Valor Friday
Corporal Abrell
Today’s Valor Friday’s honors go to Corporal Charles G. Abrell, USMC. He was born on August 12, 1931 in Terre Haute, Indiana, and grew up in Las Vegas, Nevada. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps just five days after his 17th birthday in 1948. Following recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina, he was assigned to Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and also served aboard the USS Noble before going to Korea with the 1st Marine Division. He was in combat at Inchon, Seoul, Wonsan, Chosin Reservoir, and Hanghum.
Medal of Honor Citation
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a fire team leader in Company E, in action against enemy aggressor forces. While advancing with his platoon in an attack against well-concealed and heavily fortified enemy hill positions, Cpl. Abrell voluntarily rushed forward through the assaulting squad which was pinned down by a hail of intense and accurate automatic-weapons fire from a hostile bunker situated on commanding ground. Although previously wounded by enemy hand grenade fragments, he proceeded to carry out a bold, single-handed attack against the bunker, exhorting his comrades to follow him. Sustaining 2 additional wounds as he stormed toward the emplacement, he resolutely pulled the pin from a grenade clutched in his hand and hurled himself bodily into the bunker with the live missile still in his grasp. Fatally wounded in the resulting explosion which killed the entire enemy guncrew within the stronghold, Cpl. Abrell, by his valiant spirit of self-sacrifice in the face of certain death, served to inspire all his comrades and contributed directly to the success of his platoon in attaining its objective. His superb courage and heroic initiative sustain and enhance the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
No greater love…
Thanks to The Congressional Medal of Honor Society
Category: Marines, The Warrior Code
BZ! Cpl, you are a true hero! You have earned your place in Heaven, I pray for your family. You are truly an honorable warrior.
May God continue to Bless You!
“Greater love hath no man than to lay down his life for his friends!” See you in Paradise Corporal!
He gave his life to America and his buddies serving with him, right there….
Thank you Marine.
I am humbled by men and women such as this.
No greater friend …
Thank you Corporal Abrell.
AW1Ed, I nominate for one of your Valor Friday posts MAJ Charles Q. Williams. He was awarded the MOH for actions in the Viet of the Nam in defense of his SF camp. His citation is the longest one I have ever seen. I served with him when he was a company commander and the XO of 2/509th in 1968-1970 in the FRG. The Mustangs here will like the fact that he was a senior NCO in the 82d Abn before he went to OCS.
Thanks for the input- look for him next Friday, rgr769.
Thanks. The man was a legend. I knew nothing of what he did to wear that little star spangled blue ribbon when I served with him. I read his citation for the first time in the back appendix to a book titled “Infantry in Vietnam” when I was attending the Infantry Officer Vietnam Orientation Course at the Benning School for Wayward Boys. It was on our suggested reading list.
Nice to have this suject as a regular feature.
Semper Fi, Marine. RIP
Wow, rest in peace, Marine.
Sometimes, it takes a lifetime to understand how valorous someone was. Hoo Yah Marine!
Badass, Marine. Rest well.
Argh.