The 35th Infantry Regiment Association salutes our fallen brother, PFC Charles D. McClurg, who died in the service of his country on December 25th, 1967 in Quang Ngai, Vietnam. The cause of death was listed as Friendly Fire, Short 4.2 Round. At the time of his death Charles was 18 years of age. Charles is honored on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial at Panel 32E, Line 058.
The decorations earned by PFC Charles D. McClurg include: 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.
(Charles was attached to C, 2/35th from his parent unit, C Battery, 2/9th Artillery)
Tribute to PFC Charles McClurg from Sp4 Leon "Lee" Dixon:
I also knew Charles McClurg very well (he preferred to be called just "Bruce" for some reason). We were both from Michigan, but he was younger than me. We talked all the time and he kinda looked up to me. He was also an "RA" and told me he put his age up to get in, so I still wonder today what his real age was... especially as listed. And while he is listed as "C" Battery on the 2/9th Arty website, he was actually originally part of my commo team in the Headquarters battery and got himself transferred over to Battalion HQ...which then farmed him out from there to a deeper field battery (FO party in the field). His death is always listed as December 25th, 1967, but I very well remember that he was actually killed on Christmas eve. And the letter from the fellow on your site matches exactly what I was told over the radio that night as to how he died. I was one of the first to hear since I was commo. I ran the HQ radios, radio teletype and crypto machines. I remember us soldiers in a tent in Duc Pho crying tears that night over news of his death. He slept in the same tent with us until his transfer and he was a good friend of mine. I think of him often. In fact, when he left our unit, he actually believed he was not coming back. I tried to convince him otherwise, but he gave me his cigarette lighter and Kodak camera "to keep in case I don't return"... which I still have to this day. I have often thought of trying to contact his family and sending them these items.
(From His Obituary)
Mrs. Opal McClurg, 603 Joy Street, Bangor was notified of the death of her son Charles in Vietnam December 26. The Bangor soldier died in one of those tragic incidents of war, by shells fired by his own comrades.
In Vietnam since last August, he had been wounded once before and had returned to duty. A 1966 graduate of Hartford high school, he had attended eighth grade in the Bangor school system.
Charles McClurg was born July 5, 1949 and was 18 years old at the time of his death. Besides his mother he is survived by his father, Charles McClurg, Benton Harbor; four brothers and three sisters.
Charles is buried at Monk Cemetery, Bangor.
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