U.S. Marines/Army Korean War South Elgin, IL Flight date: 07/11/18
By David Adams, Honor Flight Chicago Veteran Interviews Volunteer
Charlie Coleman Dobbins was born in Lanett, Georgia. He began military service with the Marines in 1947 at the age of 17 before finishing from high school. Having grown up in rural Georgia he was not surprised to verify his age by swearing on the Bible. Charlie spent the requisite 24 weeks at Parris Island, SC followed by a permanent change of station to Fort Lejeune, NC. Attaining the rank of Sergeant, he was discharged after 3 years. On second thought, Charlie remembers wanting back in. However, the Marines said, “Ok, but you must start over and lose your rank.” Thanks, but no thanks. He then learned from an Army recruiter that if he joined the Army he could have his former rank. For the next 27 years, Charlie faithfully served his country with distinction in the Army. In all, he would attend 16 service schools, 3 civilian schools, learn to speak fluent Spanish, acquire a working knowledge of Vietnamese, Japanese and German, and receive numerous awards and decorations for service on three continents. He completed high school and the equivalent of a year of college. He retired as a Chief Warrant Officer CW4 in 1977 with 30 years of active service.
In the Army, he first volunteered for Army Jump School, Fort Benning, GA. After earning his Jump Wings, he advanced to the Master Parachutist rating, qualified as a Jumpmaster, and served in the 82nd Airborne. Charlie also qualified for a Glider Parachutist Rating. During this time, he graduated from the Civil Defense Rescue, Light and Heavy Rescue Instructors course, where he learned medical skills and high-rise building rescue techniques. Charlie volunteered for Deep Sea Diving School at Fort Eustis, VA. In 1957, he graduated as a Salvage Diver. His next assignment took him to California and frequent dives in Marin County waters at the north end of the Golden Gate. He periodically cruised around Alcatraz while on the diving barge, looking for suspicious activity.
Not content as an Army salvage diver, he volunteered for the Special Forces since he had the required special skills. So on to Fort Bragg, NC where he eventually was assigned to the 307th Airborne Engineering Battalion and served in that unit until 1960. He sought and received a Warrant Officer rank as an Engineer Warrant Repair Technician and spent a tour in Germany. From this point forward, he functioned as an Engineer Equipment Repair Technician and supervised troops on three continents. He returned to Fort Bragg. Shortly thereafter as the Vietnam War heated up in 1965, Charlie volunteered and was assigned to the 1st Logistical Command, Saigon. 1st Log’s responsibility in Vietnam was to provide the Army troops with the basic weapons of war. It also clothed and fed them and supplied them with virtually every amenity available in Post Exchanges. Charlie as staff engineering officer, was responsible for maintenance of all engineer equipment positioned in Vietnam, quite a tall order. He would eventually serve 3 ½ years in Vietnam, all in Saigon with tours of duty to Japan and Germany sandwiched in-between. On his second one-year tour from November, 1967 to November, 1968 he was a member of the 509th Radio Research Group. It was a cover for the Army Security Agency whose task was to gather electronic intelligence and distribute it to U. S. forces and allies. As group maintenance officer, he was responsible for all maintenance training, procurement and related matters.
Charlie Coleman Dobbins was born in Lanett, Georgia. He began military service with the Marines in 1947 at the age of 17 before finishing from high school. Having grown up in rural Georgia he was not surprised to verify his age by swearing on the Bible. Charlie spent the requisite 24 weeks at Parris Island, SC followed by a permanent change of station to Fort Lejeune, NC. Attaining the rank of Sergeant, he was discharged after 3 years. On second thought, Charlie remembers wanting back in. However, the Marines said, “Ok, but you must start over and lose your rank.” Thanks, but no thanks. He then learned from an Army recruiter that if he joined the Army he could have his former rank. For the next 27 years, Charlie faithfully served his country with distinction in the Army. In all, he would attend 16 service schools, 3 civilian schools, learn to speak fluent Spanish, acquire a working knowledge of Vietnamese, Japanese and German, and receive numerous awards and decorations for service on three continents. He completed high school and the equivalent of a year of college. He retired as a Chief Warrant Officer CW4 in 1977 with 30 years of active service.
In the Army, he first volunteered for Army Jump School, Fort Benning, GA. After earning his Jump Wings, he advanced to the Master Parachutist rating, qualified as a Jumpmaster, and served in the 82nd Airborne. Charlie also qualified for a Glider Parachutist Rating. During this time, he graduated from the Civil Defense Rescue, Light and Heavy Rescue Instructors course, where he learned medical skills and high-rise building rescue techniques. Charlie volunteered for Deep Sea Diving School at Fort Eustis, VA. In 1957, he graduated as a Salvage Diver. His next assignment took him to California and frequent dives in Marin County waters at the north end of the Golden Gate. He periodically cruised around Alcatraz while on the diving barge, looking for suspicious activity.
Not content as an Army salvage diver, he volunteered for the Special Forces since he had the required special skills. So on to Fort Bragg, NC where he eventually was assigned to the 307th Airborne Engineering Battalion and served in that unit until 1960. He sought and received a Warrant Officer rank as an Engineer Warrant Repair Technician and spent a tour in Germany. From this point forward, he functioned as an Engineer Equipment Repair Technician and supervised troops on three continents. He returned to Fort Bragg. Shortly thereafter as the Vietnam War heated up in 1965, Charlie volunteered and was assigned to the 1st Logistical Command, Saigon. 1st Log’s responsibility in Vietnam was to provide the Army troops with the basic weapons of war. It also clothed and fed them and supplied them with virtually every amenity available in Post Exchanges. Charlie as staff engineering officer, was responsible for maintenance of all engineer equipment positioned in Vietnam, quite a tall order. He would eventually serve 3 ½ years in Vietnam, all in Saigon with tours of duty to Japan and Germany sandwiched in-between. On his second one-year tour from November, 1967 to November, 1968 he was a member of the 509th Radio Research Group. It was a cover for the Army Security Agency whose task was to gather electronic intelligence and distribute it to U. S. forces and allies. As group maintenance officer, he was responsible for all maintenance training, procurement and related matters.