Large Scale Central

Ed Knoebel

General Discussion
#1

For those of you who might have heard of Ed, a fellow large-scale model railroader, Ed passed away in his sleep Saturday at the age of 87.

Ed was one of a very small handful of Alaskan large-scale model rail enthusiasts and the only one I know of who actually built one outside on the ground. For several years in the late 90s until last year Ed pursued that hobby. He was a member of the American Legion. In that capacity, he was one of four Legion members who raised the flag for me on my then brand-new 35 foot flag pole for the dedication ceremony of my original large scale model railroad in May 2001.

Ed was a U.S. Navy WW II veteran who was on a nearby ship when the Yorktown went down in the Pacific. He was a long-time Alaskan and someone I have known for three decades.

Large scale model railroading obviously gave Ed many, many hours of satisfaction. I KNOW it added considerable quality of life to his latter years. He LOVED talking about his latest achievements on that layout, which ultimately migrated inside and overhead. It completely dominated his home. In the last few years I began purchasing track and railroad rolling stock from Ed. My last purchase was an 8-foot bridge I have featured in posts on a large-scale forum. It was very sad for me realizing that I was hauling off pieces of his much-treasured railroad because Ed had decided he could no longer operate it. On the other hand, I was pleased that Ed was able to gain a small income off of my purchases at a time he no doubt needed the funds.

Ed had several remote-control battery conversions done for him by Dave Goodson over the years. I purchased two of those conversions from him. Dave was kind enough to spend some time with Ed at the hospital in Seattle just a few weeks ago.

Ed will be missed by many of us. His memory will always be associated with the hobby of his latter years that he greatly loved.

#2

He was also on Hornet when Doolittle launched his raid.

Last couple of times he’s been medi-vac’d to Seattle VA, I’ve gone down to see him.
Had him driven out to one of our ops sessions a couple of years ago when he was at the VA.

#3

RIP!

#4

He was a multiple-Purple Heart awardee.
He told me last I saw him, he was in a gun tub, one of 9, when a Japanese exploding shell went off in the tub, and then they got strafed.

Out of those 9, 8 were dead.
He limped away to Sick Bay.
They laid him out, to remove shrapnel, and looked at his dungarees.
When the shell knocked him down, the strafing went through the leg of his dungarees where they were extended out, flat, past his leg.

Bullet holes, stitched through both layers of dungarees, right down his leg, yet missed him.

I think it was 4 years ago the Gummint decided that they “owed” him the back PH pay wartime veterans were supposed to get.

For years he was the American Legion Staff Officer, drove the vets to their Dr appt’s in Anchorage.

Several years ago, when they had the big fires in the Yukon, there was a big air show in Anchorage with a bunch of Warbirds.
The fighters used the lone B-25 as the navigation plane, yet they were not allowed to fly through the smoke.
So, they were “grounded”.

He dropped off the vets at the VA, went to his favorite grocery store for a soda, was sitting on his favourite bench out front, when the store owner came out with 5 guys in leather jackets, pointed at ED, and said “That’s HIM!”

He figured he was in for a fight…but these guys were the crew off the B-25, and had heard Ed was on Hornet when Doolittle launched.

Folks who have been through the fire…

He told me when I saw him last, he was not afraid to go.

#5

Requiescat in Pace

Ron,

Please let Ed’s family know that we appreciate his service to our country.

Sincerely,

Joe Satnik

Edit: spelling

#6

Wow, don’t make 'em like we used to…

Ed, enjoy your rest.

#7

Sad to hear.

#8
Curmudgeon said:
He was a multiple-Purple Heart awardee.
For me this said it all ! Can't say much beyond that other than old guys rule and we can learn and have learned so much from them! I hate to seem them go! :(
#9

Neat story Ron, thanks for the post.

#10

I salute a veteran who gave his all for this country. Honor says it all.

Not too many left from the old school.

#11

Thank you Ron, and Dave…for caring…

#12

RIP all you good gentlemen of WW2. My stepfather served in that war and in Korea. I served with a bunch of them in the Navy in the early 60’s. I worked with a lot of them at Fort Ord in the 60’s and 70’s. Many of them walked the Death March in WW2 and did time as POW’s. All of them were better men than me. They used to fly the old bombers over the Monterey Peninsula here for General Doolittle once a year. I really miss that. Yet, to this day our young men and women still shed their blood and lives for us in far away places. Where do we find people like this? We are fortunate to be Americans.

#13

Ron, it is nice and proper to post his passing amongst people that appreciate what he did for Freedom and that he got enjoyment from this hobby. May he rest in peace with honor.

#14

RIP Ed, and thanks for your service.

Thanks for the posts, Ron and Dave.

#15

WWII vets are becoming few and far between. My father was one that we lost in the spring of this year at 89 years old. May Ed, my father , and all the other great gentlemen that gave their service to us in ‘the big one’ rest in peace and never be forgotten.