FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: Major General Charles C. Rogers ~ April 27, 2009

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~ Hall of Heroes ~

Major General Charles C. Rogers

Charles Calvin Rogers (6 September 1929 – 21 September 1990) was a United States Army officer and a recipient of America's highest military decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in the Vietnam War.

Charles Rogers joined the U.S. Army from Institute, West Virginia and, by 1968, was serving as a Lieutenant Colonel in command of 1st Battalion, 5th Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Infantry Division in Vietnam. On 1 November 1968, 1st Battalion was manning a fire support base in the Fishhook region near the Cambodian border when it came under heavy attack. Rogers rallied his men in the defense of the base and, despite being several times wounded, continued to lead the battalion until the attack was repulsed. For his actions during the battle, Lieutenant Colonel Rogers was nominated for the Medal of Honor. His nomination was approved and, on 14 May 1970, Rogers and 11 other servicemen were presented with Medals of Honor by President Richard Nixon at a ceremony in the White House.

Rogers rose to the rank of Major General before leaving the Army. He later became a Baptist minister, serving U.S. troops stationed in Germany. He died in Germany at age 61 and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington County, Virginia.

Lieutenant Colonel Rogers' official Medal of Honor citation reads:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Lt. Col. Rogers, Field Artillery, distinguished himself in action while serving as commanding officer, 1st Battalion, during the defense of a forward fire support base.

In the early morning hours, the fire support base was subjected to a concentrated bombardment of heavy mortar, rocket and rocket propelled grenade fire. Simultaneously the position was struck by a human wave ground assault, led by sappers who breached the defensive barriers with bangalore torpedoes and penetrated the defensive perimeter.

Lt. Col. Rogers with complete disregard for his safety moved through the hail of fragments from bursting enemy rounds to the embattled area. He aggressively rallied the dazed artillery crewmen to man their howitzers and he directed their fire on the assaulting enemy. Although knocked to the ground and wounded by an exploding round, Lt. Col. Rogers sprang to his feet and led a small counterattack force against an enemy element that had penetrated the howitzer positions. Although painfully wounded a second time during the assault, Lt. Col. Rogers pressed the attack killing several of the enemy and driving the remainder from the positions. Refusing medical treatment, Lt. Col. Rogers reestablished and reinforced the defensive positions.

As a second human wave attack was launched against another sector of the perimeter, Lt. Col. Rogers directed artillery fire on the assaulting enemy and led a second counterattack against the charging forces. His valorous example rallied the beleaguered defenders to repulse and defeat the enemy onslaught. Lt. Col. Rogers moved from position to position through the heavy enemy fire, giving encouragement and direction to his men.

At dawn the determined enemy launched a third assault against the fire base in an attempt to overrun the position. Lt. Col. Rogers moved to the threatened area and directed lethal fire on the enemy forces. Seeing a howitzer inoperative due to casualties, Lt. Col. Rogers joined the surviving members of the crew to return the howitzer to action.

While directing the position defense, Lt. Col. Rogers was seriously wounded by fragments from a heavy mortar round which exploded on the parapet of the gun position. Although too severely wounded to physically lead the defenders, Lt. Col. Rogers continued to give encouragement and direction to his men in the defeating and repelling of the enemy attack.

Lt. Col. Rogers' dauntless courage and heroism inspired the defenders of the fire support base to the heights of valor to defeat a determined and numerically superior enemy force. His relentless spirit of aggressiveness in action are in the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.

Info found here.

Please remember the Canteen is here to honor, support and entertain our troops and their families. This is a politics-free zone! Thanks for helping us in our mission!

And thanks, Biglook, for the heads up on this hero!

1 posted on 04/26/2009 5:00:00 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska

To: Kathy in Alaska

Good morning Troops, Veterans and Canteeners.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Our Flag Flying Proudly One Nation Under God
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Lord, Please Bless Our Troops, They're fighting for our Freedom.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
God Bless Our Republic

Prayers going up

2 posted on 04/26/2009 5:00:21 PM PDT by HopeandGlory (Hey, Liberals . . . PC died on 9/11 . . . GET USED TO IT!!!)

To: Kathy in Alaska

3 posted on 04/26/2009 5:02:28 PM PDT by SandRat (Duty, Honor, Country! What else needs said?)

To: StarCMC; MoJo2001; 007; 1 FELLOW FREEPER; 11B3; 1FreeAmerican; 1stbn27; 2111USMC; 2LT Radix jr; ...

Please note: The author of the Hall of Heroes is StarCMC. Please thank her for today’s thread.

Hall of Heroes: Major General Charles C Rogers

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4 posted on 04/26/2009 5:03:48 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska (~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)

To: HopeandGlory

ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂ

Every A tips its hat for you :-)

5 posted on 04/26/2009 5:04:22 PM PDT by HiTech RedNeck (Beat a better path, and the world will build a mousetrap at your door.)

To: Kathy in Alaska

6 posted on 04/26/2009 5:05:25 PM PDT by HiJinx (~ Support Our Troops ~ www.AmericaSupportsYou.mil ~)

To: StarCMC; Kathy in Alaska; Bethbg79; EsmeraldaA; MoJo2001; Brad's Gramma; laurenmarlowe; ...

7 posted on 04/26/2009 5:07:26 PM PDT by SandRat (Duty, Honor, Country! What else needs said?)

