{{Infobox military person | name = Jack L. Knight | birth_date = {{Birth date|1917|5|29}} | death_date = {{Death date and age|1945|2|2|1917|5|29}} | birth_place = Garner, Texas | death_place = near LoiKang, Burma | burial_place = Holders Chapel Cemetery, Cool, Texas | burial_label = Place of burial | image = | image_size = 150 | caption = Jack L. Knight | nickname = | allegiance = United States of America | branch = United States Army | service_years = 1940 – 1945 | rank = First Lieutenant | commands = | unit = 124th Cavalry Regiment | battles = World War II | awards = {{plainlist| * 40px Medal of Honor * 40px Texas Medal of Honor * Hall of Honor }} | relations = | other_work = }} '''Jack Llewellyn Knight''' (May 29, 1917 &ndash; February 2, 1945) was an American National Guard officer who was killed in action during World War II. He was awarded the United States highest military decoration for valor, the Medal of Honor, posthumously. He was inducted to the Texas Military Hall of Honor in 1980, awarded the Texas Legislative Medal of Honor posthumously on May 31, 1999.<ref name="TSHA">[http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fknzb Texas State Historical Association. Knight, Jack Llwellyn]</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://texasmilitaryforcesmuseum.org/hallofhonor/chronological.htm|title=Hall of Honor|last=|first=|date=|website=TMFM|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=}}</ref>

==Biography== Knight was born in Garner, Texas. He graduated from Weatherford Junior College, in Weatherford, Texas, in 1938, and joined the Texas National Guard with his brother Curtis on November 18, 1940.<ref name="TSHA"/><ref>[https://aad.archives.gov/aad/record-detail.jsp?dt=893&mtch=4&tf=F&q=jack+l+knight&bc=&rpp=10&pg=1&rid=2076645&rlst=2076645,2105595,4014572,6837157 WWII Army Enlistment Records]</ref>

===World War II=== Knight served as a first lieutenant in the 124th Cavalry Regiment, Mars Task Force. On February 2, 1945, near LoiKang, Burma, Knight single-handedly destroyed two Japanese pillboxes. Despite being wounded, he led his rifle platoon in an attack on other enemy positions but was again wounded, this time fatally. For his heroic actions, he was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously four months later, on June 25, 1945.

Knight, aged 27 at his death, was buried at the Holders Chapel Cemetery in Cool, Texas.

==Medal of Honor==

===Medal of Honor citation=== First Lieutenant Knight's official Medal of Honor citation reads: <blockquote>He led his cavalry troop against heavy concentrations of enemy mortar, artillery, and small arms fire. After taking the troop's objective and while making preparations for a defense, he discovered a nest of Japanese pillboxes and foxholes to the right front. Preceding his men by at least 10 feet, he immediately led an attack. Single-handedly he knocked out 2 enemy pillboxes and killed the occupants of several foxholes. While attempting to knock out a third pillbox, he was struck and blinded by an enemy grenade. Although unable to see, he rallied his platoon and continued forward in the assault on the remaining pillboxes. Before the task was completed he fell mortally wounded. 1st Lt. Knight's gallantry and intrepidity were responsible for the successful elimination of most of the Japanese positions and served as an inspiration to officers and men of his troop.</blockquote>

==Texas legislative Medal of Honor== He was awarded the Texas Legislative Medal of Honor in May 1999. The medal was given to sister who was to take it to his brother Curtis who also fought in the battle.<ref>[http://airwolf.lmtonline.com/news/archive/0601/pagea6.pdf] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304190950/http://airwolf.lmtonline.com/news/archive/0601/pagea6.pdf|date=2016-03-04}} Laredo Morning Times, June 1, 1999, Page 6A, "Veterans honored during ceremonies"]</ref><ref>[http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/docs/GV/htm/GV.431.htm Texas Code, Subtitle C, Chapter 431, Sub chapter J, Awards, Sec. 431.131 Texas Legislative Medal of Honor]</ref>

== Awards and decorations == {| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;" |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Medal_of_Honor_ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Purple Heart BAR.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=American Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} |- |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=American Campaign Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|ribbon=Asiatic-Pacific Campaign ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=World War II Victory Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} |} {| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;" |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Texas_Legislative_Medal_of_Honor_Ribbon.svg|width=106}} |} {| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;" !1st row |Medal of Honor |Purple Heart |American Defense Service Medal |- !2nd row |American Campaign Medal |European–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Medal<nowiki/>with one campaign star |World War II Victory Medal |- !Civilian Awards | colspan="3" |Texas Legislative Medal of Honor |}

== Building Dedication == Jack L Knight was honored with a building named after him at Weatherford College on November 11, 2014.<ref>{{cite web|title=WC Veterans Day program to include 1st Lt. Jack L. Knight Building dedication|url=https://www.wc.edu/about/news/wc-veterans-day-program-include-1st-lt-jack-l-knight-building-dedication|accessdate=5 December 2014}}{{Dead link|date=July 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

==See also== {{Portal|Biography}} *List of Medal of Honor recipients *List of Medal of Honor recipients for World War II

==External links== *{{Find a Grave|9772|work=Claim to Fame: Medal of Honor recipients|accessdate=2008-01-22}} *{{cite web |publisher = United States Army Center of Military History |title = Medal of Honor recipients - World War II (G–L) |work = Medal of Honor citations |date = June 8, 2009 |url = http://www.history.army.mil/html/moh/wwII-g-l.html |accessdate = 2008-01-22 |archive-date = 2009-08-05 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090805093227/http://www.history.army.mil/html/moh/wwII-g-l.html |url-status = dead }}

==References== :{{ACMH}} {{Reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Knight, Jack L.}} Category:1917 births Category:1945 deaths Category:United States Army personnel killed in World War II Category:United States Army Medal of Honor recipients Category:Recipients of the Texas Legislative Medal of Honor Category:People from Parker County, Texas Category:United States Army officers Category:World War II recipients of the Medal of Honor Category:Military personnel from Texas