FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: Major General Charles C. Rogers ~ April 27, 2009

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[Kathy in Alaska]

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~ Hall of Heroes ~

Major General Charles C. Rogers

           

 

Charles Calvin Rogers (6 September 1929 – 21 September 1990) was a United States Army officer and a recipient of America's highest military decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in the Vietnam War.

Charles Rogers joined the U.S. Army from Institute, West Virginia and, by 1968, was serving as a Lieutenant Colonel in command of 1st Battalion, 5th Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Infantry Division in Vietnam. On 1 November 1968, 1st Battalion was manning a fire support base in the Fishhook region near the Cambodian border when it came under heavy attack. Rogers rallied his men in the defense of the base and, despite being several times wounded, continued to lead the battalion until the attack was repulsed. For his actions during the battle, Lieutenant Colonel Rogers was nominated for the Medal of Honor. His nomination was approved and, on 14 May 1970, Rogers and 11 other servicemen were presented with Medals of Honor by President Richard Nixon at a ceremony in the White House.

Rogers rose to the rank of Major General before leaving the Army. He later became a Baptist minister, serving U.S. troops stationed in Germany. He died in Germany at age 61 and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington County, Virginia.

 

Lieutenant Colonel Rogers' official Medal of Honor citation reads:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Lt. Col. Rogers, Field Artillery, distinguished himself in action while serving as commanding officer, 1st Battalion, during the defense of a forward fire support base.

In the early morning hours, the fire support base was subjected to a concentrated bombardment of heavy mortar, rocket and rocket propelled grenade fire. Simultaneously the position was struck by a human wave ground assault, led by sappers who breached the defensive barriers with bangalore torpedoes and penetrated the defensive perimeter. 

Lt. Col. Rogers with complete disregard for his safety moved through the hail of fragments from bursting enemy rounds to the embattled area. He aggressively rallied the dazed artillery crewmen to man their howitzers and he directed their fire on the assaulting enemy. Although knocked to the ground and wounded by an exploding round, Lt. Col. Rogers sprang to his feet and led a small counterattack force against an enemy element that had penetrated the howitzer positions. Although painfully wounded a second time during the assault, Lt. Col. Rogers pressed the attack killing several of the enemy and driving the remainder from the positions. Refusing medical treatment, Lt. Col. Rogers reestablished and reinforced the defensive positions.

As a second human wave attack was launched against another sector of the perimeter, Lt. Col. Rogers directed artillery fire on the assaulting enemy and led a second counterattack against the charging forces. His valorous example rallied the beleaguered defenders to repulse and defeat the enemy onslaught. Lt. Col. Rogers moved from position to position through the heavy enemy fire, giving encouragement and direction to his men.

At dawn the determined enemy launched a third assault against the fire base in an attempt to overrun the position. Lt. Col. Rogers moved to the threatened area and directed lethal fire on the enemy forces. Seeing a howitzer inoperative due to casualties, Lt. Col. Rogers joined the surviving members of the crew to return the howitzer to action.

While directing the position defense, Lt. Col. Rogers was seriously wounded by fragments from a heavy mortar round which exploded on the parapet of the gun position. Although too severely wounded to physically lead the defenders, Lt. Col. Rogers continued to give encouragement and direction to his men in the defeating and repelling of the enemy attack.

Lt. Col. Rogers' dauntless courage and heroism inspired the defenders of the fire support base to the heights of valor to defeat a determined and numerically superior enemy force. His relentless spirit of aggressiveness in action are in the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.

Info found here.

Please remember the Canteen is here to honor, support and entertain our troops and their families.  This is a politics-free zone!  Thanks for helping us in our mission!

And thanks, Biglook, for the heads up on this hero!

[luvie]

I guess I’m spoiled..I get to watching the clock after about
5 hours! LOL!

[MeekMom]

[TASMANIANRED]

Evening Schatzi, Smooch.

Off tomorrow?

[MS.BEHAVIN]

LOL
*HUG*
I have Monday off!
YAY!

[TASMANIANRED]

Evening Luvvy, Hugs.

[TASMANIANRED]

Worst part of summer...Blech.

[HiJinx]

Antifreeze? What was he thinking? Alcohol?

[TASMANIANRED]

Evening Jinxy.

Had a little girl walking by a creek with her mom.

One of the little slitherers coiled around her ankle but she didn’t get bit.

Mom says she danced quite a jig.

[MS.BEHAVIN]

Yes, thank goodness!
What a long weekend..
Phooey!

[TASMANIANRED]

Splish , splash.

Just ducky...

[luvie]

I don’t WANT it to be Monday! LOL!

[MeekMom]

Good!!!
Now make sure you rest & don’t do any yard work!!! :) LOL

[TASMANIANRED]

Evening QT Pi.

[MeekMom]

me neither! :)

[TASMANIANRED]

Evening Meeky, Hugs.

[luvie]

Not fun....but it IS a break from Lint Lady...right? :D

[HiJinx]

Prolly had to treat that poor chile for (hyper)shock...

[MS.BEHAVIN]

LOL
Yes, Ma’am!
It’s supposed to rain, so I won’t do any!

[TASMANIANRED]

5 hrs is just time for lunch.

[TASMANIANRED]

I’m looking forward to a Monday off.