First Lieutenant Frank B. Walkup IV, U.S. Army

19 June 1983 – 16 June 2007

Frank Walkup IV of Woodbury, Tennessee was an extraordinary young man who had always planned to follow in his father’s (Army-Operation Desert Storm) and grandfather’s (Navy-Viet Nam) footsteps through military service. He participated in 4 years of JROTC in high school, and then 4 years of Army ROTC in the Rocky Top Battalion while attending The University of Tennessee, Knoxville from 2001 – 2005 when he commissioned as a 2LT upon graduation. Frank was married to his college sweetheart, also a UTK alumnus, Sabita Maharaj Walkup. Together they moved to Oahu Hawaii for his first duty station at Schofield Barracks after he completed Infantry Officer training and became a graduate of the prestigious Army Ranger school at Ft. Benning Georgia (now known as Ft. Moore). During his first deployment, platoon leader 1LT Walkup (aka Spartan 6) was killed in action on 16 June 2007 from an IED detonation while on dismounted patrol near Rashaad, Iraq.  He was the first alumnus of the Rocky Top Battalion to be killed in the global war on terrorism.

The Mountain Man Memorial March event is the result of Rocky Top Battalion cadets who, in memory of their fallen alumnus 1LT Walkup, donned their uniforms and ruck sacks in 2008 and completed a marathon ruck march of 26.2 miles through the mountains surrounding Gatlinburg, Tennessee.  The event has continued every year in April since that first march and has grown to become a tribute to all American heroes who have given the ultimate sacrifice while serving their country in all branches of the military.

Major Trevor Joseph, U.S. Army

May 7, 1986 - September 26, 2019

Major Trevor Joseph was the Commander of "Cajun DUSTOFF", the busiest Medevac unit in the United States Army, based out of Fort Polk, LA. 

On September 26, 2019, he was tragically killed during a rescue mission to extract an injured Soldier involved in a night training. 

Major Joseph was deployed twice to Afghanistan and during his second deployment, he and 3 crew members were awarded The Air Medal with Valor in combat for their extraordinary bravery & courage. This extraordinary mission was selected as the "Rescue of the Year," by the DUSTOFF Association.

Major Joseph's awards and decorations include the Air Medal with Valor, the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal, two Army Commendation Medals, the Combat Action Badge, the Parachutists Badge and the Senior Aviation Badge. 

Trevor was a 2008 graduate of the University of Tennessee. He is survived by his loving wife Erin and his devoted family.

 

The Air Medal can be awarded for valor in combat with a bronze letter "V" worn on the medal's ribbon and suspension. The "V" device is worn on decorations to represent heroism, which is an act that goes beyond what is normally expected during combat. The act must involve an enemy of the United States, or an opposing foreign or armed force, with personal risk and exposure to enemy hostilities.

Staff Sergeant Ryan Christian Knauss, U.S. Army

Army Staff Sergeant Ryan Christian Knauss was born on April 7, 1998, to his parents, Greg and Paula Knauss of Corryton, Tennessee. From his first push-up at birth with his 10 pound plus body, Ryan’s life purpose of serving in the military was evident. Many years of playing war games in the hills of Tennessee with his older brother, Tyler Christian Knauss, and numerous childhood friends, bolstered Ryan’s interest even more. With these endless hours of play in the fields and later online war games throughout Ryan’s teenage years, Ryan’s interest in the armed force branches continued throughout his childhood.

Upon moving from private schools to enter public high school at Gibbs High School in Corryton, Tennessee, Ryan focused on joining the JROTC cadet program to begin his physical and mental preparation to join the military upon his graduation. For four years, Ryan trained his body and mind to endure brutal personal workouts and eating regimens that shaped his lanky pre-teen body into a stronger young man by graduation. After receiving the Best Cadet of the Year award for 2015-2016 from Gibbs High School JROTC, Ryan enlisted in the Army in 2015 during his senior year in anticipation of entering basic training after high school graduation. In Ryan’s own words, “he wanted to do what he really wanted to do and be boots on the ground.”

After graduating high school in May of 2016, Ryan flourished under the Army’s intense trainings, deployments, and leadership. As an Infantry Soldier in basic training and then individual advance training followed by his graduation at Airborne School at Fort Benning, Georgia, Ryan was then assigned as a paratrooper for the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. In 2017-2018, Ryan was deployed as a gunner in Alpha Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team to Afghanistan in support of Operation Freedom Sentinel. After nine long months, Ryan finally returned home. Yet, Ryan wanted to do more for his country and push himself to be the best soldier that he could be.

Therefore, Ryan completed the intense Psychological Operations Assessment and Selection Course in 2019 and later PSYOP Qualification course and was assigned to the 9th Psychological Operations Battalion (Airborne) in August of 2020. This was quite a feat for a young man with only 4 years of military training. With great eagerness, Ryan then volunteered one year later to deploy back to Afghanistan to save lives on a humanitarian mission in support of the noncombatant evacuation operations in Kabul, Afghanistan in August of 2021.

