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 The 196th Infantry Brigade ("Chargers"), also known as the Charger Brigade was first formed on 24 June 1921 as part of the United States Army Reserve's 98th Division with the responsibility of training soldiers. World War II During World War II, ...

and

Task Force Oregon Task Force Oregon, was a United States Army division-sized unit composed of 3 separate infantry brigades, active in Quảng Ngãi and Quảng Tín Provinces, South Vietnam from April to September 1967 when it was redesignated the 23rd Infantry ...

during the Vietnam War.

Early life and education

Knowles was born on 20 December 1916 in Chicago. Knowles attended the University of Illinois and joined the ROTC program there.

Military service

Knowles joined the United States Army in 1942 and took part in the Normandy Landings.

Korean War

Knowles took part in the

Inchon Landings The Battle of Incheon (), also spelled Battle of Inchon, was an amphibious invasion and a battle of the Korean War that resulted in a decisive victory and strategic reversal in favor of the United Nations Command (UN). The operation involved s ...

and was later awarded the

Silver Star The Silver Star Medal (SSM) is the United States Armed Forces' third-highest military decoration for valor in combat. The Silver Star Medal is awarded primarily to members of the United States Armed Forces for gallantry in action against an e ...

. On 10 February 1964, Knowles was named as acting assistant division commander of the

11th Air Assault Division The 11th Airborne Division ("Arctic Angels") is a United States Army airborne formation, first activated on 25 February 1943, during World War II. Consisting of one parachute and two glider infantry regiments, with supporting troops, the div ...

and nominated for promotion to brigadier general.

Vietnam War

Knowles 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 The siege of Plei Me ( vi, Bao vây Plei Me; 19–25 October 1965) was the beginning phase of the first major confrontation between soldiers of the North Vietnamese People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) and the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. The li ...

. Knowles served as commander of the

. In July 1967, MG Knowles assumed command of

into which the 196th was subsumed.

Post-Vietnam

Knowles served as commander of

I Corps I Corps, 1st Corps, or First Corps may refer to: France * 1st Army Corps (France) * I Cavalry Corps (Grande Armée), a cavalry unit of the Imperial French Army during the Napoleonic Wars * I Corps (Grande Armée), a unit of the Imperial French Arm ...

from 1 August 1972 to 17 July 1973. He retired from the army in 1974.

Later career

Knowles served as a Republican representative in the New Mexico State legislature for 16 years from 1983 to 1998. He died on 18 September 2013 at his home in

Roswell, New Mexico Roswell () is a city in, and the County seat, seat of, Chaves County, New Mexico, Chaves County in the U.S. state of New Mexico. Chaves County forms the entirety of the List of micropolitan areas in New Mexico, Roswell micropolitan area. As of ...

and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Knowles, Richard T. 1916 births 2013 deaths United States Army personnel of World War II United States Army personnel of the Korean War United States Army personnel of the Vietnam War United States Army generals Military personnel from Chicago Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (US Army)