World War II Honoree

Charles Place Gotwals, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Muskogee, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

CALLED TO MILITARY SERVICE IN 1942. SERVED AS A MEMBER OF THE JUDGE ADVOCATE GENERAL'S (JAG) CORPS IN THE AMERICAN AND EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATERS. LANDED IN NORMANDY, FRANCE SIX WEEKS AFTER THE D-DAY LANDINGS AND REMAINED IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS UNTIL THE END OF THE WAR. SERVED AS THE EXECUTIVE OF THE MILITARY JUSTICE DIVISION DURING THE POSTWAR ALLIED OCCUPATION OF GERMANY. ATTENDED THE NUREMBERG INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIALS. AWARDED THE AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, WWII VICTORY MEDAL AND ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL WITH ‘GERMANY’ CLASP. HONORABLY DISCHARGED, RELEASED FROM ACTIVE DUTY, AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON. CONTINUED IN U.S. ARMY RESERVE SERVICE AFTER THE WAR UNTIL RESIGNING HIS COMMISSION WITH THE RANK OF LIEUTENANT COLONEL.