Purple Heart

PFC CHARLES HARRY SNOW
A CO, 2ND BN, 503RD INF RGT, 173 ABN BDE
 

National Defense Medal

Charlie

Bronze Star

Campaign Medal

Vietnam Service Medal

Gallantry Cross with Palm

Military Merit Medal

I will never forget you, Charley!
Luv ya —-Brenda

PFC - E3 - Army - Regular
173rd Airborne Brigade
19 year old, Caucasian, Male
Born on Feb 20, 1948
From MEDFORD, OREGON
His tour of duty began on Mar 10, 1967
Casualty was on Jun 22, 1967
in KONTUM, SOUTH VIETNAM
HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY
GUN, SMALL ARMS FIRE
Body was recovered
Religion
PROTESTANT

Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Wall
Panel 22E - - Line 50

Enemy Virtually Wipes Out Two U.S. Platoons
Only Six GIs Survive Battle

Saigon (UPI)--Hundreds of black-bereted North Vietnamese soldiers surrounded two "lost platoons" of U.S. paratroopers high on a mountain ridge and virtually wiped them out in fierce fighting that killed 76 Americans, U.S. spokesmen said Saturday.  Only six of the trapped GIs survived and they all were wounded.

Nineteen other Americans from rescue units seeking to reach the besieged Americans were wounded in one of the worst defeats suffered by the American Army in Vietnam.

A paratroop spokesman said the North Vietnamese, after mowing down the two platoons in murderous cross fire, methodically went among the wounded GI's finishing them off with pistol shots and rifled their bodies of food and money.

But the North Vietnamese paid a heavy price in the battle with the two platoons and other troops of the U.S. 173rd airborne brigade that tried to rescue them in the mountains near the borders of Cambodia and Laos about 275 miles northeast of Saigon.

A communiqué issued in Saigon said "no firm casualty count has been reported" but officers in the field estimated that the North Vietnamese 24th division had suffered as many as 450 dead in the fighting.  At one point bodies of about 60 North Vietnamese soldiers were found stacked up around the perimeter of the lost platoons.  They had apparently been used as shields for the charging Communist soldiers.

The battle actually took place Thursday but correspondents were forbidden by the U.S. military command to report it until Saturday.  Military officials said they did not want the Communists to know that contact between the lost platoons and their parent unit had been broken.

Seventy of the 76 Americans who died in the fighting along the ridge line belonged to the two platoons from one company of the 173rd airborne.   The six others were from rescue units.

"Every man in the company is a hero," said Company commander Capt. David Milton of Dallas, Tex.  "The folks back home can be proud of them and how they conducted themselves."

Award of Medal Due Posthumously

Pfc. Charles H. Snow, who was killed in Vietnam June 22, 1967 , received the Bronze Star and Purple Heart medals.  Pfc. Snow was killed in Vietnam when, as a member of the 173rd Airborne Brigade, two platoons were cut off from other U.S. troops near the Cambodian and Laos borders and were virtually wiped out. Making the presentation was Maj. James D. Straus, executive officer of the Second Battalion, 414th Regiment, Army Reserve.

Soldier Receives Vietnamese Medals

Two medals from the government of the Republic of Vietnam have been awarded posthumously to Army Pfc. Charles H. Snow, Medford, who was killed June 22, 1967, while a member of the 173rd Airborne Brigade about 275 miles northeast of Saigon. Presented were Military Merit Medal and the Gallantry Cross with Palm.

July 3, 1967

Charles H. Snow

Funeral services for Pfc. Charles Harry Snow, 19, of 1947 Archer Drive, Medford, who died June 22 in Vietnam, will be held at 1 p.m., Monday July 3, in Conger-Morris downtown chapel.  The Rev. William S. Orr of the Phoenix Presbyterian Church will officiate.  Committal will be in Memory Gardens Memorial Park, with military honors provided by a detachment from Kingsley Field.

Mr. Snow was born Feb. 20, 1948, in Warren, Arkansas and had lived in Southern Oregon for 17 years, attending grade school in Jacksonville, and Medford High School.  He enlisted in the Army last August, and left in March of this year for Vietnam.

Survivors include his parents, Mr. and Mrs. William Snow, Medford; Three brothers, Billy Ray Snow, James Snow, and George Snow, all at home; his grandparents, Mrs. Bertha Snow, Eloy, Arizona-- Will Snow, Whittier, California and Mr. and Mrs. E.E. Trimble, Weiser, Idaho and a number of aunts and uncles in the Medford area.   Those who wish may make memorial donations to the Disabled American Veterans or to The Salvation Army.




THE BATTLE OF THE SLOPES
June 22, 1967
Casualty List

Rest in peace dear soldiers...
may God bless you and your families
.

I will not forget  —Brenda
 

James Rowden
Charley Snow
John Rowden

Mike Collins
John Boyce
Jim Whisnan

Mike Schwab

06 Mar 66
22 Jun 67
10 Feb 68
22 Feb 68
02 Mar 68
14 Mar 68
06 Sep 70

KIA

Army Pfc. Charles H. Snow, 19, son of Mr. & Mrs. William Snow, 1947 Archer Drive was killed June 22 in enemy action in Vietnam.

Pfc. Snow was a member of one of the two platoons of the 173rd Airborne Brigade which were virtually wiped out when cut off from other U.S. troops in the mountains near the borders of Cambodia and Laos about 275 miles northeast of Saigon.

The local soldier left March 10 for Vietnam after enlisting in the Army last August.

Pfc. Snow was born Feb. 20, 1948, in Warren, Ark., and moved with his family to Southern Oregon 17 years ago.  He attended grade school in Jacksonville and Medford High School.

Survivors, in addition to his parents are three brothers, Billy Ray Snow, James Snow and George Snow, all at home.

Do you remember me America? I was the one which others cared not to be. I went where others feared to go and did what others failed to do. I asked nothing from those who gave nothing. I reluctantly, accepted the thought of eternal loneliness should I fail. I have seen the face of terror, felt the chill of fear, warmed to the touch of love. I have hoped, pained, and cried. But foremost, I have lived in times others would say are best forgotten. At the very least, in these later days, I am able to say with the greatest pride..... that I was indeed! .....an American Soldier!

 

Karl Schmidt
Combat Infantry
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 who survived both battles for
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