“All I know is I was in the right place at the right time and knew what needed to be done just to get him to stay alive,” Army Veteran Marcus Knipe told a local TV station earlier this week.
Knipe, an employee at the VA Portland Health Care System, had a day off the Friday before Memorial Day weekend when a horrific attack unfolded on the TriMet MAX train in Portland, Oregon. Knipe was waiting on the platform with his family and friends when he heard a commotion from another train stopped at the station and was surprised to see people running from the train and screaming. He watched as one of the three people who tried to intervene in the attack stumbled from the train with stab wounds to his neck and yelled for help.
“All I know is I was in the right place at the right time and knew what needed to be done just to get him to stay alive.”
~ Army Veteran Marcus Knipe
Knipe sprang into action without thinking about his own safety, while his family escaped the scary scene. The Iraq War Veteran immediately applied pressure to the victim’s wound. His Infantryman basic medical training kicked in and he kept the young man calm and talking during the ordeal before ambulances arrived. He even helped the young man call his mom to tell her he was injured. After speaking with police, Marcus joined his family for their planned evening. The young man is recovering from his wounds, but sadly two other Good Samaritans – Army Veteran Ricky John Best, 53, and Taliesin Myrddin Namkai Meche, 23, did not survive.
In a Facebook post Wednesday, the VA Portland Health Care System highlighted Knipe’s lifesaving actions. “Thank you, Marcus, for stepping in without regard to your own safety and using your military skills to help where desperately needed. We are humbled by your heroic lifesaving actions on Friday and thank you today, and every day, for serving other Veterans at VA Portland Health Care System.”
ABC News recently featured an interview with Knipe and the mother of stabbing victim Micah Fletcher.
Editor’s note: Information for this post was provided by the VA Portland Health Care System.
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VA remains open for business and is closely monitoring the Change Healthcare (CHC) cybersecurity incident.
VA’s Veteran Buddy Check Week is planned for Oct. 21 – 25, 2024.
Carry The Load, an organization dedicated to remembering the fallen, will visit 34 VA National Cemeteries traveling 20,000 miles along five separate routes covering all continental 48 states known as the National Relay for Memorial May 2024.
Don’t ask what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country. J. F. Kennedy, 1/20/61.
Good show Marcus! Army Strong Brother….that’s what it’s all about!!!
God Bless you and yours,
Ya done yourself proud, Marcus! God bless you.
Marcus you have something inside you that civilians will never understand. Semper Fi b
Thank you Marcus God Bless you and your family. Once a soldier, always a soldier! I started in the WACS, 1973, 23 years later, retired as a Major after a lot of hard training/work in a man’s Army with no special compensations. Worked where I was allowed. Wouldn’t trade it for the world!! Proud of you and all my brother and sister soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, coastes!!! All of us are proud of you!
Thank you
This doesn’t look like Democrat or Republican issue….but simply a US military veteran who stepped up for an individual citizen, as well as for his Country! God Bless ya, Marcus!
Bob
Army “VietVet”
When this happened I was in central Texas. I was shocked that it did not get much coverage. Upon returning to Portland on Monday I heard the news. I am a veteran having served in the USN Hospital Corps pre Viet Nam. It was God’s will that that man was there to help. Thanks to a true hero!
Thank you for saving the life of this Brave Yong American Hero. Your courage and bravery will never be forgotten.
Marcus,
Thank you for stepping up saving lives.
Once a soldier always one.Your Military training and experiences saved lives.Thank you for ur service.
Thank you
God Bless
Barbie
THANK YOU HERO!
R/
Sam
Marcus, I salute you for your actions and compassion when your military and life instincts took hold for someone really in need. Your amazing. So many others in the same place might not have taken the actions that you had. God bless you and your family.
Why is no one reporting that the stabber is a Democrat?
What does that have to do it? Plus he wasn’t there’s videos of him do your research nice try.
Hello, Megan! Thank you for giving us this message regarding the heroics of Marcus!! Marcus……..on behalf of this Ol’ Vietnam Vet, JOB WELL DONE!!! GREAT ACTION TO ADD TO THE MANY GOOD DEEDS DONE BY OUR FELLOW SOLDIERS!!!!!!!!!!! Here’s hoping that you and your family are blessed for your service!!!!!
George
SSG, Vietnam ’68 & ’69
I second that!
USMC disabled vet (5/72-5/79) and I’ve been helping/paying it forward since 1974, and just find great satisfaction that I was in the right place at the right time. Believe in Fate & Karma! Kind of funny at times as I can not explain why I’m in that place when help is/was needed…
Proud to share Portland with you. Your actions revealed a heart your family can be proud of. The Good Samaritan uniform belongs to an elite branch of service. You wore it well.
Bob Dennis
USMC
Damascus, OR
The hope of justice and the elimination of hatred in this country is found in the courage of those three individuals who intervened in the vile treatment of those two teens.
Their heroic actions suggest there is still hope in the shadow of great evil.
I hope and I pray that everyone who truly loves this country will do what they can to eliminate bigotry and hatred. Our kids and grandkids deserve better.
Thomas
For those of you that choose not to serve our Country, learn from areal man hero. Marcus, GOD Bless and keep you safe from harms way. And thank you for caring for our Brothers & Sisters In Arms by helping at the VA facility.
A true hero.
Without your actions, 3 lives are lost in this horrific tragedy.
Thank you, Marcus.