Charles Ohrn: Making a Deal

By Carla Khan, Honor Flight Chicago Veteran Interview Volunteer

Charles Ohrn was born in Chicago and grew up in the suburb of Park Ridge.  He was the middle son of three boys and had one sister.  His older brother served in the US Army in Germany and his younger brother in the US Navy, based in Iceland.  

Initially, after completing high school, Charles had followed his family tradition by becoming a pipefitter.  However, just as he had been accepted for an apprenticeship his draft notice for the US Army arrived.  But Charles wanted to take a different route because water and sky had always been favorites of his.  Therefore, when he received his draft notice, he quickly went to the local recruiting office to bargain if he could sign up as a volunteer for the US NAVY rather than being drafted into the Army.  The deal was accepted and in February, 1966 he was sent to the Great Lakes Training Base for 8 weeks of Basic Training.  His brothers who had both had been drafted did not negotiate and eventually, the three brothers all had interesting stories to swap.

It was a pleasant surprise for Charles when his initial tour of duty assigned him to the USS Benjamin Stoddard, a Guided Missile Destroyer, as a shipfitter which meant that he was responsible for the plumbing and pipes of his ship.  He enjoyed it all: the camaraderie, the getting out in the breeze and watching the ocean, the new experiences, and even the work.  Only once he had a disagreement with his Division Officer who told him to open a certain valve.  Charles, as an experienced pipefitter, knew that the place would flood and refused.  His officer took him to the captain who “punished” Charles with 30 days of restriction to the ship for “disobeying orders” which was not much of a hardship as they were at sea anyway.  Charles really liked Captain E.B. Taylor who had come up through the ranks and not only could identify with his men but also quite often bought them all a beer if they happened to be in the same bar.

The most memorable event took place when the USS Benjamin Stoddard happened to be in Hawaii and was ordered to participate in the recovery of the Gemini spacecraft.  They were close enough to follow the Gemini as it approached and all 190 sailors and their 50 officers were on deck and watched it splash down.  The spacecraft’s hatch was equipped with an explosive to assist the astronauts in their exit. As Charles said, “it was a beautiful sight that hits you right in the heart.”

Most of the time, however, the USS Benjamin Stoddard was part of a group of 14 ships and three aircraft carriers patrolling the Gulf of Tonkin, providing air support during the Vietnam War. The exception was when from February 1968 till the end of March 1968, they were sent to Korea as a show of force.

Back in Hawaii, while doing maneuvers, the sailors got to use a high line to commute between their ship and the USS Enterprise.  As the USS Benjamin Stoddard moved with the waves, some of the sailors, including Charles, took a bath in the ocean.

Mail was delivered and picked up by helicopter which worked fine most of the time except for when it developed mechanical trouble. Tying off the helicopter to their ship, the pilot was rescued first, all the mailbags were taken off next and then the helicopter was released to sink into the ocean.

Before the end of his service, Charles applied for a transfer to Operation Deep Freeze, but his request was denied because, as the only shipfitter on board, he was declared indispensable. 

Finally, after serving for 3 years, 11 months, and 10 days, Charles received his honorable discharge.  He was advised not to wear his uniform during the train ride home but wore it anyway because as he said, “I am proud of my uniform and my country.”  There certainly was not a festive Welcome Home either for this Vietnam Veteran.  After his return, he picked up where he left off at the Union Hall, completed his 5 years as an apprentice pipefitter followed by a 40-year career.

In 1978, he met his future wife, Carol, whom he married in 1979.  They settled in the Chicago NW suburbs and are now enjoying his retirement.

Charles, Welcome Home and enjoy your well-deserved Honor Flight!