Airborne Division
Fort Campbell, Kentucky
Army's
2nd Battalion
502nd Infantry Regiment
2nd Brigade Combat Team
101st Airborne Division
Fort Campbell, Kentucky
Spc. Allen J. Knop of Willowick, Ohio didn't have any delusions about war when he re-enlisted in the Army during his first tour of duty in Iraq in 2003. He understood the realities of combat, yet felt such a sense of pride in his country, that he answered his call to duty without question. He spent 13 months in heavy duty war, firing machine guns and having bullets flying past him. It was the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, that moved him to enlist. He was still a senior at North High when he enlisted. To help ease his father's fears of him joining he told him, 'Just think, dad. If everybody thought like you, there wouldn't be anybody over there fighting now.' Allen even passed up an opportunity to come home to see his family so another soldier with a family of his own could. They gave him a pass for leave. He gave up that pass to another soldier who wanted to go home to see his wife and kids. That's just the kind of guy Allen was. But being a soldier wasn't the only thing Allen was good at. After his parents got divorced, he was still sure to keep up with his grandmother living down the street and he'd be there on his bike, going to see granny. And he was always joking, always pulling pranks, just being a happy-go-lucky guy and he would do anything in the world for you. He touched the lives of countless people, including friends and acquaintances in his native Willowick and in Geauga County, where he attended Chardon High School during 10th and 11th grade and worked at the McDonald's in Chardon. He died in Baghdad, Iraq, from non-combat related injuries at age 22.
Army's
2nd Battalion
502nd Infantry Regiment
2nd Brigade Combat Team
101st Airborne Division
Fort Campbell, Kentucky
Army's
2nd Battalion
502nd Infantry Regiment
2nd Brigade Combat Team
101st Airborne Division
Fort Campbell, Kentucky
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