In Memory of (SP4) Charles "Chuck" Damron........ 2nd Platoon

Charles "Chuck" Damron ..... 73 ___________________ Born: May 19th, 1950 in Porterville, CA _ Died: November 25th, 2023 in Springville, CA ________ Buried at Riverside CA National Cemetery, Section 65, Site 601

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Chuck on FSB O'Reilly, July 1970

CHUCK DAMRON, May 19, 1950 ~ November 25, 2023 (AGE 73)

Obituary in the Ripcord Association Report #135

Chuck “Big Dog” Damron passed away after a lengthy illness on November 25, 2023 at the Veteran’s facility in Springville, California. He will be buried at Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside, California on January 12, 2024.

Chuck was originally assigned as a rifleman in the 1st Infantry Division which was then located in the southern part of South Vietnam. When the Big Red One returned to the States, Chuck was reassigned to second platoon of Charlie Company of the 2nd Battalion of the 506th Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division. I was the second platoon leader when Chuck arrived in the platoon. I assigned him to the third squad under Sgt. Jerry Moyer. After serving as a rifleman for a month or so, I assigned Chuck to a machine gun team as the assistant gunner to Layne Hammons. No lieutenant in Vietnam could have been blessed more than myself to have had the great machine gun teams that served with me in Vietnam. Chuck and Layne were special and were admired and respected by all who served with them. Chuck was an extrovert with a warm and outgoing personality while Layne was more introverted with a non-confrontational personality. They both had a willingness and great desire to quickly bring absolute “scunion” on the enemy in a firefight. They both knew that being on a machine gun team was not a job for the timid or weak of heart. Together, they were best described as “bad-ass”. They served with great distinction and never shirked a duty. Chuck was a natural born leader who had the heart and courage of a lion in battle, yet was always cheerful in all weathers. He was devoted to the warriors he served with in combat. His leadership qualities made life much easier for his old lieutenant. A lieutenant could not ask for a more courageous and loyal warrior to command.

After separating from the Army, Chuck moved back to California, at which time he married, and he and his wife soon were blessed with the birth of two daughters, Onnie Bomgaars and Shawna Lange, who he loved with all of his heart. Chuck went to work as welder and an iron worker.

To more fully understand how fierce a man like Chuck could be, the following story will give you a good idea of what kind of man Chuck was. “One day after work, Chuck and a friend of his stopped by a bar to have a drink. Chuck’s friend was wearing a “Vietnam” hat. A short time later, a guy comes up to Chuck’s friend at the bar and said to him: ‘You Vietnam veterans are nothing but a bunch of losers.’ Chuck said to himself, ‘this guy needs an ass whipping, and I’m the man to give him one’. Chuck then proceeded to give the poor soul a vicious beating which resulted in serious injury to the guy. Chuck was charged with aggravated assault and battery and was convicted by the court and sentenced to two years in prison. When Layne and I located Chuck 28 years later, he was telling us the story and I said to him, “Chuck, you should have never done this. You going to prison ruined your life”. He looked at me and he said, “Lt., it was worth it, the man needed a beating, and I can promise you one thing; that sorry loudmouth will never in his life make a derogatory statement to a Vietnam veteran again.”

All in all, I loved Chuck like brother.

Lt. Jim Campbell