Charles Rogers was a career Lieutenant Colonel commanding a forward fire support base (FSB) on the Cambodian border in the fall of 1968. When his FSB was overrun in a heavy, prolonged attack, Lt. Col. Charles Rogers led the defense. He survived an exploding mortar round, and personally manned two howitzers in spite of several wounds, refusing medical treatment while continuing to lead and encourage the defenders.
Attack at Fishhook
The FSB was in the area called The Fishhook, a part of Cambodia that was the end of the Ho Chi Minh Trail and an important command base for the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) and the Viet Cong (VC). On November 1st the FSB was suddenly attacked by mortar, rocket and rocket propelled grenade fire, while the defensive perimeter was breached and a human wave attack overran the camp.
LTC Rogers was wounded in the initial attack as he rushed to the breach to lead the defense. The howitzer crew were dazed, and he roused them and directed their fire at the attackers. He was wounded again while leading a counter attack, but killed many enemy soldiers and repulsed the wave.
LTC Rogers refused treatment, and improvised new perimeter defenses. When another human wave attack hit a separate section of the camp, Lt. Col. Rogers again led a counter attack in spite of his wounds. He moved through the camp encouraging his men. At dawn, a third wave attack came. Rogers again made it to a howitzer, and, personally replacing killed crewmen, helped the surviving crewmen man the howitzer and protect the position.
Charles Rogers, from LTC to MG to Pastor
Charles Rogers survived the war, and was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Nixon in a White House ceremony. He was promoted to general officer, and retired in 1984 as a Major General. In retirement, MG Charles Rogers became Pastor Charles Rogers, of the Baptist Church. He ministered to troops in Germany as a chaplain until his death from cancer at the age of 61.
Citation
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Lt. Col. Rogers, Field Artillery, distinguished himself in action while serving as commanding officer, 1st Battalion, during the defense of a forward fire support base. In the early morning hours, the fire support base was subjected to a concentrated bombardment of heavy mortar, rocket and rocket propelled grenade fire. Simultaneously the position was struck by a human wave ground assault, led by sappers who breached the defensive barriers with bangalore torpedoes and penetrated the defensive perimeter. Lt. Col. Rogers with complete disregard for his safety moved through the hail of fragments from bursting enemy rounds to the embattled area. He aggressively rallied the dazed artillery crewmen to man their howitzers and he directed their fire on the assaulting enemy. Although knocked to the ground and wounded by an exploding round, Lt. Col. Rogers sprang to his feet and led a small counterattack force against an enemy element that had penetrated the howitzer positions. Although painfully wounded a second time during the assault, Lt. Col. Rogers pressed the attack killing several of the enemy and driving the remainder from the positions. Refusing medical treatment, Lt. Col. Rogers reestablished and reinforced the defensive positions. As a second human wave attack was launched against another sector of the perimeter, Lt. Col. Rogers directed artillery fire on the assaulting enemy and led a second counterattack against the charging forces. His valorous example rallied the beleaguered defenders to repulse and defeat the enemy onslaught. Lt. Col. Rogers moved from position to position through the heavy enemy fire, giving encouragement and direction to his men. At dawn the determined enemy launched a third assault against the fire base in an attempt to overrun the position. Lt. Col. Rogers moved to the threatened area and directed lethal fire on the enemy forces. Seeing a howitzer inoperative due to casualties, Lt. Col. Rogers joined the surviving members of the crew to return the howitzer to action. While directing the position defense, Lt. Col. Rogers was seriously wounded by fragments from a heavy mortar round which exploded on the parapet of the gun position. Although too severely wounded to physically lead the defenders, Lt. Col. Rogers continued to give encouragement and direction to his men in the defeating and repelling of the enemy attack. Lt. Col. Rogers’ dauntless courage and heroism inspired the defenders of the fire support base to the heights of valor to defeat a determined and numerically superior enemy force. His relentless spirit of aggressiveness in action are in the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.