On the afternoon of August 26, 2021, Army SSG Ryan Christian Knauss, age 23, along with 12 other young, brave United States military warriors and at least 170 civilians were killed by a terrorist explosion and subsequent gunfire at the Kabul Hamid Karzai International Airport Abbey Gate. The United States hasty withdrawal from Afghanistan after 20 years of fighting a war on terrorism left pain, anger, grief, and confusion for every person watching from around the world at the unnecessary loss of any life on this noncombatant mission.

With this in mind, The Respect and Remember Memorial Foundation, Inc, also known as R2Factor, seeks to encourage enlisting high school JROTC and college ROTC cadets entering the military with Merit Scholarships of Appreciation, Support Active Duty military personnel with Appreciation Events and Deployed Careboxes, and Partner with Other Military Organizations to offer Recreational Outlets and Events for Active Duty, Veterans, and GoldStar Families through Parades, Veteran and Fallen Rides, Outdoor Events, and seeking Policy Changes in the state and federal government agencies that improve life for Active Duty, Veterans, The Fallen, and GoldStar Families.  Join us as we honor Ryan and the many heroes of this great nation.

SSgt Tyler J. Sansonetti, U.S. Marine Corps

December 27, 1992 – March 21, 2022

Tyler grew up in Harrison City, Pennsylvania. He was athletic and enjoyed playing baseball, basketball, and various other sports throughout his childhood. He was known for his sense of humor and competitive spirit. He enlisted in the Marine Corps through the Delayed Entry Program when he was 17 and went to boot camp right after graduating from Penn-Trafford High School in 2011.

He was assigned to Kilo Company, 2d Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment, 2d Marine Division, at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Over his 11 years of service, he deployed multiple times, including to Greece, Italy, Bulgaria, the Red Sea, and the North Atlantic. He held several leadership positions within the Marine Corps, including section chief of his artillery unit and platoon sergeant for 1st Platoon, Fox Battery, 2d Battalion, 10th Marines, at Camp Lejeune.

Tyler died on March 21, 2022, while proudly serving his country. His legacy lives on through his family, friends, and comrades.

1LT Stephen Chase Prasnicki, U.S. Army

Hometown: Lexington, VA

Branch: U.S. Army

Unit: 4th Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team

Military Honors: Bronze Star, Army Commendation Medal, Purple Heart

Date of Sacrifice: June 27, 2012 - KIA in Maidan Shahr, Wardak province, Afghanistan

Age: 24

Conflict: War in Afghanistan, 2001-2021

Stephen Chase Prasnicki was born in Lexington, Virginia, on February 9, 1988. Nestled in the Shenandoah Valley, Lexington is home to the Virginia Military Institute (https://www.vmi.edu/)—the oldest state-supported military college in the United States.

Stephen, better known as “Chase” was an excellent student and standout quarterback at Rockbridge County High School in Lexington and was highly recruited by the time he graduated in 2006. His leadership abilities made him a natural for military service, and he received an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point (https://www.westpoint.edu/) after graduating high school.

While a cadet at West Point, Prasnicki played quarterback and safety for Army’s Black Knights football team. His wife Emily later recalled to CBS Sports, “On the football field, they called him ‘Nitro’ because he was just this full force of power and energy. He gave everything he had into every play he did, whether it was a practice or a game.”

After graduating in 2010, he served as a Graduate Assistant football coach at the U.S. Military Academy Preparatory School in Fort Monmouth, New Jersey.

Prasnicki graduated with honors from the Field Artillery Basic Officer Leaders Course, at Fort Sill (https://sill-www.army.mil/), Oklahoma in 2011. Prior to attending U.S. Army Ranger and Airborne Schools at Fort Benning (https://www.benning.army.mil/), Georgia, Chase was assigned briefly as an Army Recruiter in Rockbridge County, Virginia. He graduated from Ranger School in September 2011 and Airborne School in October 2011.

On November 26, 2011, Prasnicki married Emily Nichols of Yorktown, Virginia, at Langley Air Force Base (https://www.jble.af.mil/). The following day, he departed for his first duty assignment as an Army Ranger—with the 4th Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment, Airborne Brigade Combat Team (“Sky Soldiers”) stationed at U.S. Army Garrison Bamberg, Germany. Emily was able to join him in Bamberg in December 2011.

While stationed in Germany, First Lieutenant Prasnicki completed Army Pathfinder School. He was trained to provide navigational aid and advisory services to military aircraft.

In late June of 2012, Prasnicki and his team were deployed to Maiden Shar, Wardack province in Afghanistan. He was assigned as a platoon leader. His commander, Capt. Tom Feeney, commented that Prasnicki volunteered to go on patrol the moment he arrived in Wardak—making him “a commander’s dream platoon leader.”

Three days later, on June 27, 2012, was killed when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device. He was 24 years old and had been married to Emily for just seven months. Also killed in the attack was Sgt. James L. Skalberg Jr., 25, of Cullman, Alabama.

For his actions in defending his country, 1LT Stephen Chase Prasnicki was awarded a Bronze Star, Army Commendation Medal, and Purple Heart. He was laid to rest near his hometown in Buena Vista, Virginia.