To: txradioguy; tongue-tied; SoldierDad; mike1sg; Milo828; mystery-ak; CMS; The Sailor; Jet Jaguar; ...

Honoring Our Heroes

2LT Rebecca USA (Daughter U S Army EOD)
3 sons (armymarinemom and amdad)
AbnSarge USA
Allegra
Brett USN (CindyDawg)
Brother and Son-in-Law (kalee)
Cannoneer No. 4
CAPT Future Snake Eater USA (RightOnline)
CAPT Jason Clendenin (friend of Frou)
Chris USA (amom)
Chuck USA (RightOnline)
COL Mike (gpapa)
CMS USA
David USAF (LUV W)
Defender2
Deven USA (Shimmer)
Ethan USMC (georgiabelle)
Fred (DocRock)
GulfWar1Vet USA
IS2 Brianne USN (My Hearts in London - Everett)
IS2 Heather USN (My Hearts in London - Everett)
Jade Falcon USN
JemiansTerror USA (Jemian)
Jet Jaguar USAF
Joel (NEMDF)
Jonathan USMC (AZbushgal)
Josh USN (doug from upland)
Karen USA (fatima's granddaughter)
Kenneth (Sweetbaby/LadyPilgrim)
Kevin USMC (skimask)
Kevin and David USA (vigilante2)
Laurita USA
LCPL Carter USMC
Lindsay (Sweetbaby/LadyPilgrim)
LT David (Coldwater Creek)
M1911A1 USMC (M0sby)
M1Tanker
Major joma89 USAF
MEG33's Navy Grandson
Michael USAR (RightOnline)
Mike1Sg USA (mystery-ak)
Milo828 USA (mystery-ak)
Nate USN (sneakers)
Old Sarge USA
OneLoyalAmerican USCG
PFC Dan USA (son of swmobuffalo)
PFC Jake USMC (son of Enough_Deceit)
Pvt Alex USA (son of Enough_Deceit)
Robert, Jeremy, Daynnis USA (SoldierDad)
Sat-Com Chris USA (son of KC Burke)
SGT Brian USA (repubmom)
SGT Dusty USA (MountainDad)
SGT Ev USA (Mozie)
SGT Gray USA (colorcountry’s son)
SGT Sean Reed (preed)
Son USCG (GodBlessUSA)
SPC Mike USA (AbnSarge)
SSG Dustin USA (SIL U S Army EOD)
SSG Mitchel USA (tina07)
SSG Spencer USA (grame)
SSGT Don May Jr USMC (debm29palms)
SSGT John Linde USA (JFoxbear)
Terrence USN (Sweetbaby/LadyPilgrim)
The Sailor
tongue-tied USN/USA
Tonkin USN/USCG
txradioguy USA
Valerie USAF (Shimmer)
Victor and Tony D USMC (weldgophardline)
William USA (jackv)

8 posted on 04/26/2009 5:09:23 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska (~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)

To: redrock; All

Hello Veterans, wherever you are!!

9 posted on 04/26/2009 5:10:31 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska (~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)

To: Kathy in Alaska

Breaking news - for anyone who is interested: Laura Bush says that she and George will be doing more public speaking after these last few months of family and relaxation. Apparently, George will be speaking with Bubba Clinton up in Canada in the very near future.

10 posted on 04/26/2009 5:10:34 PM PDT by anniegetyourgun

To: Kathy in Alaska

11 posted on 04/26/2009 5:18:34 PM PDT by PERKY2004 (Proud Military Wife ... please pray for my deployed husband (deployment #6 to Iraq))

To: PERKY2004; StarCMC; Kathy in Alaska; Bethbg79; EsmeraldaA; MoJo2001; Brad's Gramma; ...

12 posted on 04/26/2009 5:25:32 PM PDT by SandRat (Duty, Honor, Country! What else needs said?)

To: HopeandGlory

And in 1st....Nana Hope grabs the gold!!

13 posted on 04/26/2009 5:26:13 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska (~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)

14 posted on 04/26/2009 5:28:11 PM PDT by anniegetyourgun

15 posted on 04/26/2009 5:29:19 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska (~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)

To: Kathy in Alaska

16 posted on 04/26/2009 5:32:33 PM PDT by Kirkwood

To: Kathy in Alaska

Many years on, General Rogers talked about that night in the Fishhook. He was asked by a television interviewer whether he knew fear during those desperate hours. The little General's brow knit and he hesitated a little. "No.....No. I was too busy worrying about my men."

(From To the last cartridge)

Charlie Rogers' dedication to his men and to God was proved over his lifetime.

Godspeed and God Bless Major General Charles Calvin Rogers.

17 posted on 04/26/2009 5:44:24 PM PDT by BIGLOOK (Keelhaul Congress! It's the sensible solution to restore Command to the People.)

To: Kathy in Alaska

Good evening, Kathy!
Good evening, all!

18 posted on 04/26/2009 5:46:48 PM PDT by Tanniker Smith (The sun glinted off chiseled pectorals sculpted during four weight-lifting sessions each week and...)

Good evening, SandRat! :)

19 posted on 04/26/2009 5:47:28 PM PDT by PERKY2004 (Proud Military Wife ... please pray for my deployed husband (deployment #6 to Iraq))

And snagging the silver....Sand is 2nd!!

20 posted on 04/26/2009 5:55:05 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska (~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)

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