Group to Col Charles B. Boswell, 224th Infantry, Korea

Group to Col Charles B. Boswell, 224th Infantry, 40th Infantry Division: Silver Star, slot brooch, unnamed, in a black leatherette case with ribbon bar and lapel pin; Legion of Merit, with 2 oak leaf clusters, wrap brooch, unnumbered, unnamed, in a black leatherette case with ribbon bar and lapel pin; Bronze Star, with oak leaf cluster, unnamed, in a black leatherette case with ribbon bar and lapel pin; Army Commendation Medal, crimp-over-slot brooch, unnamed, in a clear plastic case with ribbon bar and lapel pin; American Defense Service Medal, slot brooch, boxed; American Campaign Medal; Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, with an arrowhead device and 3 bronze stars; World War II Victory Medal, slot brooch; Army Occupation Medal, boxed; National Defense Service Medal, with oak leaf cluster, boxed; Korean Service Medal, with three bronze stars, boxed; Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Army, boxed; United Nations Korea Medal. Plus, a private-purchase Combat Infantryman Badge, clutch-back; Secretary of Defense identification badge, clutch-back, marked “Sterling” by N.S. Meyer; master Parachutist Badge, marked “Sterling”. With a clutch-back ribbon set of these awards, plus a Philippine Liberation ribbon. With a pair of infantry colonel’s shoulder straps, a set of dog tags, two name tags, various patches and insignia from his career. Plus, his original certificate for the Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters for service from July 1964 to February 1969 and original death accolade from Ronald Reagan. With some photocopied research.

Lt Col Boswell, 224th Infantry, 40th Infantry Division, received the Silver Star for: “…gallantry in action near Satae-Ri, Korea on 24 December 1952. During a period when it was believed that the enemy was preparing to launch an offensive against the sector occupied by his battalion, Colonel Boswell, with great courage and personal disregard for his own safety, exposed himself to sustained enemy artillery and mortar fire while inspecting all his units an positions on the main line of resistance. Colonel Boswell personally inspected every fortification and entrenchment thereby assuring that all possible defensive measures were being taken. Colonel Boswell’s presence and personal interest shown toward the men on the main line of resistance proved to be a great moral factor during the long wait for the enemy assault. Colonel Boswell’s courageous example of personal bravery and self sacrifice was an inspiration to all his troops…” At the time, the 224th Infantry held the center of the 40th Division’s sector, which occupied the center of X Corps’ position.

Colonel Charles Bless Boswell was born in January 1914 in Indiana and commissioned in 1935. He entered active duty in July 1942 as a battalion commander with the 131st Engineers in the Solomon Islands, ending the war in Japan. In September 1952, he went to Korea as a battalion commander in the 224th Infantry. In 1953, he became G-3 of XVIII Corps. After Army War College, he became chief of staff of the 82nd Airborne Division. After a tour in the Pentagon, Boswell became part of the Command Support Group, European Command and the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Training of 1st Army. After a stint as post commander of Fort Meade, Maryland, Colonel Boswell retired in March 1969. He died in April 1987 and is buried in the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona.