The 35th Infantry Regiment Association salutes our fallen brother, SP4 Charlie Alfred Carden, who died in the service of his country on May 29th, 1966 in Pleiku Province, Vietnam. The cause of death was listed as Small Arms/AW. At the time of his death Charlie was 18 years of age. He was from Plainfield, New Jersey. Charlie is honored on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial at Panel 07E, Line 116.
The decorations earned by SP4 Charlie Alfred Carden include: the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Purple Heart, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal and the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm Unit Citation.
From the Plainfield Courier News June 1, 1966
Plainfield GI Fatally Shot In Vietnam
Specialist 4 Charlie Alfred Carden, 18, of 638 W. Front St., was killed in Action in Vietnam on Sunday, the Defense Department announced yesterday.
The soldier, who entered the Army in October, 1964, last saw his family here in January, when he left for Vietnam. He died of gunshot wounds while in action with the 35th Infantry Division (note: Charlie was in the 35th Infantry Regiment of the 25th Infantry Division). He was in Company A, 1st Battalion.
Born in Halifax County, VA he was the son of Irving and Lou Alberta Carden. The Infantryman's mother said he was a religious boy, and that he wrote several times each week "asking us to pray for him, but not to worry."
"He would say in his letters what is to be will be," she added. "If it's written that I should come home, then I will. If it's not, then I won't," Specialist Carden wrote to his family.
Mrs. Carden described her son as "outgoing and vigorous." "He had lots of friends," she said, "and from his letters, he seemed to enjoy Army life." Carden enlisted in the Army after leaving Plainfield high School in his junior year. He also attended Washington and Hubbard Junior high schools.
He was born in Virginia on July 23, 1947, and moved with his family to Plainfield 12 years ago. Surviving, besides his parents, are a brother, Richard Irving Jr., and two sisters, Miss Gladys Carden and Miss Julia Carden, all at home.
Funeral arrangements will be announced by Brown's Funeral Home after the body arrives in the States.
Obituary appearing in the Plainfield Courier News on June 9, 1966.
Carden On May 29, 1966 in Vietnam. Specialist 4th class Charles Alfred, beloved son of Lou Alberta and Irving Carden, 638 W. Front St., Plainfield.
Military services 11 am Friday June 10, from Brown's Funeral Home and at the Shiloh Baptist Church at 12 noon.
Interment in Halifax County Virginia. Friends may call at the funeral home 3-4 and 7-9 pm today.
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