Private Alton Knappenberger cleans his automatic rifle, Italy, 1944

Description: 

Photograph. Private Alton Knappenberger cleans his automatic rifle. Official caption on front: "MM-5-44-3632"; Personal caption on reverse: "15 April 1944." Official caption on reverse: "Signal Corps Photo 16 Apr 1944 (Beachhead Italy) 'You're a one man army', said a beachhead general to Pvt Alton W. Knappenberger, 20, Spring Mount, Pa., shown here cleaning his fondest possession, an automatic rifle. With it, he killed approximately 40 Germans. Along with two buddies (killed in this action) 'Knapp' (now single-handed) fired 600 rounds of ammo - returned for more- then killed more Germans, including an officer and 7 men who ordered him to surrender. He thought he had killed a 'nice bunch' when questioned regarding his lone 1 ½ hr. 'blitz'. Signal Corps Radio Telephoto from Italy. #." Italy. 16 April 1944

Image Information

Donor: 
Ms. Regan Forrester
Accession Number: 
2002.337.162
Date: 
Location: 
Hometown: 
Branch: 
US Army
Theater of Service: 
Mediterranean Theater of Operations (MTO)
Unit: 
Fifth Army
Campaign / Event: 
POW / KIA: 
Topical Subjects: 
Soldiers--American--Italy
Rifles--American--Italy
Collection Level: 
From the service of Brigadier General Terence John Tully, a West Point graduate, Signal Officer during the African landings, Chief Signal Officer, Allied Force Headquarters Africa/Italy for all Mediterranean operations. Tully served with the Signal Corps in Italy and North Africa documenting the 5th Army specifically. Later he was Commander of Camp Crowder, Missouri.
Geography: 
Italia
Latitude: 
42.833
Longitude: 
12.833
Thesaurus for Graphic Materials: 
Soldiers--American--Italy
Rifles--American--Italy