He graduated
from High School in 1939. He went to A&M College
from which he graduated in 1943. He lived in San
Antonio at the time he joined the Army on 29th
April 1943. He went to Officer Candidate School
at Fort Riley, Kansas. While in training he
married Sarah Jean Heil. He was commissioned as
a 2nnd Lieutenant at Fort Riley. He joined the
44th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron and was
sent overseas in October 1944, arriving in
France on 26 November 1944.
The 44th Cav Recon Sqn entered combat in the
Rhineland Campaign on 13 December 1944.
On January 25
1945, his daughter, Carol Jean was born. Shortly
after that 1Lt Knight was granted a leave for
his actions during a patrol which he led behind
enemy lines. He spent his leave in London. After
he came back, on February 20, he wrote to his
father that he had spent his leave there and
that he enjoyed sleeping in a bed with white
sheets for a change.
1st Lt. Knight
was killed in action on 27 February 1945. Lt.
D.H. Holder, a friend of Jimmie at A&M College
and attached to the same unit, wrote Jimmie's
wife about his death. On 27 February Jimmie was
approaching a German town in a jeep. They were
engaged by German defenders and Jimmie fired at
an enemy machine gun. While reloading his
weapon, he was shot in the back by a sniper.
Still conscious, he ordered his men to take
cover. Later, when his men tried to recover him
and his jeep, he was found unconscious. He died
later of his wounds and was posthumously awarded
the Bronze Star for his valor during this
action.
He was one of
19 people killed in action in the Squadron
during World War 2. Six of them are buried at
Margraten.
Newspaper articles
about the death of 1Lt Knight (courtesy of Mrs.
Donna K. Green)
1Lt Knight
is buried at Margraten American Military
Cemetery, Plot P Row 9 Grave 10
1st
Lieutenant