Charles G. Abrell

Wounded repeatedly, he stormed a bunker with a live grenade.

Charles Gene Abrell received a posthumous Medal of Honor for destroying an enemy bunker during the Korean War. On 10 June 1951, at Hangnyong, he served as a corporal and fire-team leader in Company E, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division.

Born in Terre Haute, Indiana, on 12 August 1931, Abrell attended school in Las Vegas, Nevada, and enlisted in the Marine Corps on 17 August 1948. After recruit training at Parris Island and service at Camp Lejeune, he served aboard USS Noble before deployment to Korea. He fought at Seoul and the Chosin Reservoir before his final action. His platoon was attacking concealed, fortified hill positions when a bunker pinned down the assaulting squad. Already wounded by grenade fragments, he rushed forward alone and urged his comrades to follow. After sustaining two more wounds, he entered the bunker with a live grenade. The explosion killed him and the gun crew, helping his platoon reach its objective.

Abrell died that day and was buried in Westlawn Cemetery, Farmersburg, Indiana. Navy Secretary Dan A. Kimball presented his medal to his mother at the Pentagon on 4 September 1952. His citation records the assault that broke the bunker’s resistance.

Official Medal of Honor 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, singlehanded attack against the bunker, exhorting his comrades to follow him. Sustaining two 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.”