Rank: Specialist 4
Unit: Headquarters & Headquarters Troop, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment
MOS: 91B – Medical Specialist
Awards: Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Commendation Medal with Valor Device, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Badges: Combat Medical Badge
Unit awards: Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm device
Note: Medic attached to A Troop, 1/11 ACR
Enlisted by: Selected Service
Date of birth: 14-Jul-1948
Hometown: Albany, New York
Marital status: Never Married
Campaign: Vietnam Conflict
Entered service: 15-Mar-1968
Start of tour: 23-Aug-1968
Incident date: 13-Apr-1969
Date of casualty: 18-Apr-1969
Age at death: 20
Cause of death: Hostile, died of wounds. Small Arms Fire. Gun or small arms fire.
Charles Chandler died as a result of wounds received while a passenger on a military vehicle on combat operation when a hostile force was encountered. He was admitted to a military medical facility, placed on the Very Serious Injury (VSI) list and later expired. / Passenger on APC on combat operation when engaged hostile force in firefight. Individual admitted to 24th Evacuation Hospital on 13 Apr 1969 at 1750 hrs and placed on Very Serious Injury (VSI) list on 14 Apr 1969 at 1430 hrs.
Ten Blackhorse troopers died as a result of this incident:
SP4 Larry Bruce Barfield
SP4 Robert Jay Brinkman
SFC Harry Payne Burton Jr
SP4 Charles Chandler
SP4 Gary John Dasher
SSG Harold Lee Greever
SP4 Kenneth Vern Jensen
SGT Bruce Ervin Johnson
SGT Terry Edward Jones
SGT Joseph Anthony Oreto
Location of fatality: Tay Ninh, South Vietnam, XT 428 557
Place of interment: Graceland Cemetery, Albany, New York, USA
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ARMY COMMENDATION MEDAL
WITH VALOR DEVICE
SPECIALIST FOUR CHARLES CHANDLER
11 JANUARY 1969
HEADQUARTERS AND HEADQUARTERS TROOP, 1st SQUADRON
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
Specialist Four Chandler distinguished himself by heroism in connection with military operations against a hostile force on 11 January 1969 while serving as a medic with Troop A, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On that date, when one platoon of his troop became engaged with an enemy force of superior size, several of his unit’s vehicles received direct hits, seriously wounding a number of their crew members. Upon observing that his comrades needed urgent medical attention, Specialist Chandler dismounted his vehicle and dashed through a hail of enemy automatic weapons ‘ire to the aid of a group of wounded troopers. Assuming a completely exposed position, he administered emergency first aid and helped move them to an evacuation site. There he directed the landing of the helicopters and provided protective fire with his pistol until the hostile positions were overrun. Specialist Four Chandler’s dedication to duty and deep concern for the lives and welfare of his comrades were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.
Headquarters, II Field Force Vietnam General Orders No. 769 (24 March 1969)