Rank: Specialist 4
Unit: L Troop, 3rd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment
MOS: 11D – Armor Reconnaissance Specialist
Awards: Bronze Star Medal with Valor Device, Purple Heart Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Badges: Combat Infantryman Badge
Unit awards: Valorous Unit Award, Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm device
Enlisted by: Selected Service
Date of birth: 26-Aug-1942
Hometown: Memphis, Tennessee
Marital status: Married to Martha S. Grisham
Campaign: Vietnam Conflict
Start of tour: 15-Jul-1967
Incident date: 1-Feb-1968
Date of casualty: 1-Feb-1968
Age at death: 25
Cause of death: Hostile, died of wounds. Small Arms Fire. Gun or small arms fire.
Individual was admitted to a military hospital in Vietnam, placed on the very seriously injured (VSI) list 1 Feb 1968 where he later expired from gunshot wound received while passenger in a military vehicle which came under hostile sniper fire during security mission. / (Individual transported to 24th Evacuation Hospital, Long Binh, where he later expired.)
Location of fatality: Bien Hoa, South Vietnam
Place of interment: New Salem Baptist Church Cemetery, Iuka, Mississippi, USA
View this soldier‘s Find a Grave page (opens in a new window)
BRONZE STAR MEDAL
WITH VALOR DEVICE
POSTHUMOUS
SPECIALIST FOUR CHARLES COLE GRISHAM
1 FEBRUARY 1968
L TROOP, 3rd SQUADRON
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
Specialist Four Grisham distinguished himself by valorous actions on 1 February 1968, while serving as a Machine Gunner with Troop L, 3d Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the city of Bien Hoa. As the friendly patrol entered the city, a heavily armed Viet Cong force began directing intense small arms and automatic weapons fire upon the approaching vehicles. Specialist Grisham immediately exposed himself to the deadly barrage to deliver a highly accurate volume of suppressive fire from his M60 machine gun and simultaneously direct the fire of his comrades. While maneuvering his armored cavalry assault vehicle against the enemy forces and maintaining devastating return fire, Specialist Grisham was mortally wounded. Specialist Four Grisham’s personal bravery and devotion to duty 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, 9th Infantry Division General Orders No. 1563 (21 March 1968)