Medal of Honor Recipient
United States Marine Corps - 1951 Korea
Company E, 2d Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division

 

Marine Corporal Charles Gene Abrell, 19, of Terre Haute, Indiana, won the Medal of Honor in Korea for sacrificing his life while leading an assault on enemy positions.

The nation's highest decoration for valor was awarded to the youthful Marine for extraordinary heroism on June 10, 1951 at Hangnyong, where he hurled himself bodily into an enemy bunker with a live hand grenade, killing himself and the enemy gun crew in the explosion.

Corporal Abrell was the 14th Marine to receive the Medal of Honor for Korean fighting. Born August 12, 1931 at Terre Haute, he attended public schools in Las Vegas, Nevada, before enlisting in the Marine Corps August 17, 1948 at the age of 17.

Following recruit training at Parris Island, South Carolina, he was assigned to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and also served aboard the USS Noble before going to Korea with the First Marine Division.

He was in action at Inchon, Seoul, Wonsan, Chosin Reservoir, and Hanghum, before the assault on a hill near Hwachon in which he was killed.

Corporal Abrell also was awarded the Letter of Commendation with Commendation ribbon with Combat “V”, the Purple Heart, Presidential Unit Citation, Navy Occupation Service Medal with Europe clasp, Korean Service Medal with three Bronze Stars, and the United Nations Service Medal.
   

 

 

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, Second Battalion, First Marines, First Marine Division (Reinforced), in action against enemy aggressor forces in Korea on 10 June 1951. While advancing with his platoon in an attack against well-concealed and heavily-fortified enemy hill positions, Corporal 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 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, Corporal 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 United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.