Charles served 20 yrs in the U.S. Army. He enlisted on 18 Nov.1939. His first taste of combat came when the Imperial Japanese Navy launched their surprise attack on Peral Harbor, Hawaii on Sunday Dec 7th, 1941.

After providing for the defense of the Hawaiian Islands following the attack his unit was eventually sent to the Australia to serve in the Southwest Pacific Theater where he took part in numerous invasions of Japanese occupied islands. After WWII ended he returned to the United States where he left the Army for a brief period to try and start up his own business. The business failed so he re-enlisted in the Army on 17 Sept. 1946 where he served in various capacities until 22 June 1951 when he was honorably discharged to accept an appoitment as a Warrant Officer.

After completeing his Warrant Officer training he was assigned to the 176th Armored Field Artillery Battery "C", a PA. National Guard Unit, that had been deployed to Korea to aid in fight against the communist invasion from North Korea, he served from 1952 to the end of the fighting in 1953.

Charles served as the Chief of Fire Direction Center. While in Korea he took part in the following Campaigns:

Korean Summer and Fall Campaign; 4 May 1952

Third Korean Winter Campaign: and

Korean Summer and Fall Campaigns; 1953

Charles served as a Warrant Officer until 2 Oct 1953 when he was honorably discharged. He then re-enlisted in the Army on 16 March 1954. Charles retired from the U.S. Army on 31 Oct. 1961. At the time of his retirement he was assigned to Headquarters Company 1610 at Pine Bluff Arsenal, Pine Bluff Arkansas.

On 2 July 1971 he was advanced to the rank of Warrant Officer (W-1) on the U.S. Army Retired List, to reflect the highest rank he attained while on active duty.

These are the medals Charles received during his service:

Bronze Star Medal (earned, while assigned to Company "E", 34th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division on about 15 Feb 1945)

Combat Infantryman Badge

Good Conduct Medal with 3 loops

American Defense Service Medal with Clasp

World War II Victory Medal

Asia Pacific Theater Campaign Medal with 2 service stars

Korean Service Medal with 3 service stars

Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation

Meritorious Unit Citation

National Defense Service Medal

United Nations Service Medal

Charles Hartzel (1920)