U.S. Army Special Operations Command honors last Fort Bragg soldier killed in Afghanistan

FORT BRAGG — The family of 23-year-old Staff Sgt. Ryan Knauss traced the letters of his name on the U.S. Army Special Operations Command's memorial wall Thursday at Fort Bragg.  

Knauss, who died Aug. 26 during the withdrawal of American troops and Afghans from Afghanistan, is one of more than 1,242 USASOC soldiers who have died globally while in service to the U.S. 

A soldier with the 1st Special Forces Command, 9th Battalion, 8th Psychological Operations Group, Knauss' name is the 378th to be added to the wall of soldiers who served during the nearly 20-year war in Afghanistan, said Lt. Gen. Jonathan Braga, commander of the U.S. Army Special Operations Command.  

Knauss was the last Fort Bragg soldier to die in Afghanistan during the Global War on Terror.  

He was among 13 troops, including Camp Lejeune Marine Sgt. Nicole L. Gee, 10 other Marines, and a Navy corpsman, killed by a suicide bomber as U.S. and coalition forces tried to secure the airport for the evacuations.   

Knauss’ father and stepmother, Greg and Linnae Knauss, were surrounded by dozens of other Gold Star families Thursday whose loved one’s names are on the wall.

Greg Knauss said his son was a “fun guy” who always had a smile on his face.  

“One of his big things was looking cool with his unit,” Greg Knauss said. “He was all about trying to be the best — fitness-wise, or in his classes.”

Related reporting:

• Army IDs decorated Fort Bragg soldier killed in Afghanistan suicide bombing
• Investigation gives service member accounts of Afghanistan evacuation
• Remembering Corryton's Ryan Knauss, who 'loved his country and the Afghan people'

Knauss, who grew up in Corryton, Tennessee, was in junior ROTC and told his parents between his junior and senior year that he wanted to join the Army.  

Shortly after graduating from Gibbs High School in 2016, he “shipped out to boot camp,” his father said.  

Knauss first deployed to Afghanistan with the 2nd Battalion, 501st Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division as an infantryman and went through the psychological operations assessment and selection course after returning from the deployment.  

“Ryan loved what he was doing,” Greg Knauss said. He found his niche in (psychological operations.)” 

Braga said Knauss was compassionate, mature and trustworthy.  

“Throughout his military career, he never desired to be second at anything,” Braga said.

Knauss’ team leader shared a story earlier this week about how Knauss was an honor graduate and disappointed that he wasn’t a distinguished honor graduate, though he earned the Iron Man award for fitness.  

Braga said Knauss' attitude was “manifested” by those he served alongside, including the 75th Ranger Regiment.  

“His love for being a soldier was only surpassed by his love for his family and his wife Alena,” Braga said.  

Alena and Knauss’ mother Paula Knauss-Selph were unable to attend Thursday’s ceremony.  

Braga said Knauss volunteered for the rapid deployment to Afghanistan in August.  

“He was determined to be part of the humanitarian effort that was getting underway,” Braga said.  

He said Knauss' orders to deploy to Afghanistan were originally changed, and he was told he was going. 

Knauss' task sergeant said it was the first time he'd ever seen Knauss angry, Braga said.  

“Ryan did not give up,” Braga said. “He was determined as ever, determined to go. He did not relent until he had his orders to Afghanistan. His relentless determination to serve is the epitome of courage, selflessness, (and) personal sacrifice. “  

Braga told Knauss’ family and the other Gold Star families at the ceremony that during the past 20 years of combat across the globe, their loved ones and other Army special operations forces kept the homeland safe.  

He referenced a sign in his home that reads: “A true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him but because he loves what’s behind him.”  

He told the soldiers present that they must honor the memories of the fallen soldiers “to the fullest” each and every day.  

“We honor them and our Gold Star families by holding ourselves to the same standard of excellence that our fallen did when they gave their last full measure of devotion to their families, to their teammates and to this great nation,” Braga said.