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The Son and Grandson of a Knight
The Son and Grandson of a Knight
by Karl M. Kindt III & Karl M. Kindt IV
by Karl M. Kindt III & Karl M. Kindt IV
son of Karl M. Kindt II
son of Karl M. Kindt II
and grandson of Karl M. Kindt II - Karl M. Kindt IV
He was a machine gunner, the target of many Nazi shells and bullets as he fought to free the men, women and children being exterminated in the gas chambers of a truly evil empire. He was my father, Karl M. Kindt II. Although his time in battle only lasted from mid-March of 1945 to mid-April, his company covered nearly 400 miles on foot as the 3rd Division, Company M smoked its way through one Nazi strong hold after another. But on April 12, 1945, at the age of 21, he was killed. I was still in my mother’s womb, not to be born until July 8, 1945.
Before departing for the front lines he knew his young wife was with child, that he might be killed and never have the opportunity to train up his child in the way he should go.
He arranged to have delivered, on the day I was delivered, a dozen red roses and a letter addressed to me. This letter has had a big impact on my life, for in it he tells me that if he does not return from these battles, he counts it as a high honor to give his life to defend the liberty of his new wife and to defend me against the tyranny of an evil that had taken root in our world.
I have read it thousands of times. It is printed below.
My stepfather, John Prescott, had been a Marine in World War II. He and my mother taught me to respect the memory of my natural father. In fact, my Dad Prescott wrote a letter to my mother when he heard my Dad Kindt was killed in which he expressed his concern for us. I thought of my father and my step-father as a knights in shining armor who had, like the knights of old, fought dragons of evil to defend my mother and myself and so many others. One father lost his life in the strife, the other survived and dedicated his life to being a man of chivalry for my mother and for me.
My brave step-father John Prescott who was a Marine in WWII and who stepped in to be my Dad all of my life and provided me with the resources and guidance in life that I needed.
The Letter of a Knight to His Son the below letter was written by my Dad Karl M. Kindt II and give to his mother to be delivered to my mother's hospital room on the day of my birth.
1945
To the New one:
We, your mother and I, thank God that you are here. We promised God, to do our very best in your nurture and development. We will care for pray for your good as long as we are able. Your life, is our life and joy. Wherever I may be when you are read this, smile just a little, and always remember that you have, "THE BEST," mother in the world. If I should fail in my duty, to return to her, I want you, to take my place at her side. But don’t be dismayed, for it would be a high honor to give my life for the most sweetest, most beautiful woman in existence!!, so that she may live in peace and security. But why be so gloomy - I’ll return and when I do I want to see you strong and healthy and I want you to mind your mother. All my love to you Suzy, give some of my love to "The new one" too.
Love
Doc
As I grew to adulthood, I became convinced that God heard my Dad’s prayers and has protected me many times from many different dangers. I framed his letter to me and the wedding picture of my mom and dad and have placed it on my wall in my office to remind myself every day that I owe my life to this young knight, his prayers and to the King of Kings, Jesus Christ, the Prince of our Peace. My young father firmly believed Jesus was his King and he fought the evil of his day for me and my mother and our world in the name of his Lord. Like a crusading knight he marched off to war, his machine gun his sword, his helmet his armor, his heart a knightly heart turned toward the right and a righteous cause.
Ever since I was a young boy, I wanted to know about the battles my dad had fought and how he was killed. I wanted to visit the places where he fought those battles and where he actually shed his blood in the defense of liberty and justice. But no one in my family knew any of this. So I started a search for this information - a search for those who fought with my dad on those final days of World War II. He was in the 3rd division of the Seventh Army - the 15th infantry. I knew all of this and I found from books where this battalion had fought in March and April of 1945 when my dad was on the front lines. But this battalion was spread out over many, many miles of German soil and it was not possible to determine exactly where my father was on any given day or in any given place from the books.
This past year I found, through the information highway, using a modem, a group of men who were actually in the 3rd division and through this group, I found one man who knew my father before they both went to the front lines and who was fighting alongside him on the day my dad was killed. Mr. William K. Wayne of Seneca, New York told me the details I needed to actually go and visit the places where my father fought and died for us.
April 1995 was fast approaching and I wanted to make my trip to these places before the 50th anniversary of his death. I made arrangements to take my vacation in late March and early April of 1995 so that I could actually be in the towns and villages of Germany on the precise days my father fought in those places 50 years before. The trip was quite meaningful to me. I stood on the roads my dad marched on and viewed the scenery his youthful eyes beheld. I came to the exact place where the artillery shell had killed my father and will never need the photograph I took of that place to remember it for it is emblazoned on my heart. From this place of his death I then traveled 500 miles to
St. Avold, France and the Lorraine Cemetery where my father’s body was buried. There amongst over 10,000 other graves of young knights I placed my roses on his grave, I prayed to our Father in Heaven to thank Him for having had such a courageous and loving earthly father and to inspire me to live henceforth a renewed and dedicated life to my King and Lord Jesus Christ.
Upon returning home, I pondered the idea of becoming a knight. One evening, while thinking and praying about my life, I determined to dedicate the rest of my life as a knight who would, by the grace of God, be a chivalrous man and serve the cause of righteousness in the name and power of Jesus Christ my King - just as my own father had done in his generation.
