Foil: 6 Panel: Distinguished Flying Cross Society Column: 1 Line: 3

Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:
Ms. Frances Hatfield

LT.COL.Charles F. Hatfield USA (Ret), a Distinguished Flying Cross recipient, entered the Army as a private and retired after 20 years of distinguished service as a Lt. Col. He was an infantry officer with command experience at platoon, company and post levels. Overseas assignments include Korea, Venezuela, Vietnam and Panama. As a Master Army Aviator he was qualified in both rotary and fixed wing aircraft. Awards and decorations include Legion of Merit, DFC, Bronze Star, Air Medal (18, 2 W/"V"), Good Conduct Medal, Army Commendation Medal (2) and various campaign medals.

He received his DFC in January 1968 in Vietnam as aircraft commander of a UH-1D Iroquois helicopter. Assigned as Plans and Operations Officer of the 11th Combat Aviation Battalion he often flew the battalion smoke aircraft used to mask the landing of troop carrying helicopters from enemy fire in a tactical landing zone. On this day in January 1968 our landing helicopters and soldiers came under intense enemy fire from a woodline next to the landing zone. Continually exposing himself to enemy fire throughout the day, then Major Hatfield, laid down a blanket of smoke between the troop positions on the ground and the enemy fire allowing our troops to maneuver and our helicopters to land additional reinforcements. By late afternoon our troops gained fire superiority and the enemy was defeated or fled.