NO. 17970 • 19 December 1927 – 21 November 1968
Died 21 November 1968 in an aircraft crash at Point Borrow, Alaska, aged 40 years.
Interment: El Carmelo Cemetery, Pacific Grove, California
CHARLES WILLIAM ELLIOT was born in Beloit, Wisconsin, on 19 December 1927. He attended the United States Military Academy eaming a Bachelor of Science Degree. After graduation on 2 June 1950, he received airborne training, had a brief assignment with the 11th Airborne Division, and went to Korea in January 1951.
During the Korean War, Charlie led a rifle platoon and a heavy mortar platoon in the 32d RCT, 7th Infantry Division. He was wounded in June 1951 and hospitalized until July 1953.
Assignments held by Charlie, in chronological order, included: S3 officer in a training battalion at Fort Benning, Georgia; MAAG advisor to an infantry battalion in Saudi Arabia; G3 Plans and Operations Officer, Fort Ord, California; Military Intelligence Platoon Commander, Headquarters Company Commander, and Adjutant for the 519 MI Battalion, Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Rifle Company Commander in the 6th Infantry Regiment and G3 Plans Officer for Berlin Brigade. He also served as Chairman, Benning Ranger Committee, Fort Benning, Georgia. He assumed duties as Personnel Staff Officer in the office of the J1 Division, Headquarters, Alaskan Command, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, on 20 June 1967.
Military schools he attended are: Airborne, Company Officers Course, Advanced Infantry Officers Course, Ranger, Army Language School at Monterey, California for Arabic, and Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.
His awards and decorations included: Legion of Merit (posthumously), Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal, Korean Service Medal with three battle stars, United Nations Service Medal. National Defense Service Medal with bronze star, Army of Occupation Medal (Berlin), and the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal. Charlie had also been awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Parachutist Badge, and the Ranger Tab.
While serving as military representative to the Governor's Employment Advisory Commission, he died in an aircraft crash on 21 November 1968 - along with five other members of the commission - at Point Barrow, Alaska.
He is survived by his wife Florence June; and their three children, Karen, Charles, and Bruce; and by his mother Mrs. Frieda C. Peek of Kittery, Maine.
Charles Elliot was a fine young officer who will be remembered by all with fondness and respect.