Born in Terre Haute, Indiana on August 12th 1931 Charles Abrell enlisted in the US Marine Corps and earned the rank of corporal in the 1 st Marine Division serving in Korea during that war.
Cpl. Abrell was cited for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his own life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a fire team leader in Company E, in action against enemy aggressor forces.
Cpl. Abrell’s story is truly one of the most compelling examples of the tremendous lengths that great Americans have gone to in the protection of their comrades, their country, and the cause of freedom.
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 wounded previously by an enemy hand grenade fragments, he proceeded to carry out a bold, single-handed 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 hand grenade, clutched it in his hand, and hurled himself bodily into the bunker with the live missile still in his grasp.
His act of self-sacrifice fatally wounded him in the resulting explosion, but also 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.