John W. Kniffin Collection (1661) Finding Aid
Collection Item Number: 16610000000
- Collection
- John W. Kniffin Collection
- Title
- Finding Aid
- Linear Feet
- 3.5
- Pages
- 1
- Language(s)
- English
- Dates
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Creation: 01 December 2005
Scope and Contents
Over three linear feet of materials document Kniffin's service in the Marine Corps with the 4th Marines, 3rd Marine Division (stationed in Da Nang, Hue, and Quang Tri) and his subsequent involvement in the VVAW. Materials include letters from John W. Kniffin to his mother, Ms. E.T. Humble, newspapers articles, military service records, 1968 daily calendar, scrapbook, photographs, slides, pins, insignia, patches, Vietnam Veterans Against the War (VVAW) materials, Gainesville 8 trial materials, and obituaries.Biographical / Historical
John Kniffin served two and one half tours of duty in Vietnam beginning in the summer of 1965 as a tracked vehicle repair man. He served with the 4th Marines, 3rd Marine Division and was stationed in Da Nang, Hue, and Quang Tri. While in Vietnam, he participated in Operation Starlight (1965), the Tet Offensive (1968) and the relief of Khe Sanh. He returned to Texas in July 1968 and later became the regional coordinator for the Texas chapter of the VVAW. Kniffin died in 2002 of lung cancer due to Agent Orange exposure.- 250
- Photographs
VA059655-VA059897: 250 Photos of John W. Kniffin Tours in Vietnam 1965 and 1968.
249 Negatives of John W. Kniffin Tours in Vietnam 1965 and 1968.
VAN017788-VAN018050
Click to view all Photographs
- 301
- Slides
301 Slides of John W. Kniffin Tours in Vietnam 1965 and 1968. Box 1 (VAS 059209-VAS059394) Box 2 (VAS059395-VAS059509)
Click to view all Slides
- 4
- Maps
Section 12 Drawer 12 Folder 1
Rand McNally Official Map of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia (no date)
1 : 25,000 Central Honshu, Japan (East Fuji Maneuver Area)
East Fuji Maneuver Area
Click to view all Maps
- 25
- Museum Objects
Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon
Marine Expeditionary Ribbon
National Defense Ribbon
Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal
Rifle Sharpshoorer Badge (2)
Pistol Sharpshooter Badge
Marine Corps logo hat pin
Corporal's stripes pin
Dogtags (2)
Marine Cprps tie clasp
Engraved clasp from a watchband
Texas A&M College shoulder patches (3)
Army R.O.T.C. patch
Corporal stripes shoulder patch
Vietnam Veterans Against the War patch
VVAW patch
GM 1961 decal
USS George Clymer decal
VVAW bumpersticker
Impeach Nixon bumpersticker
US Forces, Republic of Vietnam stationery set
Photo album
VVAW license plate cover
VVAW banner
AAF (Army Air Force) Cloth Map - Asiatic Series. Obverse: French Indochina (No. 32) Reverse: Central China (No. 33)
Click to view all Museum Objects
- 13
- Newspapers
The 1st Casualty: 1971: December
Camp News: 1972: August 15
Iconoclast: 1974: January 25 - February 1
The Pendleton Scout: 1965: June 25; 1966: March 4
The Rag: 1972: July 17, July 24
Triad: 1961: October 6
Winter Soldier: 1973: April, May, August, September
Your Military Left: 1972: August
Click to view all Newspapers
- Box 1: [Barcode: 1] [TTU - Southwest Collections Building, Stacks [D183.3A ]]
- Box 2: [Barcode: 2] [TTU - Southwest Collections Building, Stacks [D183.3B ]]
- Box 1000: [Barcode: 1000] [TTU - Southwest Collections Building, Stacks, D056.3 Individual Oversize Collection Box 16 [D056.3]]
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VVAW leaflets, newsletters, membership applications, Chapter and Regional Coordinator lists (1970-74)
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Correspondence to New York
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VVAW History
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Vietnam Veterans Against the War / Winter Soldier Organization National Office (VVAW/WSO)
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Vets for Peace
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Gary Lawton and Billy Dean Smith
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Operation Turning the Guns Around
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Press Release
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Various Leaflets and Organizations for Miami Demonstrations (1972)
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VVAW Last Patrol to Miami (1972)
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Veterans for George McGovern
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Court Documents form Gainesville 8 Trial
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Press Releases regarding Gainesville 8 Trial
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Material regarding Assisting Vietnam Veterans with Drug Issues (1972)
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News Items regarding Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
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Vietnam Veterans Against the War / Winter Soldier Organization (VVAW/WSO) - letter re: veteran support for amnesty for war resisters
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Military Documents from Kniffen's service in the Marines
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Assorted Papers
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John Kniffen Obituaries
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Letters Home from Vietnam (from John Kniffen to his mother Mrs. E.T. Humble 1965-1969)
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Letters, March - August 1965
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Philippine Pesos
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Letters, September - November 1965
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Letters, 1966
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Letters, 1967
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Letters, 1968
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Hong Kong Guidebook for Servicemen
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1968 Daily Calendar
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US Marines, Camp Pendleton (California) on the Way to Vietnam
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Thunder (Vol. 2 Num. 1) Fall 1969 (Authorized publication of the 25th infantry Division)
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Marine Corps Recruit Depot (San Diego, California) Class Book - 1st Battalion, Platoon 177
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Liberation (Spring 1971) Special Issue on the War in Indochina
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Ramparts (Aug-Sep 1973)
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Sunday Pictures (from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch) (6 February 1972)
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Article about John Kniffen from the Ft. Worth Star-Telegram (17 November 2002)
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Photocopied article from the VVA Veteran (January 1996)
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George McGovern campaign poster (from newspaper)
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Excerpt from the Independent Florida Alligator (Vol. 97 Iss. 6) 2 September 2003
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Excerpt from the Gainesville Sun (Vol. 128 Iss. 57) 31 August 2003
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Excerpt from the Northwest Arkansas Times (Vol. 97 Iss. 6) 10 March 1996
- Perma Link
- https://www.vietnam.ttu.edu/virtualarchive/items.php?item=16610000000
- Citation
- John W. Kniffin Collection (1661) Finding Aid, John W. Kniffin Collection, Vietnam Center and Sam Johnson Vietnam Archive, Texas Tech University, https://www.vietnam.ttu.edu/virtualarchive/items.php?item=16610000000, Accessed 15 Mar 2026.
- Pub Credit Line
- 16610000000, John W. Kniffin Collection, Vietnam Center and Sam Johnson Vietnam Archive, Texas Tech University
- Added: 30 Nov 2005 [Updated: 12 Oct 2023]
Vietnam Center & Sam Johnson Vietnam Archive
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Address
Texas Tech University, Box 41041, Lubbock, TX 79409 -
Phone
(806)742-9010 -
Email
vnca@ttu.edu