John Joe McKnight Jr.

John Joe McKnight, Jr., a proud veteran Recon Marine, departed on his last earthbound patrol 27 August, 2016, due to complications of COPD and pneumonia. Joe enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1967 and was discharged in 1969. Joe was deployed to Vietnam where he was assigned to A Company, 3rd Recon Battalion, and attached to 1/26th Marines. He was directly exposed to the herbicide Agent Orange and also suffered other injuries, resulting in the award of five (5) Purple Hearts. Joe's time in Vietnam ultimately resulted in a disability rating of 100%.

He was known as Joe to his family and as “Mac” to his co-workers. Joe was born in Houston, Texas on 10 November, 1946. November 10 is also the birth date of the Marine Corps. He graduated from South Houston High School and attended the University of Houston until he enlisted in the U. S. Marine Corps. As a UH freshman, he met the love of his life and wife of 46 years, Jackie Zager. After 44 years, Joe retired from Valero Energy - Houston Refinery in 2013.

Joe was a member of The Texas Society Sons of the American Revolution, NRA, the 100 Club of Houston, the Great Pyrenees Club of America, the Smithsonian Institution, and was a lifetime member of the UH Alumni Association.

Joe’s favorite hobbies were working with computers, photography, reading, and travel. He and Jackie made several trips to Europe and across the USA including one of his favorite locations, Las Vegas. He spent many hours doing ancestry searches for both his family and Jackie’s family. His favorite books were WWII history and Science Fiction. Unknown to many, Joe received his private pilot’s license when he was 16 and received his instrument rating after returning from Vietnam.

Joe was preceded in death by his father, John Joe McKnight of Wills Point, Texas, his mother, Adele (Dorothy) Shinn McKnight of Beeville, Texas, and mother-in-law, Evelyn Zager of McAllen, Texas (she loved Joe like a son and he loved her as a second mother).

He is survived by his wife, Jackie, of Houston, father-in-law, T. G. Zager of McAllen, Texas, sister-in-law, Sandy Zager of Houston, and numerous cousins and friends.

A memorial celebration of his life will be held on Friday, 16 September, 2016, 10:00 a.m. at Brookside Funeral Home, 13747 Eastex Freeway, Houston, Texas 77038 with an inurnment and military honors, 11:30 a.m. at the Houston National Cemetery, 10410 Veterans Memorial Drive, Houston, Texas 77038.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his name to the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation (3800 Fettler Park Drive, Suite 104, Dumfries, VA 22025, 1-800-397-7585), which proudly supports the National Museum of the Marine Corps.

“Once a Marine, always a Marine. Semper Fi.”