World War II Honoree

Charles J. Munson

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Bettendorf, Iowa

Honored By

Charles Munson Jr. & Marilyn Dana Munson;

Relationship

Son & Daughter

SERVED IN THE U.S. NAVY FOR FOUR YEARS DURING WWII AND ACHIEVED THE RANK OF LIEUTENANT JUNIOR GRADE. HIS ACTIVE COMBAT PARTICIPATION INCLUDED THREE PACIFIC THEATER INVASIONS ABOARD THE USS LOWNDES APA-154. THE FIRST INCLUDED MOP UP MANEUVERS AND SUPPLY DELIVERY AT LINGAYEN GULF IN THE PHILIPPINES. CHARLES' SECOND ACTION WAS THE INVASION OF IWO JIMA. IN THIS ASSAULT HE COMMANDED A GROUP OF EIGHT LANDING CRAFT THAT CARRIED MARINES TO YELLOW BEACH. HE MADE TWO LANDINGS AND SPENT THE NIGHT ON THE BEACH COMMANDEERING LCVP'S TO FERRY THE WOUNDED BACK TO THE HOSPITAL SHIP. HE TOOK SHRAPNEL IN THE LEG ON THE BEACH THAT NIGHT AND WAS THANKFUL TO SURVIVE. AT DAWN HE FOUND THE USS LOWNDES AND WAS TAKEN ABOARD FOR AN EMOTIONAL REUNION WITH HIS SHIPMATES. CHARLES' THIRD ACTION WAS AT OKINAWA. THERE THE USS LOWNDES WAS CALLED UPON TO FEIGN A LANDING ON THE SOUTHEAST COAST TO DISGUISE THE ACTUAL WEST COAST INVASION. CHARLES KEPT IN TOUCH WITH SOME OF THE MEN WITH WHOM HE SERVED UNTIL HIS DEATH ON APRIL 20, 2000. HE VALUED THEIR FRIENDSHIP AND SHARED WITH THEM THE MEMORY OF HELPING TO PRESERVE AMERICA'S GREATNESS IN HER MOST URGENT TIME OF NEED.