Edmund Bixby Kneisel was born in Georgia, the son of Edmund Adam Kneisel and Frances Louisa Bixby. He was married to Helen Bernice Grimm and father of Helen Shari Kneisel. He had one brother, John Francis Kneisel.
He was a graduate of Boys High School in Atlanta, Georgia in 1936 and attended Georgia School of Technology in Atlanta, Georgia.
Lt Edmund Bixby Kneisel was assigned to the USS Barbel SS-316, a Balao-class submarine named for the barbell, a cyprinoid fish also known as a minnow or carp. The Barbel was commissioned on April 3, 1944 and in late January 1945 was ordered to patrol the western approaches to the Balabac Strait and the southern entrance to Palawan Passage. On 3 February, Barbel sent a message reporting that she had been attacked three times by enemy aircraft dropping depth charges and would transmit further information on the following night. Barbel was never heard from again. Japanese aviators reported an attack on a submarine off southwest Palawan on 4 February. Two bombs were dropped and one landed on the submarine near the bridge. The sub plunged, under a cloud of fire and spray. This was very likely the last engagement of Barbel. She was officially reported lost on 16 February 1945.
Lt. Kneisel was awarded the Silver Star and the Purple Heart.
- Rank: Lieutenant
- Date of birth: 5 January 1919
- Date of death: 16 February 1945
- County: Sullivan
- Hometown: Kingsport
- Service Branch: Navy
- Division/Assignment: USS Barbel (SS-316)
- Theater: Pacific
- Conflict: World War II
- Awards: Purple Heart, Silver Star
- Burial/Memorial Location: Manila American Cemetery, Fort Bonifacio, Manila, Philippines
- Location In Memorial: Pillar XVIII, Middle Panel
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