SGT Cornelius H Charlton

Comments: Sergeant Charlton was a veteran of World War II. In Korea, he was initially assigned to an engineer service unit. On request he transferred to Company C, 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. He was recommended for a battlefield commission. During an attack on heavily fortified enemy positions, Hill 543, near Chipo-ri, North Korea on June 2, 1951, he assumed command of his platoon, regrouping his men. Although seriously wounded, he refused aid and led the platoon to the crest of a hill. Then singlehandedly, he attacked a second enemy position over the crest and destroyed it before being mortally wounded. His family knew him as "Connie." From Zenobia Penn: Because of his color, he was denied burial in Arlington Cemetery. Sgt. Charlton's body was buried in Bryant Memorial Cemetery near Pocahontas, VA. In 1989 the Medal of Honor Society discovered Sgt. Charlton's burial site in poor condition and in 1990 re-interred his remains at the American Legion Cemetery in Beckley, WV. On November 12, 2008, the remains of Sgt. Cornelius H. Charlton was buried for a third and final time as he was re-interred at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors. My Uncle Connie, an American hero, is now where he always deserved to be.

Son of Van Charlton and Clara Esther Charlton of Bronx, New York.