On View
Military History Gallery
Exhibition
Double Victory: The African American Military Experience
Manufactured by
Lake City Army Ammunition Plant, American, founded 1941
Subject of
Sergeant Charlton, Cornelius H., American, 1929 - 1951
Received by
Penn Papadopoulus, Fairy Mae, American, died 2010
Used by
United States Army, American, founded 1775
Date
1989
Medium
metal
Dimensions
H x W x D (2015.193.2.1): 2 5/8 × 7/16 × 7/16 in. (6.7 × 1.1 × 1.1 cm)
H x W x D (2015.193.2.2): 2 9/16 × 7/16 × 7/16 in. (6.5 × 1.1 × 1.1 cm)
H x W x D (2015.193.2.3): 2 9/16 × 7/16 × 7/16 in. (6.5 × 1.1 × 1.1 cm)
Caption
These shell casings held bullets fired during the burial ceremony of Medal of Honor recipient Sgt. Cornelius Charlton. Military personnel are honored with a three-volley salute during burial services. The salutes are linked to early battlefield customs that called for a cease-fire to care for the dead and wounded. Sergeant Charlton served in C Company, 24th Infantry Regiment, during the Korean War. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for actions on June 2, 1951, near Chipo-ri, Korea. After his wounded platoon leader was evacuated during an attack to capture Hill 543, Charlton "rallied the men" and led them on three separate assaults. During the first assault, he eliminated two enemy positions, killing six. Although seriously wounded in the next two assaults, Charlton conducted a fourth assault alone. He was wounded again by a grenade but silenced the enemy guns before he died. Sergeant Charlton was originally buried at Pocahontas Cemetery in Pocahontas, Virginia, before he was re-interred at the American Legion Cemetery in Beckley, West Virginia, in 1990. On November 12, 2008, he was re-interred at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.
Description
Three spent cases from a three-volley salute at Sergeant Cornelius H. Charlton's reburial service. Bottom, flat surface, has indented hole in center, surrounded by indented circle. The headstamp reads [LC / 89]. Top of shell casing has been shaped similarly to a dulled 5-point star.
Place used
Beckley, Raleigh County, West Virginia, United States, North and Central America
Collection title
Sergeant Cornelius H. Charlton Collection
Classification
Sacred and Ceremonial Objects
Weapons and Ammunition
Type
cases (ammunition components)
Topic
Funeral customs and rites
Korean War, 1950-1953
Military
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of George "Everett" Penn, Jr.
Object number
2015.193.2.1-.3
Restrictions & Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd50a3df663-0c7b-44e8-b378-633a42ec3e55

Cataloging is an ongoing process and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. If you have more information about this object, please contact us at NMAAHCDigiTeam@si.edu

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