We hope our readers have enjoyed this glimpse into the life of a Marine, kindly provided by the family of Carl Knaus. The excerpts from “Carl, A Marine and His Comrades” were recorded in diary-form by Carl Knaus while serving in the Pacific during World War II. The following is the last of the columns, featuring “Letters to the Soliders Wives” and some history on the author. APRIL 17 – After a very long boat ride, it was better than five weeks and I saw so many things during this time. We landed on Okinawa. What a “D” day they picked. Easter Sunday and what an awful long one. But I shouldn’t kick. The good Lord was with us, and how. I will as soon as I am able to, make a Novena of Thanksgiving for this one day alone. We’ve been caught in several traps, but so far have been very fortunate in getting away as lucky as we have. Again, I say our good Lord is certainly with us. Every day, I see so many poor natives who have been hiding out in the caves for a long time. Old men and women and so many small children all scared and hungry. They now have a small village set aside for them, where they are clothed and fed and they then can see that we are not the ruthless type the Japanese classified us as. Now, whenever we go by them, they smile and bow from the waist down. Why their heads almost hit the deck. Of course, Knaus claims they are bowing at him, and I know it’s all for me, so we’re both going to run for mayor or whatever they have here. The village we go through are completely ruined and destroyed. They are odd though, clay, stone and grass roofs. Every available spot in the valleys and mountain sides are put into gardening handmade in step form. They raise rice, sugar cane, even carrots and cabbage and these poor fields are a sorry sight every time we go through them. APRIL 19 – I’ll be able to keep writing once or twice a week, if our present duties continue. We go out on patrols for two days and then we’re supposed to have the third day easier, like watch or lookout – never a dull moment though. Gee, what I wouldn’t give for one night’s sleep, one where I wouldn’t have to get up once, but we all must stand our watch. Several nights we had 100 percent watch, but a fellow couldn’t sleep at times like this anyhow. We had rather a quiet patrol yesterday, but these patrols have to be made before we shove on again. I never realized how big and rugged these islands really are. Honey, before I forget, I lost something very dear to me – the Miraculous Medal you gave me. Wait, I’ll tell you about it. It was the third day out. Let’s see, Tuesday: We dug in on a mountain ridge for our Monday night’s place. Early next morning, we were to take over the lines, so hurried and packed and traveled until about 1 p.m. or so. What a day, I’ll never forget. We then got a can of grapefruit juice and had to push on. At about 3:30, along a mount ridge we ran into a trap. Several Japanese machine guns sprayed the ridge and pinned us down. So many fellows lost their packs and ammunition. I make a habit of keeping them on at all times. Several smoke bombs were thrown up so we could get away under cover. We then had to circle the mountain and come in from the other side. The sun was just about setting by this time. After we got straightened out and the wounded taken back, we pushed on again. We walked on and on for several miles, and I mean rugged ones. Just before dark, we were to have a 10-minute break. Everyone was sitting along the side of the road. I spied a cabbage patch, so walked over to it and cut four nice heads. I went back to the fellows and gave three away and had just cut off a nice big slice when someone yelled “Nips!” and sure enough, coming around a curve to our rear we could see them. What a reception we got – a hot one. We then pushed on, leaving my poor cabbage, as well as my knife. In my diving to the side of the road, I knew something gave, and later found it to be my dog tag chain. What a long story to tell you this little bit, but I knew you would like to know. It was now dark, but still we pushed on. I don’t know what kept us going. Everyone was just all in. We had our packs, ammunition, clothes, rifles, grenades, water (this ran out about 1 p.m.), so we were weighed down somewhat. Finally, I don’t know what time it was we reached our destination, but we had to be quiet and, therefore, couldn’t dig in. APRIL 27 – You should see your hubby. What a sight; filthy, tired, and I need a shave and a haircut. Oh! Just a mess, I guess, but am I blue? Heck no, why I just received two sweet letters from one of the best Marines in this world. Sweets, it’s the one thing that keeps me going. I really feel sorry for the fellows who don’t receive as many as I do. Now is when fellows need mail more than ever and surprising how quickly people forget when they don’t receive answers to their letters right away. I wish some of these “would be true friends” could be here for only one day or even one hour. Then they would realize what mail means now. Last night we had our evening meal rations, etc., and it had rained all day. Everything is so damn muddy, even our fox holes need some sort of a drainage system. Some fellow had received several boxes of bread from some CB unit. Our first in 27 days. We all had two slices. You should have seen the fellows eyes as they sliced or broke it into sizes. All equal, too. ********** ABOUT THE AUTHOR – After the war, Carl returned to working for National T., a meat and grocery chain. He worked in St. Cloud, Mason City, Iowa, and Cloquet. Then his brother gave him the opportunity to buy Knaus Meat Market, which was founded in 1912 by Ole Knaus, Carl’s dad. So Carl and Laverne moved back to Kimball and soon began expanding the business and then the family. They had seven children in all – Ron, Diane, Ken, Pat, Suzie, Doug and Kurt. Carl had many hobbies. They bought a lot on Lake Carnelian, where they built a nice home. Carl terraced the hill with many flowers, a fish pond and a grotto. Carl loved playing the organ, collecting and polishing rocks, golfing, swimming and raising pigeons, and also beekeeping. Whatever he did, he went at it hard. When he was 50-years-old, they started traveling for the first time. Then Carl and Laverne settled in Texas for six months a year. There they lived in a mobile home and soon Carl had the lot surrounded in flowers and fruit trees. At 82, Carl still came to the meat market daily to help cut meat and keep his family in line. ********** Sesquicentennial 150th anniversary year a big success … Celebrating the hard work and accomplishments of our ancestors since 1856 has been a rewarding experience. Our year-long series of events brought new faces to Kimball and a new context to events we didn’t realize were already historic. Thus, unfolded 2006 exactly one year ago. By the way, did you know that few if any other local historical societies, publish a history column in their hometown newspapers? Thanks to volunteers, members and Tri-County News, we are grateful and proud for this opportunity we hope you enjoy regularly. ********** From our numerous stories about “Building a New Life on Maine Prairie” until the vanishing of that thriving community when, due to railroad service 5 miles south, the township residents became Kimball folk. These were our beginnings. We wrapped up the year’s column by honoring the extraordinary life of Carl Knaus, with the very last excerpts in today’s column. ********** Keepsake souvenirs continue to be available during normal business hours at the State Bank of Kimball, at reasonable prices. Consider securing some for future gifts or for you and your family now. You will not find any more important history and memories. Also, our keepsake cookbooks are always available at Knaus Sausage House in Kimball or at the Kimball bank. ********** Watch for upcoming 2007 history happenings, including an outstanding program and meeting in February, the annual Community & Business Expo in March, followed by April and June meetings, and continuing on through August’s 2007 Kimball Days festival, besides the new windows and brick tuckpointing at our h
istoric city hall for phase two. And much more. ********** ‘Tis membership time, so we encourage you to renew yours, or become a brand new member soon, to keep history alive and available, enabling us to continue to tell and preserve the powerful Kimball area story. For more information, memberships, stories for this column or our growing family collections, genealogy, donations and memorials to the city hall restoration and for all the above, feel free to contact the Kimball Area Historical Society, Box 100, Kimball, Minn. 55353, or phone (320) 398-5743, (320) 398-5250 or (800) 252-2521, if out of area. ********** E-mail has replaced letters. TV has replaced conversation. But there will never be a replacement for memories or history.
