How the son of a WWI veteran became one of few Black Medal of Honor recipients from the Vietnam War

Army Major General Charles Calvin Rogers

Lieutenant Colonel Charles Rogers could have stayed in his command bunker when the enemy attacked. Instead, he grabbed his rifle and fought alongside his men for four brutal hours.

The West Virginia native won the Medal of Honor for his courage that November night. Here’s his heroic story.

Rogers Watched Enemy Traffic Flow

Rogers spent Halloween night 1968 watching North Vietnamese supply trucks roll down the Ho Chi Minh Trail into South Vietnam.

American rules prevented him from shooting targets inside Cambodia, but the enemy faced no such restrictions and regularly fired rockets and mortars at Fire Support Base Rita from across the border.

Knowing an attack was inevitable, Rogers spent the evening checking howitzer positions and ensuring his artillery crews were ready for what was coming.

Enemy Mortars Shattered the Dawn

At 3 a.m. on November 1st, American soldiers fired their traditional “mad minute” into the surrounding jungle. When the chaotic firing ended and silence returned, Rogers heard the distinctive thump of enemy mortars echoing from the darkness.

Bugles began blaring across the border, followed immediately by dozens of rockets and rocket-propelled grenades streaking toward the firebase. The heavy bombardment sent shrapnel whining through the air as soldiers scrambled for cover, but this was just the beginning.

Sappers Blasted Through the Perimeter

While the mortars kept falling, enemy demolition teams charged straight at the defensive wire carrying bangalore torpedoes and satchel charges. More bugle calls echoed through the chaos as the sappers blew gaps in the perimeter, clearing paths for the infantry massed behind them.

As Sergeant Major Ira Whitaker later recalled, “They threw Bangalore torpedoes across the wire and blew it and they came straight in.” Within minutes, North Vietnamese soldiers were fighting inside the firebase itself.

Rogers Sprinted Into Heavy Fire

Rogers immediately ran toward the worst fighting, moving through exploding shells and flying shrapnel to reach his gun positions. His artillery crews looked stunned by the sudden assault, so Rogers began shouting orders to get them back on their howitzers.

He moved from gun to gun through enemy fire, pointing out targets and directing each crew’s fire. The big 155mm howitzers started booming back at the attacking force, but the enemy kept pressing forward through the gaps in the wire.

Shrapnel Wounds Didn’t Slow Him

An enemy shell exploded close enough to knock Rogers flat and tear shrapnel into his leg and face. He jumped back up, grabbed his rifle, and spotted North Vietnamese soldiers who had broken through near one of his gun positions.

Rogers led a small counterattack straight at them, firing as they advanced. During the fight, he was wounded again but kept shooting until they drove the enemy back, leaving several North Vietnamese dead around the gun position.

Medical Treatment Could Wait

When a medic approached to treat his wounds, Rogers waved him away because too many other crisis points demanded attention.

Blood running from his shrapnel wounds, he continued moving from position to position through heavy gunfire, checking on his men and reinforcing weak spots in the defense.

Rogers even jumped in with gun crews that had lost men to enemy fire, helping them keep their howitzers in action while directing the overall battle.

Second Wave Hit Another Sector

The North Vietnamese quickly regrouped and launched a fresh assault against a different part of the perimeter. Rogers spotted the new attack developing and immediately began directing concentrated artillery fire at the charging enemy formations.

He then led another counterattack against the breakthrough point, rallying soldiers who were beginning to fall back. The coordinated firepower from multiple gun positions broke up this second assault before it could punch through the defenses.

Dawn’s Light Brought Final Desperation

As sunrise approached, the enemy launched one last massive attack in a desperate attempt to overrun the firebase.

Rogers moved to the heaviest fighting and directed his remaining guns at the advancing North Vietnamese, knowing this was their final opportunity.

Both sides understood the stakes as the enemy threw everything they had at the American positions while Rogers coordinated the defense from increasingly close range.

Commander Became Gun Crew Member

An enemy mortar landed directly beside one of the 155mm howitzers, putting most of its crew out of action just when the gun was needed most. Rogers ran to the position and joined the surviving crew members, helping them get the massive weapon back in operation.

Despite his command responsibilities, the lieutenant colonel grabbed shells and helped load the howitzer like any other soldier, pumping beehive rounds into the enemy formations trying to overrun his position.

Mortar Blast Finally Brought Him Down

While Rogers worked the gun, a heavy mortar exploded on the position’s parapet and sent shrapnel tearing into him. This time the wounds were severe enough to drop him and leave his legs useless, but his mind remained sharp and focused on the battle.

Though he could no longer run between positions, Rogers continued directing the defense and encouraging his men from where he lay, refusing to let his injuries end his leadership when it was needed most.

Air Power Decided the Battle

As daylight made flying possible, Rogers called in air support that had been waiting for dawn. Air Force jets arrived with bombs and strafing runs while Army helicopter gunships joined the attack, finally giving the Americans the firepower advantage they needed.

The combination of artillery, air strikes, and determined ground defense broke the enemy’s will to continue. After hours of fierce fighting, the North Vietnamese withdrew into the jungle, leaving Fire Support Base Rita battered but unconquered.

Twelve Americans had died and dozens more were wounded, but Rogers’ leadership had prevented a much larger enemy force from achieving their objective.

Visiting The National Medal of Honor Museum

The National Medal of Honor Museum in Arlington, Texas showcases Rogers’ complete Medal of Honor story alongside 3,500+ other recipients. You’ll find his profile with official citation details in the main exhibition galleries.

Walk through the 24/7 Ring of Valor rotunda where Rogers’ name is permanently etched into the ceiling with all Medal of Honor recipients.

Try the interactive exhibits where you can speak with holographic Medal of Honor recipients and experience the “Dustoff Experience” virtual reality helicopter rescue that puts you in high-stress combat decisions similar to what Rogers faced at Fire Support Base Rita.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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