On the night of Oct 31, 1968, LTC. Charles C. Rogers was serving as the CO of 1st BN, 5th Artillery, 1st ID on the remote and strategically important Firebase Rita when it came under devastating mortar and rocket attack.
Human waves of NVA followed the barrage, with the intention of completely wiping out the small American force.
Roger's lowered all of his 105 howitzers at zero degrees and began firing artillery rounds at point blank range towards the oncoming enemy.
Wounded 3 separate times and with the enemy inside the perimeter, Rogers fought for 4 grueling hours, leading his men in desperate close quarters and hand to hand combat; repulsing 3 human wave assaults and maintaining control of his base.
The enemy was finally defeated by sunrise with the help of airstrikes and gunship support.
With hundreds of dead enemy bodies littering the field, and with only 27 American losses, LTC Rogers would receive the Medal of Honor in 1970 for his actions on that Halloween night.
After retiring from the Army in 1984, he became an ordained Baptist minister until his death in 1990.
"I led my soldiers through hell, now I want to try and lead them to heaven."
#hardcore #artyparty #vietnam #zerofoxtrot #stayzero