World War II Service and Diary of John R. McKnight - Ex Rd M 3c USN
Jack's Awards Thirteen Battle Stars Three Bronze and Two Silver Ribbons American Campaign         World War II Victory Asiatic Pacific Campaign Philippine Liberation Philippine Presidential Unit Citation Navy Occupation Service	Navy Presidential Unit Citation

Post War Notes - October to December 1945
Dates	Post War Notes
Oct 3, 1945	Navy Press Release on the U.S.S. Essex CV 9: "The Fightingest Ship in the Navy" (Click item for the larger document)
Oct. 18, 1945	Granted 30 day leave to Nov. 18. Returned to Pittsburgh, Pa and married Catherine Marie Nash.
Nov. 18, 1945	Returned from leave to U.S.S. Essex CV-9

Leave and Wedding - Oct.1945 Jack's time of service aboard ship gave him the opportunity for first leave. On October 18th he was granted a thirty days furlough, and immediately left for Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It had been a year and a half since Jack had seen his family. This reunion was a true celebration. The war was over. Reunions with friends were tempered by the realization that everyone was not coming home. Jack's cousin, Bernie, had died when his B-17 was shot down over Germany. Jack assumed he would not be discharged from the Navy for at least another six months. He and Kitty were hoping to be married in January. The uncertainty of Jacks military status convinced them not to wait. Catherine Nash and John McKnight were married on October 31, 1945.

Jack (center) with friends October 1945

Kitty and Jack - Oct. 1945

Return to the Essex and Honorable Discharged - Nov. / Dec. 1945 Jack returned to the Essex on November 18th. Discharges began as the month ended, much earlier than expected. Jack's three years of service placed him in the first group for consideration. On December 3rd he and Cliff Jones were transferred to the Navy Reception Center in Sampson, New York for discharge. They made the cross country train trip east together. Jack was honorably discharged on December 16th and immediately returned home to Pittsburgh. For Jack the war and his military service were over. It was time to get on with his life with his new bride Kitty.

Dec. 16, 1945	Jack received an Honorable discharge and returned to his family in Pittsburgh, Pa.	(Click item for larger view)
Aug. 29, 1946	Jack was awarded a Presidential Unit Citation as a member of the crew of the U.S.S. Essex for "extraordinary heroism displayed by her crew in action against enemy Japanese forces in the Pacific War Area from 31 August 1943 to 15 August 1945."

Kitty, Jack and daughter Judi in 1949.

After the War Jack and Kitty remained in the Pittsburgh area, moving to the southern suburb of Bethel Park in the mid 1950s. They raised three children while Jack built a successful career in life insurance. He loved the Steelers, the Pirates, a cold beer, smoking his pipe and taking care of his lawn. As World War II gradually became a distant memory of another time, the memorabilia and photos of those days were

confined to an old shoebox. Jack rarely talked about his experiences durung the war , but on occasion the pride he felt for his service aboard the Essex came through. A Saturday afternoon television episode of "Victory at Sea" might result in a small story or comment about life aboard ship. Though little was said, the family knew about the Essex and the significance of the number "9". Jack worked hard to send his three children to college. In August of 1976 Jack was diagnosed with cancer of the pancreas and died three months later at the age of 55.

Jack and Kitty (Front) Children: Judi, Jack, Marilouise (Rear) August, 1976

Nov. 27, 1976

Jack passed away after thirty one years of marriage, three children and a successful career in business.

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