World War II Honoree

Charles E. 'Chuck' Munson

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Pateros, Washington

Honored By

LTC Charles T. Borg, USA-Ret.

JOINED ARMY IN JUNE 1944 AT SPOKANE, WASHINGTON. BASIC TRAINING AT FORT BENNING, GEORGIA. JUNGLE TRAINING AT CAMP CLAIBORNE, LOUISIANA. SHIPPED TO SOUTH PACIFIC TO JOIN COMPANY C, 35TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 25TH INFANTRY (TROPICAL LIGHTNING) DIVISION ON GUADALCANAL IN THE SOLOMON ISLANDS. FOLLOWING THE CAPTURE OF GUADALCANAL FROM THE JAPANESE THE UNIT CONDUCTED AMPHIBIOUS LANDING IN THE NORTHERN SOLOMON ISLANDS. WOUNDED AND EARNED BRONZE STAR MEDAL FOR VALOR. EVACUATED TO ARMY HOSPITAL ON NEW CALEDONIA AND RECOVERED FROM WOUNDS AND REJOINED UNIT AS IT ATTACKED THE JAPANESE FORCES ON THE ISLAND OF RENDOVA. WOUNDED FOR THE SECOND TIME. IN LATE 1944, THE 25TH DIVISION WAS ORDERED TO NEW CALEDONIA TO REFIT AND TRAIN REPLACEMENTS FOR THE INVASION OF THE PHILIPPINE AND JAPANESE ISLANDS. AFTER THE CAPTURE OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, THE WAR WITH JAPAN ENDED. RETURNED TO NEW CALEDONIA, HANDLING DISPOSAL OF WAR EQUIPMENT. DISCHARGED AT FORT LEWIS, WASHINGTON IN MARCH 1946. AWARDS INCLUDE: COMBAT INFANTRY BADGE, BRONZE STAR MEDAL WITH V, PURPLE HEART WITH OAK LEAF CLUSTER, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH BRONZE ARROWHEAD AND 3 BATTLE STARS, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION, EXPERT MARKSMANSHIP BADGE FOR M-1 RIFLE AND BROWNING AUTOMATIC RIFLE BAR.