For the Fourth of July, Senator King Interviews Topsham Army Veteran and Cold War Nuclear Weapons Officer

Watch the episode HERE

BRUNSWICK, ME - U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today released a special Fourth of July edition of "Answering the Call: Maine's Veteran Voices," the regular series conducted in partnership with the Library of Congress' Veterans History Project, in which he shares the stories of the lives, service, and sacrifices of Maine's veteran community. In this interview, Senator King spoke with Topsham-resident Bill Littlefield, who spent 38 years in the Army Ordnance Corps stationed across Germany, Korea and the U.S. During the interview, Bill and Senator King discussed his enlistment during the Korean War, his work as a Nuclear Weapons Officer in the height the Cold War, and the opportunities that the Army provided for him and his family.

"It was an honor to speak with Topsham's Bill Littlefield and hear first-hand about his service to our country in a Fourth of July special episode of 'Answering the Call: Maine's Veteran Voices.' Over the course of his 38 years in the Army and the Ordnance Corps, Bill embodied the spirit of America and the Fourth - he did extraordinary work to keep our troops well-armed, deter a nuclear conflict, and ensure our country's most dangerous weapons were secure," said Senator King. "Going from a Private in a small tent near the Korean frontlines to a Colonel overseeing thousands of troops, Bill's impressive career exemplifies selfless service and demonstrates the incredible opportunities presented by the Armed Forces. I'm deeply grateful for his years of service, and appreciate him sitting down with me for this Fourth of July special episode."

Bill Littlefield grew up in Topsham, Maine and joined the Army straight out of high school. In 1953, Bill enlisted and left the State of Maine for the first time as he flew to the Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland for basic training. It was a grueling, but positive experience where they were being trained for active combat by officers who had returned from the Korean War. Bill received his occupation as an ammunition technician and at the end of his training, was assigned to Korea, an active warzone. However, to Bill's disappointment and family's relief, the Armistice Agreement for the Restoration of the South Korean State was signed on the 27th of July, the same day he shipped out from Topsham.

Arriving just days after the truce was signed, Bill arrived to a destroyed and starving South Korea. He was stationed with the 10th United States Army Corps twenty miles south of the Punchbowl, or the demilitarized zone. Bill managed six separate ammunition supply points and supported two US divisions and several Republic of Korea divisions. The unit also worked to retrograde ammunition and was granted a presidential unit citation for their work addressing safety concerns with repackaging. While Bill was encouraged to reenlist upon his return to the U.S., he decided it was time to return to Maine to get a degree in history and government using his GI bill. Before his graduation in 1961 he was approached by a Professor about the ROTC program for enlisted students. Bill joined the ROTC and upon graduating he married his wife and joined the Army again as a 2nd lieutenant.

After commissioning, Bill became a Nuclear Weapons Officer at the height of the Cold War and was stationed in Germany. While stationed in Germany, Bill was tasked with ensuring that American nuclear weapons in the country were ready to go at a moment's notice, and were both maintained and secured. The secrecy and high stakes of the job put him on track for rapid promotions, earning the rank of Colonel. Bill and his wife ended up spending 28 years in Germany; a brief year back in Korea, Bill served his last year in New York and then retired.

Retiring to Topsham in 1991, Bill bought the house he grew up in on the Androscoggin river where he lives with his wife. They had three sons, and adopted their Korean daughter from their time in Korea in 1971. His daughter is now a nurse practitioner as well as a Major in the active Army reserve. Looking back at his career dedicated to service, Bill is thankful for all he learned and experienced, and feels incredibly fortunate to have the benefits of TRICARE, the GI Bill, and retirement. Now, Bill volunteers in veterans cemeteries, including the one in Topsham.

The Veterans History Project is an effort by the Library of Congress to collect, preserve and distribute the personal accounts of American war veterans so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand the realities of war. The interviews and primary documents from the project are then used by researchers, historians, students, and filmmakers across the country. Senator King joins many other Members of Congress who've participated in the project.

As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Senator King has been a staunch advocate for America's servicemembers and veterans. He has made addressing the mental health and suicide epidemic facing America's veterans one of his top priorities, and after hearing the suggestion during a Veterans History Project Interview, secured a report on servicemember suicide in the committee draft of the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act. He also recently introduced the Save Our Servicemembers (S.O.S.) Act, which would work to improve the Department of Defense's servicemember suicide prevention efforts. Senator King has also worked to improve support and benefits for America's veterans, and celebrated the Senate's passage of the PACT Act, which would provide veterans exposed to toxic hazards their earned healthcare and benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).