World War II Honoree

Charles Walter David, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Coast Guard

Hometown

New York, New York

Honored By

James C. Bunch

SERVED FROM 6 MARCH 1941 TO 29 MARCH 1943. SERVED ABOARD THE U.S. COAST GUARD CUTTER COMANCHE (WPG-76). DURING THE RESCUE OPERATION OF THE U.S. ARMY TRANSPORT DORCHESTER, WHICH WAS TORPEDOED OFF GREENLAND ON 3 FEBRUARY 1943, HE DOVE INTO THE FRIGID WATERS SEVERAL TIMES TO RESCUE SURVIVORS AND FELLOW EXHAUSTED CREWMEN. HE LATER DIED OF PNEUMONIA CONTRACTED DURING THE OPERATION. HE WAS POSTHUMOUSLY AWARDED THE NAVY AND MARINE CORPS MEDAL FOR HIS BRAVERY. HIS OTHER AWARDS INCLUDED THE COMBAT ACTION RIBBON, AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. THE U.S. COAST GUARD CUTTER CHARLES DAVID, JR. (WPC-1107) COMMISSIONED ON 16 NOVEMBER 2013 WAS NAMED IN HIS HONOR.