Wallen McKnight, District #7, is the Choctaw Nation’s Veteran of the Month.
Sgt. McKnight was born and raised in Darwin, Oklahoma, attending Sugar Loaf and graduating from Antlers High School.
Following graduation, he joined the U.S. Air Force, completed basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Tex., and began his service as a Munitions Specialist. He served honorably from 1954 to 1958 as an E-7, then joined the U.S. Army in 1961, where he served as a tank driver. He served for 20 years and was discharged as an E-7.
Sgt. McKnight served three tours of duty in Germany, Korea, and Okinawa, and served stateside in various places, including Fort Chaffe, Ark., and Fort Carson, Colo., his preferred assignment duty site. He received numerous honors and decorations, including the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star, the Army Combat Award, four Good Conduct Medals, and Marksmanship badges for rifles and pistols.
Upon returning to Oklahoma, he worked with the Department of Corrections for 17 years, retiring in 1996.
He and his wife, Betty, have been married for 63 years, are proud parents of Wallen Dale, Melissa, and Rodney, and have numerous grandchildren. He has expressed deep appreciation for the lifelong support of the Choctaw Nation and the U.S. Army.
The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma holds our Veterans in the highest esteem and appreciates their sacrifices and contributions to preserve our freedoms and the way of life we hold dear.