THE WALL OF FACES

May those who served never be forgotten. Rest in peace SGT. Crutchfield, I salute your brave soul. My heart goes out to you and your family. Semper Fidelis!

I was 6 years old when I got the news from my mom Isabel Krygier that Charles was killed in Vietnam war.A very sad day seeing my mom so distraught that seemed to stay with her the rest of her life.She obviously kept Charles memories dear to her heart and never forgot him and neither have I❤️

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. As long as you are remembered you will remain in our hearts forever...

Sergeant Charles Ellis Crutchfield, Served with Company M, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, Third Marine Amphibious Force.

Sgt Charles Ellis Crutchfield (22) was born on January 13, 1944 and was from Kinmundy, Illinois. Sgt Crutchfield joined the Marine Corp in 1963 and joined M Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment in August 1965. On March 4, Operation UTAH was launched under the command of Task Force Delta in the Son Thinh District of Quang Ngai Province where the Marines would encounter elements of the 21st NVA Regiment. Mike Company was helicoptered into the operations area on the evening of 4 March the Marines moved forward on their search and destroy mission at first light on March 5. With little contact in the morning hours, Company M got heavily engaged with the enemy in the vicinity of Chau Nhai (3) by 1100 hours with the battle continuing into the afternoon. The NVA troops "occupied classic defensive positions, were well-armed and equipped, and defended occupied positions in strength." The Marines engaged and aggressively assaulted the enemy fortified positions and by approximately 1330 hours were able to penetrate the enemy positions which came at a cost of fifteen Marines killed and forty-six wounded in the action. Enemy resistance slackened with nightfall and when the Marines began again after daybreak on 06 March they found the NVA had withdrawn. The position turned out to be an extensive tunnel and underground bunker complex for the NVA 21st Regiment. The action on 05 March cost the Marines 43 dead. Mike 3/1 had fifteen of the Americans killed in action and forty-six wounded on 05 March. Sgt. Crutchfield was killed by multiple fragmentation wounds. He is survived by his father, Ed, of Salem, Illinois and his mother Arizona, of Brush Colorado. He is interred at Phillips Cemetery, Omega, Illinois and and is honored on the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Wall, Panel 05E, Line 117.