Special thanks to my dear friend Vito Cupertino, who sent me this license plate last week. How sweet of you. I will always treasure it. It is on my desk and I look at it every day and think of all you guys.
Hey Seahorses!! Sharing a letter from Col Mike which I received this morning.
Marion:
I just watched the DVD you sent me with the WW2 materials included, and it's great. You did a fantastic job making it and I'm impressed. I've never done video before. Where did you get the music? I like it!
I also want to tell you I received last week an unsolicited article from the 14th and 19th Engineer Battalions who are now serving side by side in Iraq. This is the first time since WWII, when they were both a part of the 36th Regiment, that these units have served together. Officers of the two units wrote a super story including the unit histories from WWII forward to today, and the 36th Engineer Combat Regiment is highlighted throughout. This is an unintended PLUS for the next magazine issue that has your article included. I'm always amazed at how things often come together by themselves. Call it coincidence or whatever.
I'm about finished with the magazine, and hope to get it to the printer in a week or so. It ought to be ready to mail around Thanksgiving, and I'm planning on sending you some extra copies to pass around.
Official Medal of Honor Citation: Sergeant Cornelius H. Charlton, Infantry, United States Army, a member of Company C 24th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy on 2 June 1951, near Chipo-ri, Korea.
His platoon was attacking heavily defended hostile positions on commanding ground when the leader was wounded and evacuated. Sergeant Charlton assumed command, rallied the men, and spearheaded the assault against the hill. Personally eliminating two hostile positions and killing six of the enemy with his rifle fire and grenades, he continued up the slope until the unit suffered heavy casualties and became pinned down. Regrouping the men he led them forward only to be again hurled back by a shower of grenades.
Despite a severe chest wound,Sergeant Charlton refused medical attention and led a third daring charge which carried to the crest of the ridge. Observing that the remaining emplacement which had retarded the advance was situated on the reverse slope, he charged it alone, was again hit by a grenade but raked the position with a devastating fire which eliminated it and routed the defenders. The wounds received during his daring exploits resulted in his death but his indomitable courage, superb leadership, and gallant self-sacrifice reflect the highest credit upon himself the infantry, and the military service.
Mu buddy Karl sent these to me from Germany. When he saw my dad's photos from Heidelberg, he said he knew exactly where those were taken. How cool is this?
I finally got around to scanning them this morning. So here are the "befores", followed by the "afters".
Thank you so much Karl. I will also be scanning his collection and reenactment photos later this morning and placing them in the reenactors section of the forum. Danka!
