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Vietnam Medal of Honor recipient U.S. Army Chaplain Charles J. Watters.
Medal of Honor
Episode 3016 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature Medal of Honor recipient U.S. Army Chaplain Charles J. Watters. Information featured in this episode comes from Wikipedia and The VVMF website.
In the annals of American military history, few figures exemplify selfless courage and spiritual dedication like U.S. Army Chaplain (Major) Charles J. Watters, a Medal of Honor recipient who gave his life during the Vietnam War to serve his fellow soldiers.
Born on January 17, 1927, in Jersey City, New Jersey, Charles Joseph Watters was ordained as a Roman Catholic priest in 1953. Motivated by a deep sense of duty and faith, he joined the U.S. Army Chaplain Corps in 1962, determined to minister to soldiers serving in increasingly perilous global conflicts.
Chaplain Watters was assigned to the 173rd Airborne Brigade, a distinguished airborne infantry brigade of the U.S. Army, deployed in some of the most intense combat zones of the Vietnam War. His most heroic actions occurred on November 19, 1967, during Operation Waco, in the Battle of Dak To, one of the bloodiest engagements of the war. The battle unfolded in the rugged Central Highlands near the Cambodian border, where U.S. forces engaged the well-entrenched North Vietnamese Army (NVA).
As bullets tore through the jungle and artillery shook the earth, Chaplain Watters moved fearlessly among the wounded and dying. Without regard for his own safety, he administered last rites, provided first aid, and carried men to safety under direct enemy fire. Even after being urged to remain behind for his own protection, he repeatedly exposed himself to intense combat to aid the fallen.
Chaplain Watters’ acts of bravery went far beyond his clerical duties. Eyewitness accounts describe him dragging the wounded to safety, shielding soldiers with his own body, and offering words of comfort to those facing death. He refused evacuation and continued to serve until he was tragically killed by a friendly bomb strike while tending to the injured.
For his unparalleled gallantry and devotion to his fellow soldiers, Chaplain Charles J. Watters was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, the United States military’s highest and most prestigious personal military decoration. His citation notes “conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty.”
Chaplain Watters’ name is engraved not only in stone, on memorials like the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., but in the hearts of those who continue to be inspired by his legacy. His heroism is also commemorated at Arlington National Cemetery, where he is laid to rest among other American heroes.
The story of Medal of Honor recipient Chaplain Charles J. Watters stands as a powerful testament to the role of faith, compassion, and courage in the midst of war. His legacy lives on through military chaplains, veterans, and all who value the profound sacrifice made by those who serve others, even at the cost of their own lives.
Listen to Episode 3016 and discover more about Medal of Honor recipient U.S. Army Chaplain Charles J. Watters.
