Richard Thomas Knowles (December 20, 1916 – September 18, 2013) was a United States Army lieutenant general, who served as assistant commander of the 1st Cavalry Division and as commander of the 196th Light Infantry Brigade and Task Force Oregon during the Vietnam War.
Richard T. Knowles | |
|---|---|
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| Nickname(s) | Dick |
| Born | December 20, 1916 Chicago, Illinois |
| Died | September 18, 2013 (aged 96) Roswell, New Mexico |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1942–1974 |
| Rank | Lieutenant General |
| Commands | I Corps Task Force Oregon 196th Light Infantry Brigade |
| Battles / wars | World War II Korean War Vietnam War |
| Awards | Army Distinguished Service Medal Silver Star Legion of Merit (2) Distinguished Flying Cross (2) Bronze Star Medal (2) Purple Heart |
Early life and education
editKnowles was born on 20 December 1916 in Chicago.[1]
Knowles attended the University of Illinois and joined the ROTC program there.[citation needed]
Military service
editKnowles joined the United States Army in 1942 and took part in the Normandy Landings.[citation needed]
Korean War
editKnowles took part in the Inchon Landings and was later awarded the Silver Star.[citation needed]
On 10 February 1964, Knowles was named as acting assistant division commander of the 11th Air Assault Division and nominated for promotion to brigadier general.[2]
Vietnam War
editKnowles served as assistant division commander of the 1st Cavalry Division in 1965 during which time he supported the relief of the Siege of Plei Me.[3][4]
Knowles served as commander of the 196th Light Infantry Brigade.[5][6] In July 1967, MG Knowles assumed command of Task Force Oregon into which the 196th was subsumed.[6]: 107
Post-Vietnam
editKnowles served as commander of I Corps from 1 August 1972 to 17 July 1973.[7] He retired from the army in 1974.[citation needed]
Later career
editKnowles served as a Republican representative in the New Mexico State legislature for 16 years from 1983 to 1998.[1]
He died on 18 September 2013 at his home in Roswell, New Mexico and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.[1]
References
edit
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Army Center of Military History.
- ^ a b c "Lt. Gen. Richard T. Knowles dies at 96". Roswell Daily News. 18 September 2013. Archived from the original on 1 November 2018. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
- ^ Stelpflug, Peggy (2007). Home of the Infantry: The History of Fort Benning. Mercer University Press. p. 257. ISBN 9780881460872.
- ^ "Vietnam: A Television History; Brigadier General Richard T. Knowles, assistant commander of the First Air Cavalry". Vietnam: A Television History. 10 November 1965. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
- ^ "Combat Operations After Action Report Pleiku Campaign 23 October – 26 November 1965". 1st Cavalry Division. 4 March 1966. p. 28. Archived from the original on 3 July 2017. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
- ^ Warren, James (2005). American Spartans: The U.S. Marines : a Combat History from Iwo Jima to Iraq. Simon & Schuster. p. 234. ISBN 9780684872841.
- ^ a b Telfer, Gary (1984). U.S. Marines in Vietnam: Fighting the North Vietnamese 1967 (Marine Corps Vietnam Operational Historical Series). History & Museums Division, United States Marine Corps. p. 79. ISBN 9781787200845.
- ^ "I Corps Commanders". Joint Base Lewis McChord: I Corps. Archived from the original on 12 December 2012. Retrieved 1 November 2018.