By Desrae Gibby ’91, WPAOG staff
How the ring of a decorated Vietnam War hero will inspire the Class of 2027 through the Legacy Gold tradition.
When the Class of 2027 wears their rings, they will carry the gold from the ring worn by LTC Robert Knapp Jr. ’67 while on patrol in the Mekong Delta, as a tactical officer for the United States Corps of Cadets, and as the assistant athletic director at West Point and the Army Sprint Football head coach. His family said he never took it off. Wearing his gold will be a constant reminder of the soldier whose courage, devotion, and love for West Point exemplify the Long Gray Line.
Knapp’s story begins in 1942, born on a military base during World War II. His father, CPT Robert Knapp Sr., was preparing to deploy. CPT Knapp would distinguish himself, earning the Bronze Star for valor in the Battle of the Bulge. That legacy of service and sacrifice was instilled in Knapp early.
When asked why he chose West Point, Knapp answered: “I wanted to be a soldier, and since the best soldiers are forged at West Point, that’s where I went.” At the Academy, he threw himself into cadet life, playing sprint football and rugby and embracing the values of the institution he loved. For him, graduating from West Point was one of the greatest achievements of his life.
Only 16 months after graduation, Knapp was a company commander in combat. He served with the 4th Battalion (“Hardcore”), 39th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division, fighting in the notoriously dangerous Mekong Delta during 1968–69. These were battles of extraordinary intensity: riverine operations, unpredictable guerrilla warfare against the Viet Cong, ambushes, booby traps, mines and heavy losses. His battalion commander, LTC David Hackworth, one of the most decorated soldiers of the war, described Knapp in Steel My Soldiers’ Hearts as “a stud,” “an inspiring, dynamic leader,” “a hard-charging West Point jock whose men loved him,” and “the type of officer you would follow through Hell.” That kind of leadership is rare, and it speaks to the trust and devotion Knapp inspired in his men.
Knapp’s heroism was recognized with two Silver Stars and five Bronze Stars (two for valor). Receiving four valor awards hints at the courage he displayed in the crucible of combat. They mark a man who led from the front, bore the weight of command, and never wavered in his duty.
After the war, Knapp continued to serve. In 1976, he returned to West Point as a tactical officer for Company B-3, guiding new generations of cadets. He returned again in 1982 as the assistant athletic director and head coach of the Sprint Football Team.
For the Class of 2027, wearing a ring that carries gold from LTC Knapp’s ring is a living connection to a soldier who embodied the ideals of West Point with courage in battle, devotion to his men, and lifelong commitment to the Academy. To wear the ring of Robert Knapp Jr. is to carry forward his legacy, be inspired by his heroism, be humbled by his sacrifice, and be reminded that the gold represents the enduring spirit of West Point and the soldiers it forges.
Read LTC Robert Knapp Jr. Memorial Page
Learn more about WPAOG’s Class Ring Memorial Program and how LTC (R) Ron Turner ’58 came up with the idea in 1999.
Live Stream: The link for the live stream will be shared on social media at a later date.
