Hometown: Bronx, NY
Branch: U.S. Army
Unit: Company C, 24th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division
Military Honors: Medal of Honor, Purple Heart
Date of Sacrifice: June 2, 1951 - KIA near Chipo-ri, South Korea
Age: 21
Conflict: Korean War 1950-1953

Long before Cornelius “Connie” Charlton joined the U.S. Army, he had plenty of experience being part of a “platoon.” His parents, Van and Clara (Thompson) Charlton had 17 children. Van was a coal miner in East Gulf, West Virginia until the family moved to the Bronx in New York City in 1944, where he took a job as an apartment building superintendent.

Cornelius graduated from the Bronx’s James Monroe High School in 1946 and immediately enlisted in the U.S. Army. At age 17, he needed his parents’ consent to join. While he was in high school Cornelius wanted to drop out to join the fight (World War II, 1939-1945). But Van and Clara insisted that he finish school before they would give their consent.

With the Allied victories in Europe and the Pacific completed, Charlton’s first service was with an engineering group of U.S. troops occupying Germany. He requested a transfer to an infantry unit and was reassigned to Company C of the 24th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division.

The Army’s 24th Infantry Regiment was the last all-black segregated regiment in operation. Dating back to 1866, all-black regiments (then the 9th & 10th Cavalry) were given the nickname “Buffalo Soldiers” by American Plains Indian tribes who thought the men’s dark curly hair resembled a buffalo’s coat.

In later American wars, the segregated units adopted the “Buffalo Soldiers” name as a point of pride, having proven themselves highly capable in battle. The Korean War (1950-1953) was the last American conflict that involved segregated units. In 1948, President Harry S. Truman ordered the desegregation of all U.S. military forces. It would take until 1951 before full integration of all units was accomplished.

One of the last of the “Buffalo Soldiers,” Sgt. Cornelius H. Charlton would bring more honor to the nickname for his courage in fighting Chinese Communist forces on Hill 543, near Chipo-ri, North Korea.

Sgt. Charlton’s acts of bravery on June 2, 1951 are described in his Medal of Honor citation:

Sgt. Charlton, a member of Company C, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy. His platoon was attacking heavily defended hostile positions on commanding ground when the leader was wounded and evacuated. Sgt. Charlton assumed command, rallied the men, and spearheaded the assault against the hill. Personally eliminating two hostile positions and killing six of the enemy with his rifle fire and grenades, he continued up the slope until the unit suffered heavy casualties and became pinned down. Regrouping the men, he led them forward only to be again hurled back by a shower of grenades. Despite a severe chest wound, Sgt. Charlton refused medical attention and led a third daring charge which carried to the crest of the ridge. Observing that the remaining emplacement which had retarded the advance was situated on the reverse slope, he charged it alone, was again hit by a grenade but raked the position with a devastating fire which eliminated it and routed the defenders. The wounds received during his daring exploits resulted in his death, but his indomitable courage, superb leadership, and gallant self-sacrifice reflect the highest credit upon himself, the infantry, and the military service.

Sgt. Charlton is credited with saving the lives of his platoon on that day. His remains were returned to his family, and he was buried in Pocahontas, Virginia at his mother’s family burial plot. When the cemetery fell into disrepair, Sgt. Charlton was reinterred at the American Legion Cemetery in Beckley, West Virginia.

On December 11, 1999, the U.S. Navy christened the USNS Charlton (T-AKR-314) cargo ship in honor of Sgt. Charlton.

Through the efforts of his family, the National Medal of Honor Society, and Beckley’s American Legion Post 32, Sgt. Charlton was finally given the burial he deserved. On November 12, 2008—57 years after he gave “the last full measure of devotion” to his country—Sgt. Cornelius H. Charlton was laid to rest, with full military honors, at Arlington National Cemetery (Section 40, Site 300).

Sources
National Park Service: Cornelius H. Charlton
Arlington National Cemetery: Cornelius H. Charlton – Sergeant, United States Army
U.S. Army: ‘Buffalo Soldier’ earned his Medal of Honor in Korea
Congressional Medal of Honor Society: Cornelius H Charlton
Military.com: Sgt. Cornelius H. Charlton
Korean War Project: SGT Cornelius H Charlton
West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History: Cornelius Carlton
Naval History and Heritage Command: Sergeant Cornelius H. Charlton
Burial Site: Find a Grave