William C. Knight - Agawam, MA
Posted by: 
neoc1
N 42° 05.187 W 072° 37.317
18T E 696683 N 4662111
A Purple Heart Trail marker honoring Cpl. William C. Knight, U.S. Army, is located on Main and Federal Streets in Agawam, MA.
Waymark Code: WMWFPD
Location: Massachusetts, United States
Date Posted: 08/29/2017
Views: 1
Agawam has placed a series of Purple Heart Trail markers along
the southbound, west side of Main Street. Each marker honors a veteran that received the Purple Heart during their military service.
The purple and white sign contains the image the Purple Heart medal on the left side and the inscription:
PURPLE
HEART
TRAIL
-------------------------------------------------
WILLIAM C. KNIGHT US ARMY KIA KOREA
-------------------------------------------------
AGAWAM, MA
Below is a similar sign honoring a sponsor of the Purple Heart Trail. It is inscribed:
PURPLE
HEART
TRAIL
-------------------------------------------------
AMERICAN LEGION
POST 185
-------------------------------------------------
AGAWAM, MA
Corporal William C. Knight was attached to the Headquarters Battery, 57th Field Artillery Battalion, 7th Infantry Division. He was missing in action in action in the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir in North Korea which occurred from November 28 through December 6, 1950. He was presumed dead on December 31, 1953. His body was not found until a mass grave was located near the Chosin Reservoir in 2002. The skeletal remains were later identified as Cpl. William C. Knight by DNA analysis. His remains were returned to his family in Brookfield, MA and were interred in Oakham Cemetery in 2013.
Corporal William C. Knight was awarded the Purple Heart, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.