TFH 6/10: Corporal Charles G. Abrell, USMC

Charles Gene Abrell was born on August 12, 1931 in Terre Haute, Indiana. He grew up in Las Vegas, Nevada and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps just five days after his 17th birthday in 1948. He went to war in 1950 when the 1st Marine Division was sent to Korea. By June 1951, Abrell was a veteran of the Inchon Landing and the Chosin Reservoir campaign.

On June 10 with the 2nd Battalion/1st Marine Regiment ("The Professionals"), Corporal Abrell charged forward through the point squad of his company which had been pinned down by vicious enemy fire. When his attack was upon an enemy bunker, there was only one way for him to destroy the enemy: he used himself as a missile. His sacrifice and courage was decorated with our Nation's highest honor.


From Medal of Honor Citations for the Korean War:


*ABRELL, CHARLES G. 


Rank and organization: Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps, Company E, 2d Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division (Rein.). Place and date: Hangnyong, Korea, 10 June 1951. Entered service at: Terre Haute, Ind. Born: 12 August 1931, Terre Haute, Ind. 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. His superb courage and heroic initiative sustain and enhance the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country. 

The 1st Marine Regiment's motto is "No Better Friend, No Worse Enemy". Charles Abrell's fellow Marines observed the former, and our communist enemies felt the latter. He rests in peace today at West Lawn Cemetery in Farmersburg, Indiana.

2nd Battalion/1st Marines is still part of the 1st Marine Division. Their home station is Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in California.