Thomas W. Knuckey was born on June 2, 1945, to William and Mary Knuckey. His home of record is Wharton, NJ. Thomas had one sister, Jill. He was a 1963 graduate of Roxbury High School. His interests included softball and golf. In high school, he participated in football, baseball and track. He was a member of the Bowling team, the Nature Club and Science Club.

After high school, Thomas attended and graduated from Northeastern University in 1969. After college he entered the US Army where he attained the rank of First Lieutenant (1LT) and served in the 3rd Squadron, 17th Air Cavalry.

Knuckey was listed as missing in action on May 27, 1971, in Cambodia. His remains were repatriated on February 26, 1993, and identified on August 2, 1993. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Knuckey received the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star, Air Medal, the Purple Heart and various Vietnam medals and ribbons.

Synopsis (from the POW Network) as to the circumstances behind being listed as MIA:
On May 27, 1971, 1Lt. Thomas Knuckey was the pilot and Sgt. Phillip C. Taylor the observer on board an OH58A helicopter which was part of a force conducting battle damage assessment in Krache Province, Cambodia, where air strikes had been made in attempts to destroy an enemy machine gun position. The location of the gun emplacement was near the border of Cambodia and South Vietnam, about 8 miles southeast of the city of Snuol.

During Knuckey’s final pass over the gun emplacement, his aircraft was hit by enemy ground fire, and exploded while still in flight. The helicopter then crashed and exploded a second time and burned. Witnesses reported that the crew could not have survived. Because of heavy enemy activity in the area, a ground search was not possible.

Source: William Knuckey (father), Jill Rendell (sister), POW Network and NJVVMF.
12/17/2024