SERGEANT CORNELIUS H. CHARLTON MEMORIAL GARDEN

CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENT SERGEANT CORNELIUS H. CHARLTON MOVED TO THE BRONX, WHERE HE ENLISTED IN THE ARMY AT THE ONSET OF THE KOREAN WAR 1950-1953. CHARLTON VOLUNTEERED FOR COMBAT DUTY WITH COMPANY C, 24TH INFANTRY REGIMENT OF THE 25TH INFANTRY DIVISION. ON JUNE 2, 1951, CHARLTON’S PLATOON COMMANDER WAS SERIOUSLY WOUNDED DURING AN ASSAULT ON HILL 543 IN KOREA. CHARLTON ASSUMED COMMAND OF THE PLATOON, RALLIED THE MEN, AND RE-LAUNCHED THE ATTACK. HE PERSONALLY DESTROYED TWO ENEMY POSITIONS AND KILLED SIX ENEMY SOLDIERS WITH RIFLE FIRE AND GRENADES. THE PLATOON SUFFERED HEAVY CASUALTIES AND FALTERED, BUT CHARLTON REGROUPED THE MEN AND LAUNCHED A SECOND ATTACK. HE RECEIVED A SEVERE CHEST WOUND BUT REFUSED MEDICAL ATTENTION AND LED A THIRD CHARGE, WHICH ADVANCED HIS MEN TO THE CREST OF A HILL. SEEING THE REMAINING STRONG POINT ON THE OPPOSITE HILL, HE CHARGED IT ALONE. CHARLTON WAS HIT BY ANOTHER GRENADE AND MORTALLY WOUNDED, BUT LIVED LONG ENOUGH TO DESTROY THE ENEMY POSITION.