Grace McKnight
Interviewed by Nancy McKnight Smith
GMcK: This is March 4, 2000. My name is Grace McKnight. I’m the wife of Colonel David T. McKnight. Here are my recollections from August 42 to September 44. Dave started training on a B-17 on a base near Seabring, Florida. There he met Bill Lindley who was one of the 95th and a long time friend. While he was finishing the course, we stayed in a hotel with no air conditioning during August. Big cockroaches there - the first I’d seen.
When he finished training there, we drove to Skaneateles, New York, my home town where we would remain for the duration of the war. Dave flew back west for more training.
Meanwhile, Nancy and I were welcomed at my family’s dairy farm which produced Guernsey milk to be delivered retail. It was a country home with plenty of room for us to move into. Later I realized how lucky I was. There I could help out wherever I was needed. Best of all, I could be a companion and a help to my mother who kept house and meals on the table for 5 or 6 men every day and that Nancy could get to know her Grandmother after being away 2 years in Canada.
When Dave finished training he was to be in West Palm Beach, Florida. Before leaving for England, Dave’s folks secured train tickets and we and Nancy met him there for one night before he left for England. One night to say good-bye. We returned space available in the aisle along with a crowd of GIs.
Nancy and I returned to the farm for the duration of the war with little knowledge of what was going on in England and Germany. Radio and two newspapers a day didn’t have pictures or much news of the war. Dave wrote that he was OK and I tried to send him things like butter and cigars. The butter we made at the farm and I thought quite good. I had learned how to pack it but the rancid smell arrived before the butter. However, I did get praise for sending the best cigars I could get at the local drug store. This brought a quick “thanks” and “send more”.
Best of all was word that he was on the way home.