"I know at age 75, you're fortunate to be able to do this," said Knoll, "but Forest Gump says, 'Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're going to get.' I enjoy this."

Knoll is a real-life Forest Gump, making his second coast-to-coast journey through our great country. Accompanied by a dozen local Marines and a handful of other supporters, Knoll passed through the streets of Springfield with little fanfare.

Most people driving past the 5-foot-9, 150-pound runner had no idea that this veteran of the Korean and Vietnam wars, who also worked in Afghanistan and Iraq in government intelligence at age 71, is now running 3,300 miles.

Knoll is raising money for Challenged Athletes Foundation, Soldier Security Association and Sunshine Foundation. They help disabled athletes, wounded soldiers and seriously ill children. Knoll did the same thing for the same cause 25 years ago.

The veteran of 185 marathons -- Knoll was in the first Iron Man competitions -- has seen our country at its most beautiful and at its most violent.

As he passed through southwest Missouri on Sunday and witnessed the devastation caused by a tornado on Saturday, he stopped in the middle of his run. Knoll helped people start to pick up the pieces of their broken lives. "Unbelievable! I've been in combat and different areas where bombs have gone off, and this is what it looks like," said Knoll. "It looked like a combat scene."

Now two-thirds of the way through his trek, Knoll hopes for smoother sailing to arrive in Washington, D.C., on July 4 with donations or pledges for $1 million.

And if you'd like to make a donation to Knoll's cause, check the Web site below. It also has more information about Knoll himself.