William Carroll Oxentine was born on April 17th of 1887, 1889, or 1890, in Watauga County, North Carolina. Oxentine was a farmer in Watauga County when he was drafted into the army on May 9, 1918, for military service during World War I. Draft administrators originally classed Oxentine's race as "African," though he actually identified as a member of the Croatan from Robeson County. Military officials later corrected this error, and he was reclassed as "white" and assigned to Company D, 54th Infantry. [Note: Military systems of the time allowed for only two races: "white" or "colored."] Oxentine deserted his unit while stationed at Camp Merritt, New Jersey, on October 12, 1918. He died in Wilkesboro on November 9, 1959.