[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 72 (Thursday, May 26, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1111-E1112]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                MEMORIAL DAY TRIBUTE TO BRONX WAR HEROES

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOSE E. SERRANO

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 26, 2005

  Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, the ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan 
are a constant reminder of the high cost of war. As they have done 
throughout America's history, selfless men and women continue to make 
the ultimate sacrifice for our country. We as Americans may disagree on 
when, where, or if the country should go to war but we must all agree 
that the men and women who stand ready to sacrifice their lives for 
their Nation deserve nothing less than the respect and admiration of us 
all. As we commemorate the contributions of our fallen soldiers on this 
Memorial Day, I want to pay special tribute to Sergeant Cornelius 
Charlton and Private First Class William Thompson, two brave African 
American soldiers from the South Bronx who were posthumously awarded 
the Congressional Medal of Honor for their outstanding service in the 
Korean War. The stories of these two soldiers are dramatic but largely 
unknown.
  Sergeant Charlton was living in the Bronx, New York when he enlisted. 
Originally assigned to a desk job, Charlton volunteered for combat duty 
with Company C of the 24th Infantry Regiment of the 25th Infantry 
Division. On June 2, 1951, Charlton's platoon commander was wounded and 
evacuated from the field. Charlton took command of the unit's assault 
against Hill 543 and knocked out two enemy positions. Even though he 
had suffered a serious wound, Charlton led a third charge to capture 
the hill. Without regard for his own safety, he personally attacked the 
last enemy position on the other side of the hill. Fatally wounded by a 
grenade, Charlton struggled onward and single handedly took out the 
enemy. As a result of his indomitable courage, superb leadership, and 
gallant self sacrifice, Sergeant Charlton was posthumously awarded the 
Purple Heart and the Congressional Medal of Honor.
  Private First Class Thompson enlisted in the army in 1945 at the 
young age of 18. His address at time of enlistment was the Home for 
Homeless Boys in the Bronx. Thompson was described by his friends as 
being helpful and cheerful but few if any of his friends believed he 
could succeed as a soldier. However, he proved them all wrong. On 
August 2, 1951 near Haman, Korea, enemy forces mounted a surprise 
attack on Pfc. Thompson's unit. Acting quickly and decisively, Thompson 
set up his machine gun in the path of the onslaught and pinned down the 
enemy, giving his unit time to withdraw to a more tenable position. 
Although hit repeatedly by enemy fire, he continued to return fire 
until he was mortally wounded by an enemy grenade. Thompson's dauntless 
courage and gallant self sacrifice saved the lives of many in his unit 
and earned him a posthumous Congressional Medal of Honor.
  What makes the stories of these two men so outstanding is the fact 
they were African Americans fighting for a country that refused to 
fight for them. These two men epitomized every characteristic we expect 
our soldiers to possess: selflessness, dignity, courage and honor.
  Mr. Speaker, fortunately, there is a group of dedicated veterans, the 
Friends of Charlton Garden, who are working tirelessly to preserve the 
memory of these fallen heroes in the Bronx by establishing a memorial 
park aptly named the Charlton-Thompson Korean War Veterans Memorial. I 
am proud of the work that the Friends of Charlton Garden are doing to 
ensure this monument stands as a symbol of gratitude to the selfless 
acts of heroism displayed by all of our fallen soldiers, and I know in 
my heart that we as a legislative body must do more to supplement their 
good works. I'm

[[Page E1112]]

sure that the Friends of Charlton Garden would agree that we can build 
no monument large or grand enough to honor the men and women who made 
the ultimate sacrifice for this country. The closest we can come to 
repaying these soldiers is to work to ensure that the world knows war 
no more. As idealistic and impossible as it may seem it is what their 
souls cry out for. So, Mr. Speaker, it is what I will continue to work 
for and it is what I ask my colleagues to work for. Surely, there can 
be no greater monument to our soldiers than peace.

                          ____________________