Wednesday, January 7, 2004 11:31 AM CST Parkersburg councilman called to Middle East By JESSICA MILLER, Courier Staff Writer PARKERSBURG --- Working full time for the U.S. Army Reserve, Klint Knock thought the chances he would receive orders to leave were low. But three days before Christmas, the active reservist with the 445th Transportation Co. based in Waterloo got word he would be cross-leveled. That means the soldiers are called to fill gaps in other activated units. So far, about 45 reservists with the 445th have been cross-leveled to nine different units. "We were very surprised when he got the orders," Klint's wife, Leah, said. "It wasn't a very enjoyable Christmas." Klint Knock left for Omaha Dec. 27 to become truck master of the 172nd Transportation Co. in Nebraska. He is in Omaha exercising with other reservists before heading to Fort Riley in Kansas and eventually the Middle East. That presents something of a dilemma for the Parkersburg City Council. Besides being a reservist, Knock is also Parkersburg's newest councilman. And he could be gone as long as two years. Knock discussed his situation with the mayor and council members, who reportedly supported his required duty. "They didn't have a problem with that. When the country calls, you need to go," Knock said Tuesday from Omaha. So just before he left for Omaha, Knock was sworn in. The Parkersburg native, however, has yet to attend his first council meeting. "It was kind of a shock, but it happens," City Clerk Gary Hinders said. Knock wanted to run for the council in the past, and last fall he finally turned in his nomination papers on time. He received the most votes in an election for three council seats. "I am very interested in our city. I need to spend some more time with City Council members and see how they operate," Knock said. He'd also like to hear more from citizens. But all of that will have to wait. City Council members voted Monday to appoint Harlan Johnson to serve temporarily in Knock's place. Johnson was a council member 28 years ago but failed to garner enough votes to retake a seat in the November election. "They figured with (Johnson's) experience he would be a good fill-in," Hinders said. Knock is the fourth full-time officer to be sent from the 445th Transportation Co. in Waterloo, leaving Staff Sgt. Gary Lampien to handle administrative duties at the Reserve office on Burton Avenue. Because truck drivers are in short supply, the 445th Transportation Co. has been deployed in pieces since Operation Enduring Freedom and military actions in Iraq began While Knock serves overseas, his wife will move forward with reopening the Hallmark store in downtown Parkersburg. She'll also be raising the couple's children, Abigail, 6, and Morgan, 3. She hopes to open the store, Leah's Gift and Card Shop, on Feb. 1. "It will make the time go quicker, hopefully," she said. Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier ----------------------------- Tuesday, April 5, 2005 12:02 PM CDT Parkersburg welcomes home soldier, father and husband By JESSICA MILLER, Courier Staff Writers PARKERSBURG --- Three miles from town, the blue water tower came into focus. "Home, sweet home," Klint Knock said. His daughter, Abigail, 8, and son, Morgan, 4, laughed. "Home, sweet home. Home, sweet home," the kids echoed. Knock has repeated the phrase often since returning to Parkersburg on Saturday. He is a member of the Iowa National Guard and spent the last 13 months in Kuwait. He worked full time at the 445th Transportation Company in Waterloo and left for Omaha on Dec. 27 to become truck master of the 172nd Transportation Company in Nebraska. He spent about two months training in the United States before that unit deployed to Camp Navistar on the Kuwait side of the Iraqi border. "It's quite an experience spending that long of a duration away from family," Knock said Monday. Abigail turned 7 and then 8, and Morgan turned 4, without Dad. Leah opened a store, Leah's Gift and Card Shop, in Parkersburg. "It was a tough year for her as a mom," said Marilyn Ingalls, Leah's mother. "I am very proud of how she handled everything. She learned a lot in one year's time." Through the absence, Morgan asked daily when his father would come home. Leah hung a paper chain counting down the days the last two months to help the children understand the sense of time. Though Knock is a career military man, going to the Middle East was the first time he was deployed overseas. He was able to send daily e-mails except when out on missions. He filled in where needed on convoys throughout Iraq. "Those were long days," Leah said. Knock said most of the trips went off without conflict and all members of the 172nd came home alive. The Omaha unit left Kuwait on March 26. They had a homecoming ceremony Thursday. After the recognition, the Knock family walked down to be reunited. Morgan looked up at his father in wonder, Ingalls recalled. "The expression on his face was like looking at Santa Claus and realizing Santa Claus is real," she said. Ingalls told the children that their father will be there every night now. "He's been gone 15 months. It's hard to grasp that Daddy will be here," Ingalls said. It's begun to sink in. "I'm so glad Daddy is home." Morgan tells his family. Knock was elected to the Parkersburg City Council before deployment. He returned to his seat Monday. With 30 days off before returning to duty and his position with the 445th, Knock and his family will vacation in Wisconsin. In the meantime, he is looking forward to simple things like mowing the grass and finishing home projects. "I'm glad to be home." Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier -----------------------------