Sergeant Major William L. Knight, Jr. was born in Framingham, Mass., on April 8, 1926, to William L. Knight Sr. and Eva E. (Arnold) Knight. He was married to Dolores Knight of Montville, Maine. He had eight children. He was predeceased by his children, Diane, Arlene, Susan, William and Andrew. Bill grew up in Framingham and enlisted in the Navy when he was 17 years old. He served in the U.S. Navy Pacific Theater in World War II as a Radioman Second Class. He was wounded during the conflict in the South Pacific and was awarded the Purple Heart. In 1944, Bill was honorably discharged from the naval service. He returned to Framingham, where he opened a television technician service. He began an amateur boxing career where he won a Welterweight Golden Gloves Championship. Bill joined the U.S. Army Reserve and served with the 11th Special Forces Group.. He served as a Master Sergeant with Company C. 5th Bn, 20th SF Gp, RIARNG. In October 1977 he was promoted to Sergeant Major, discharged from the RIARNG and transferred to USAR, US Army Institute for Military Assistance, Ft Bragg in a MOBDES position. He retired in 1986.
He worked at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard as a GS-11 for Nav-Sea, and retired in 1982
He died on 14 October 2014 in Belfast, Maine at age 88.
SGM Knight was buried with military honors in Prospect Cemetery, Epping, Rockingham County, New Hampshire.
