Charles Stackhouse graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Class of 1961. He was interned as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam after he was shot down on April 25, 1967 and was held until his release on March 4, 1973.
–
Home:
,
Charles Stackhouse graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Class of 1961. He was interned as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam after he was shot down on April 25, 1967 and was held until his release on March 4, 1973.
Service:
Rank:
Division:
Action Date:
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit with Combat “V” to Lieutenant Commander Charles David Stackhouse (NSN: 0-647984), United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam from April 1967 to March 1973. Under the most adverse conditions, he resisted all attempts by the North Vietnamese to use him in causes detrimental to the United States, never wavering in his devotion and loyalty to the United States. In an outstanding and tireless fashion he serves as both an educator and an entertainer to provide diversion and constructive rehabilitative thinking to his fellow prisoners during their long internment. Despite harsh treatment and a lack of material aids, he devoted long hours toward improving their morale and well-being. His extraordinary skill, resourcefulness, and dedication to duty throughout his lengthy confinement reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Naval Service and the United States Armed Forces. [The Combat Distinguishing Device is authorized.]
Service:
Rank:
Division:
Action Date:
Lieutenant Commander Charles David Stackhouse (NSN: 0-647984), United States Navy, was held as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam from April 25, 1967 until his release on March 4, 1973.
Service:
Rank:
Batallion:
Division:
Action Date:
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant Commander [the Lieutenant] Charles David Stackhouse (NSN: 0-647984), United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action on 25 April 1967, as a pilot of light jet attack aircraft, serving with Attack Squadron SEVENTY-SIX, embarked in U.S.S. BON HOMME RICHARD (CVA-31), during combat operations in Southeast Asia. Lieutenant Commander Stackhouse was flying as Section Leader in the Third Division of thirteen attack aircraft on a strike against the heavily defended Kien An Ammunition Storage Site in North Vietnam. As the strike group approached the target, it was taken under fire by large numbers of light and medium anti-aircraft guns, surface-to-air missiles, and enemy fighter aircraft. Despite the intense ground fire, and while being attacked by two MiG-17 enemy aircraft, Lieutenant Commander Stackhouse positioned his section and made his bombing run. With both planes under attack by enemy fighters, he maneuvered his aircraft in support of his wingman, calling defensive turns which enabled the wingman to repeatedly evade his attackers. While so doing, Lieutenant Commander Stackhouse was shot down by his attacker. His courage and devotion to duty under conditions of gravest personal danger contributed substantially to the success of the mission. By his heroic disregard for his own safety, Lieutenant Commander Stackhouse was directly responsible for saving the life of his wingman, thereby upholding the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Service:
Rank:
Division:
Action Date:
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V” to Lieutenant Commander Charles David Stackhouse (NSN: 0-647984), United States Navy, for meritorious service as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam from July to December 1969 and from November 1970 to October 1971. Through his ceaseless efforts, in an atmosphere of enemy harassment, threat of torture and brutal treatment, he established and maintained intracamp communications. At great risk and in spite of further cruelty, he continued to devise many unusual and ingenious methods of communications, resulting in American and Allied prisoners resisting the enemy’s demands and at the same time improving the prisoners’ morale. By his heroic endeavors, exceptional skill, and devotion to duty, he reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Naval Service and the United States Armed Forces. [The Combat Distinguishing Device is authorized.]
Service:
Rank:
Division:
Action Date:
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V” to Lieutenant Commander Charles David Stackhouse (NSN: 0-647984), United States Navy, for meritorious service as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam from November 1970 to October 1971. Through his ceaseless efforts, in an atmosphere of enemy harassment, threat of torture and brutal treatment, he established and maintained intracamp communications. At great risk and in spite of further cruelty, he continued to devise many unusual and ingenious methods of communications, resulting in American and Allied prisoners resisting the enemy’s demands and at the same time improving the prisoners’ morale. By his heroic endeavors, exceptional skill, and devotion to duty, he reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Naval Service and the United States Armed Forces. [The Combat Distinguishing Device is authorized.]