Brigadier General Joseph Knotts, USMC, Commanding General 7th Marine Brigade
Marine Corps general and decorated war veteran Joseph “Joe” Knotts received a degree from Fairmont State College and master’s degree in public administration from the Army War College in Carlisle, Pa. While in the U.S. Marines, he served three tours of duty in Vietnam.
During his second tour of duty, he was assigned to the Third Marine Division where he served as the S-3, Ninth Marines and commanding officer. After his return from Vietnam in 1969, he was an instructor at the Amphibious Warfare School in Quantico, Va.
In 1981, he was promoted to brigadier general and was Commanding General, Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center/Commanding General, Seventh Marine Amphibious Brigade in Twenty-Nine Palms, Calif. At the time of his retirement, he was the commanding general at the Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune, N.C. He retired in 1986 after 34 years of service to his country.
Gen. Knotts’ decorations and awards included the Legion of Merit with Combat “V”; Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V”; and gold star in lieu of second award; Purple Heart; Combat Action Ribbon; Presidential Unit Citation (Army); Navy Unit Commendation; Meritorious Unit Commendation and numerous other medals.
He had a wife, Marilee Montana-Knotts; daughters, Kathleen Jacobsen of Salisbury, Mass., Michele Gurd of Norwood, Pa., and Carol Richer of Winchester, Va.; son, Joseph B. Knotts Jr. of Cathedral City, Calif.; stepdaughter, Trudy M. Johnston of Rancho Mirage, Calif.; stepson, Russell Young of Helix, Ore; 11 grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
