Staff Sergeant Ryan Knauss

Staff Sergeant Ryan Knauss of Fort Bragg, N.C. was born and raised in Corryton, Tennessee by his parents and one brother. He attended Gibbs High School and graduated in May of 2016. SSG Knauss enlisted in the U.S. Army in September of 2016 as an Infantry Soldier and attended Basic Training (BCT) and Advanced Individual Training (AIT) at Fort Benning, Georgia. He then went on to Airborne School in Georgia and was awarded the title of paratrooper. SSG Knauss was then assigned to 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team in Fort Bragg, N.C. where he served as a gunner. While assigned to the 501st he deployed as a Gunner in support of OPERATION FREEDOM’S SENTINEL from 2017-2018 to Afghanistan. He then re-classed to a Psychological Operations Sergeant and was re-assigned to 9th Psychological Operations Battalion (Airborne) in support of Noncombatant Evacuation Operations in Afghanistan August of 2021. SSG Knauss attended VMR2 Handheld Detector Training, Tactical Information Operations Course, Security Force assistance Foreign Weapon’s Course, Sere High Risk, Psychological Operations Selection and Qualification, Open Source Intelligence Course, Language Training, Water Survival Training, Combat Life Savers Course, Basic Leaders Course where he graduated as distinguished honor graduate, AN/PRC 117 Radio Operator Course, Airborne School, and Advanced Leaders Course where he graduated on the Commandant’s list. SSG Knauss’ awards include the Army Commendation Medal with “C” device, the Army Achievement Medal with “C” device, four Army Achievement Medals, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal Campaign Star, Combat Infantry Badge, Meritorious Unit Commendation Award, The Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Parachutist Badge, and the U. S. Army Good Conduct Medal. Ryan is survived by his wife, Alena Knauss; mother, Paula Knauss Selph (Mark); father, Greg Knauss (Linnae); brother, Tyler Knauss (Adrian); grandmother; Loise Lisenby; grandparents, Wayne and Evalena Knauss; numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins. There will be a public Memorial Service at 5:00pm Saturday, September 11, 2021 at Gibbs High School Football Stadium. Following the service, SSG Knauss will lie in repose in the Gibbs High School Gymnasium where the family will receive friends. Masks are suggested. The family of SSG Ryan Knauss would like to thank you for coming to support them. Please consider donating any monetary funds to his “Go Fund Me”, which is accessible through the QR code under the images tab on this page.