The idea of actually having armor made for myself for this purpose also came to me. The armor has proved to be expensive but useful in drawing attention to the need in our society for men who are dedicated to the cause of truth, justice, to their wives and to the King of all Kings who loves us all.
So I decided to contract with an armourer in Idaho to make the armor for me. His name is Christian Fletcher. He has a Web page on the Internet. I have now worn the armor in service to over 70 lords and ladies, cub scouts, schools, churches, at weddings, for store promotionals, walking in the March of Dimes, to the Crippled Children's Hospital, to the Juvenile Detention Center - everywhere taking the message of chivalry and the true stories of knights of old and of our own age.
The armor he has created for me is in exact replication of a suit of armor that may have been worn by a knight errant. This type of armor was usually worn by a knight who did not have a permanent earthly lord, but instead traveled from place to place to work for those in need of knightly services. It weighs 82 pounds and is made of the same kind of steel that was used in the medieval times. Besides being a beautiful work of art, it is highly functional and protects this humble knight against the slings and arrows of 20th of the twentieth century in which he seeks to render faithful service. Making certain that I donate some of my time to charitable causes on behalf of children, women and the families of victims of crime, I am also working with others to build a castle here in Missouri that will replicate one of the castles in Wales. A fully functional medieval castle with moat, drawbridge and a medieval village surrounding it, this will be called the Castle of Chivalry and Justice. Shining brightly on one of our Missouri hills, it will stand as a beacon light in the promotion of chivalry and justice. Educators and their students may come here to stay and learn about how life was different a thousand years ago. Wandering through the great hall, the chapel and the medieval shops that will surround the castle, visitors will find a place where the right is right and wrong is wrong and there is no confusion about what it means to be a just and chivalrous person in all times. Here will be a Camelot that will stand not for one brief shining moment, but we pray, until the kingdom comes on earth as it is in Heaven. Here will be a place, dedicated to the cause of truth and justice and the ancient code of chivalry where one may go to experience a simpler age where those honored are the men who have been chivalrous and faithful to their word of honor to wife and family and where those lifted up for emulation are men and boys who treat women and girls with the greatest respect and concern. The castle will be dedicated in memory of my knightly father, in honor to by knightly step-father and in memory of all knights who have ever served others faithfully, even unto death.
NBC’s Inside Edition televison show heard about my effort to honor my father’s knightly sacrifice and came to St. Louis with their camera. The photograph of my father printed above is the actual image of him that was shown on NBC national television in 1996 to millions of Americans. It was a very satisifying day when his memory was honored in the hearts of so many. I thank God for those who are grateful for the sacrifice my knightly father made for the liberty and justice of others.
HIRE a knight to do what?
Have armor, will travel
Though most knights have long since become the legends of history, by God’s grace and in the name of my King, I have become a knight here in St. Louis, determined to continue in the tradition and the occupation of knightly service. My pledge is a guarantee of satisfaction so that no fees are paid unless my services are performed to your satisfaction. God willing, I will come to serve you wearing two kinds of armor - that made of steel and made by man as well as that made of promises fulfilled by the King of Kings. A copy of the ancient oath of the knight and the ancient prayer for his sword are included in this information and are a part of the code of chivalry that requires me to render humble service to those who call upon me to work for them as their knight.
References provided include:
NBC’s Inside Edition, the St. Louis Post Dispatch feature writer Reshma Yaqub, Channel 2’s Jeanna Curry and Show Me St. Louis’s John Perzborne as well as over 50 school teachers and principals, many parents of children at whose birthday parties I have served, brides and grooms who have hired me to be present at their weddings and receptions, dozens of cub scout leaders who have hired me to come to scout meetings, the director of the Oasis program, the dean of the Fontbonne College Options program, professor Annabarbara Sakurai of Webster University, the St. Louis County Juvenile Court social work staff, the social worker at the Edgewood Children’s Home, the social director of the Shriner’s Hospital for Crippled Children, the chairman of the March of Dimes, Chuck Norman, John Carney of WIBV Radio and the chairman of the VP parade.
Typical Errands Rendered as a Knight
Present the good news about the King of Kings and the victory He has won for us over sin and death as well as describe His Kingdom and the armor He provides to all who will have it.
teach about the history of knighthood and the middle ages (this knight is a teacher and has taught these unusual but uplifting lessons in over 70 schools from K through High School and at some Universities)
demonstrate some knightly methods of fighting for justice for the oppressed
walk through an area to provide publicity regarding some event
provide photo opportunities for a group of persons who desire a photo with a knight
deliver special gifts or messages
lend a sense of security to your place
learn how to become a knight yourself, including how to procure your own armor and chivalry
entertain with medieval poems and stories of valor
fight for the rights of someone you know who has been the victim of a crime (the sword used will not be one of steel but of assisting you politically and in finding a legal and just remedy)
lessons about knighthood at church camps
finding someone you care for but with whom you have lost contact
escort you and your date or group to and from a function
stand sentry by your door for security and publicity
serve for free in some circumstances where chivalry demands it
wedding rehearsal dinners whereat I teach Sir Gawain and the Loathly Lady
teach the lessons of chivalry regarding morals, ethics and being a gentleman
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