Charles Abrell was born in Terre
Haute, Indiana in 1931; attended school in Las Vegas, Nevada,
enlisting in the US Marine Corps in August of 1948. After completing
training at Parris Island, South Carolina, Abrell was assigned to
Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, then the USS Noble and finally the 1
st
Marine Division in Korea.
Awarded Medal of Honor posthumously by
President Harry S. Truman to Corporal Abrell, Charles G. - Company E,
2d Battalion, 1st Marine Division, USMC; Hangnyong, Korea,
10 June 1951.
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 gun
crew 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.
Charles Abrell is buried in the West
Lawn Cemetery in Farmersburg, Indiana.