b. 12/08/1931 Terre Haute, Indiana. d. 10/06/1951 Hangnyong, Korea.
DATE OF MOH ACTION: 10/06/1951 Hangnyong, Korea.
Charles G Abrell MOH
Charles Gene Abrell was born in Terre Haute, Indiana on 12th August 1931. He attended school in Las Vegas, Nevada, and then enlisted in the Marine Corps on August 17, 1948 at age 17. Following recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina, he was assigned to Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and also served aboard the USS Noble before going to Korea with the 1st Marine Division. He was in combat at Inchon, Seoul, Wonsan, Chosin Reservoir, and Hanghum before the fatal assault on a hill near Hwachon for which he was awarded the Medal of Honor. His Medal of Honor was presented to his mother at the Pentagon on 4th September 1952 by the Secretary of the Navy, Dan A. Kimball.
MOH CITATION
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a fire team leader in Company E, in action against enemy aggressor forces. While advancing with his platoon in an attack against well-concealed and heavily fortified enemy hill positions, Cpl. Abrell voluntarily rushed forward through the assaulting squad which was pinned down by a hail of intense and accurate automatic-weapons fire from a hostile bunker situated on commanding ground. Although previously wounded by enemy hand grenade fragments, he proceeded to carry out a bold, single-handed attack against the bunker, exhorting his comrades to follow him. Sustaining 2 additional wounds as he stormed toward the emplacement, he resolutely pulled the pin from a grenade clutched in his hand and hurled himself bodily into the bunker with the live missile still in his grasp. Fatally wounded in the resulting explosion which killed the entire enemy guncrew within the stronghold, Cpl. Abrell, by his valiant spirit of self-sacrifice in the face of certain death, served to inspire all his comrades and contributed directly to the success of his platoon in attaining its objective.
BURIAL LOCATION: WEST LAWN CEMETERY, FARMERSBURG, INDIANA.
SECTION A.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: FAMILY.
