Preserving The Oral HistorIES of Combat Veterans

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Bill Knowlton

Vietnam | 5th Special Forces Group

When his tour was ending, the Special Forces camp was being transitioned to be operated by the RFPFs. While they were doing training in the field, a MAC-V group came to be pinned down and Bill Knowlton recalls taking a group of men to pull them out, for which he was awarded the Silver Star. (Interview conducted at, and with the assistance of, The Veterans History Museum of the Carolinas.- https://theveteransmuseum.org/) (4:21)
On his second tour in Vietnam, Bill Knowlton was sent to the 3rd Battalion, where he was tasked with cleaning out ambush sites. He was promoted to Company Commander where he visited his platoons and taught them how to fight. (Interview conducted at, and with the assistance of, The Veterans History Museum of the Carolinas.- https://theveteransmuseum.org/) (5:49)
Bill Knowlton was sent to the Battle of Whiskey Mountain on the outskirts of Phan Thiet. The fighting was extremely close due to the heavy bamboo, and quickly he lost his platoon and squad leaders. He recalls the extreme consequences of this battle, which earned him his second Silver Star. (Interview conducted at, and with the assistance of, The Veterans History Museum of the Carolinas.- https://theveteransmuseum.org/) (9:42)
Bill Knowlton tell the story of a close friend of his, Terry Weaver, who was paralyzed by a flechette round during battle. That didn’t stop him from living a great life after the war. (Interview conducted at, and with the assistance of, The Veterans History Museum of the Carolinas.- https://theveteransmuseum.org/) (6:33)
When Bill Knowlton returned home from Vietnam, he didn’t shy away from letting people know he was a veteran. (Interview conducted at, and with the assistance of, The Veterans History Museum of the Carolinas.- https://theveteransmuseum.org/) (2:23)
Bill Knowlton wants people to know about the caliber of men he served with in Vietnam and how we should hold them in our memory. (Interview conducted at, and with the assistance of, The Veterans History Museum of the Carolinas.- https://theveteransmuseum.org/) (5:02)
Bill Livingstone

WWII | 334th Bomb Squadron, 95th Bomb Group, 8th Air Force

He failed his first eye test because of color blindness, but at the next level a sympathetic officer allowed Bill Livingstone to enter the Air Corps. Eventually he did get disqualified from pilot training, but they decided he'd make a fine aircraft mechanic. (5:56)
"Be kind to your web footed friends...." Bill Livingstone couldn't believe that the sergeant had never heard that song. He was in a two month wait for aircraft mechanic school to start. Gunnery school was next and they made an instructor out of him. He watched his friends leave to join crews and go overseas. Finally, he was going. (5:39)
He crossed on the Queen Elizabeth with thousands of others, zig-zagging their way to Scotland. Bill Livingstone was a gunnery instructor who was sent off to an RAF base for more schooling. On that trip, he got to see the sights of London. (5:16)
He bunked with regular B-17 crew members, but Bill Livingstone was a gunnery instructor who was there to keep skills sharp. He was also there to substitute for any crew member who was not able to fly. His very first mission turned out to be a memorable one. Part 1 of 5. (6:33)