Knapp,Tommy Duane - 1946-1968

HALL, HENDERSON, KNAPP, MINDHAM

Posted By: Diana Wagner
Date: 7/27/2025 at 13:15:23

Tommy Duane Knapp, 21, Died April 4 in Vietnam
Services for Army S/Sgt. Tommy Duane Knapp, 21, of Newton, who died April 4 in Vietnam of wounds suffered in action, were held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Toland Funeral Home in Newton.
Burial was in Newton Union Cemetery, with military rites.
The son of Alvin and Dorothy Henderson Knapp, he was born Dec. 25, 1946, in Colfax and attended schools in Newton.
S/Sgt. Knapp entered the service at Fort Des Moines Aug. 17, 1964, and was stationed in Fort Riley, Kans., and in Fort Knox, Ky., before being stationed in Germany. After his return from German, he was sent to Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., where he served as a drill inspector for a year. He went to Vietnam last Feb. 10 and was in the 25th Infantry Division.
He is the first Newton serviceman and the second Jasper County serviceman to die in Vietnam. Lance Cpt. David L. McMath, 19, son of Mr. and Mrs. Floyd McMath of Monroe was killed in Vietnam Aug. 13, 1967 while serving with the Marine Corps.
In addition to his parents, S/Sgt. Knapp is survived by seven brothers, Royal, Robert, Michael, Alvin, Kevin and David, all of Newton, and Allan of Artesia, N.M., and two sisters, Mrs. Robert (Janice) Mindham of Des Moines and Mrs. Jerry (Barbara) Hall of Artesia, N.M.
He was preceded in death by an infant sister.
The United States Flag was lowered to half staff on city buildings in Newton Wednesday in respect for S/Sgt. Knapp. Newton citizens were also encouraged to display their flag during daylight hours Wednesday, by their mayor.
Source: The Colfax (IA) Tribune; Thursday, April 18, 1968, page 1, col.