Raphael J. Knobbe

Korean War

Raphael Knobbe was born on January 18, 1929, near Breda, IA to Joseph and Rose (Schierholt) Knobbe. Joseph Knobbe died in 1939. Raphael attended school in Breda and graduated with the St. Bernard High School class of 1946. He later worked on the family farm.

On January 4, 1951, Raphael was drafted into the US Army with 15 other Carroll County men. He was assigned serial number 55 076 910. He was sent to Fort Riley, KS for basic training. By May 23, 1951, his training was completed and he was being sent overseas.

The war in Korea was occupying a large part of the US Army. There were those that felt the Korean War was a diversion by the Soviet Union to shield a potential Soviet invasion of Western Europe. The US Army occupation of Germany was still in force at this time but the decision was made to increase troop strength in Germany.

When Raphael arrived, he was assigned to the 520th Military Police Stockade Detachment at Nuremberg, Germany. This had been the site of the War Criminal Trials after World War II. Raphael’s arrival also coincided with the controversial premature release of a number of individuals convicted by the Trials. Raphael’s duties would have likely been focused on US troops being held for various infractions.

By Christmas, 1951, Raphael had been promoted to PFC (private first class). He continued at this post through 1952. He was discharged from the US Army on December 26, 1952, after 18 months service in Germany.

On February 10, 1953, Raphael was married to Virginia (Gin) Renze at Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Carroll, IA. The couple moved to a farm northwest of Templeton where they lived for the rest of Raphael’s life.

Raphael died in Carroll, IA on January 31, 1991 at age 62. He was buried in Sacred Heart Cemetery in Templeton.