Green Beret and Signal Corps officer from the Vietnam War reflects on his legacy of service in the U.S. Army Special Forces and beyond
LTC Charles S. Chamberlin Jr.
United States Army (Retired)
Campaign: Vietnam War
Years of Service: 1961–1981
Early Years
Texas A&M University
(1956–1961)
Distinguished Military Graduate
BS Industrial Engineering
Minor: Mathematics
101st Airborne Division
[Jun 1961–Apr 1964]
506th Airborne Battle Group
Platoon Leader
Battle Group Signal Officer
501st Airborne Signal Battalion
Battalion Operations Officer
Fort Bragg: Special Warfare School
[1964]
Special Forces Qualification Course
10th Special Forces Group (Airborne)
[Sep 1964–Aug 1966]
Bad Tolz, Germany
Company E (Signal)
Company Commander
Vietnam War (First Tour)
[Oct 18, 1966–Nov 13, 1967]
5th Special Forces Group (Airborne)
Company B
Company Signal Officer
Mobile Guerilla Force (Airborne)
Signal Officer
United States Military Academy, West Point, NY
[Sep 1968–Jun 1970]
Cadet Company Tactical Officer (G-1)
United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO
[Jul 1970–Jun 1971]
U.S. Army Exchange Officer
Air Officer Commanding (Cadet Squadron 12)
Vietnam War (Second Tour)
[Aug 1971–Aug 1972]
MACV/J-6
Signal Support Branch
Action Officer
Post–Vietnam War
9th Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Washington
[Sep 1972–Jun 1975]
9th Signal Battalion
Battalion Executive Officer
Assistant Division Signal Officer
Fort Levinworth, KS
[Jul 1975–Jun 1976]
Command and General Staff College
Joint Chiefs of Staff, Pentagon
[Aug 1976–Jul 1978]
National Military Command Center
Operations Team Three
Emergency Action Officer
2nd Infantry Division, Republic of Korea
[Sep 1978–Aug 1979]
122nd Signal Battalion
Battalion Commander
Defense Communications Agency, Washington, D.C.
[Aug 1979–Jun 1981]
Installation & Implementation Branch
Branch Chief
Military Awards
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star Medal (1 OLC)
DOD Meritorious Service Medal
U.S. Army Meritorious Service Medal (1 OLC)
Air Medal (1 OLC)
Joint Service Commendation Medal
U.S. Army Commendation Medal (1 OLC)
U.S. Air Force Commendation Medal
Republic of South Vietnam Honor Medal, First Class (Officer)
Badges/Tabs
Combat Infantryman's Badge
Ranger Tab
Master Parachutist Badge
Federal Republic of Germany Parachutist Badge (Master)
Republic of Vietnam Parachutist Badge (Master)
Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge
Military Order of the World Wars
Commander-in-Chief
Senior Vice Commander-in-Chief
Executive Committee of the General Staff, MOWW Board of Directors
Committee Member
Council of Area Commanders
Chairman
Region VIII
Commander
Dallas Chapter
Commander
Junior Vice Commander
Awards
Commander's Medal
Gold Patrick Henry Medal
Silver Patrick Henry Medal
Outstanding Service Medal (1 Star)
January 26, 1962.
LTC Chamberlin Jr. (then the Company Commander of the 10th Special Forces Group Communications Company), second from the right, aides in hosting a Greek general who was visiting.
As a member of the pathfinder team, LTC Chamberlin Jr. and his comrades made the combat parachute assault jump from just 550 feet, in order to get on the ground quickly and achieve the element of surprise. The entire jump lasted roughly 16–17 seconds.
Preparing for the combat parachute assault at Bu Prang.
LTC Chamberlin Jr., then a Captain, right, wearing the radio, adjacent LTC Ludwig Faistenhammer, following the combat parachute assault.
LTC Chamberlin Jr., then a Tactical Officer assigned to West Point, front row, first on the right, with COL Ralph Puckett Jr., USA, front row, center (who was twice awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, with the first award—for combat action in the Korean War—eventually upgraded to the Medal of Honor by President Biden on May 21, 2021).
LTC Chamberlin Jr. was sent to the U.S. Air Force Academy while serving at West Point, as part of an exchange program, where the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force each exchange an officer for one year to the Air Force Academy and West Point, respectively.
Despite not meeting the requirement of being a West Point graduate, LTC Chamberlin Jr. was encouraged to apply for the role. Nevertheless, three West Point alumni from the class of 1961 gained an audience with the Commandant of Cadets and convinced him that if LTC Chamberlin Jr. was good enough to be a Tactical Officer at West Point, he was good enough to represent them at the Air Force Academy.
Air Force Academy Cadet Saber presented to LTC Chamberlin Jr. by the 12th Cadet Squadron—"with appreciation."
While stationed in Cambodia, LTC Chamberlin Jr. (then a Major) was tasked with coordinating frequencies and communications between the Cambodian, Republic of Vietnam, and American forces, in support of actions in Cambodia—against the Khmer Rouge (a communist insurgency that eventually overthrew the Cambodian government).
LTC Chamberlin Jr. would accompany Cambodian forces in the field to report on what the communications needs were. The report was made to the U.S. Ambassador to Cambodia, which was subsequently sent to Congress.
Additionally, as part of a two-man support group, LTC Chamberlin Jr. aided in overseeing the transfer of armaments/equipment to the Republic of Vietnam through the process known as "Vietnamization" and the "Nixon Doctrine."
LTC Chamberlin Jr. (in red), second from the right, with his Air Force interpreter (in orange), first on the right, with Cambodian forces in uniform. The other two, in civilian clothes and on the far left, were also a part of LTC Chamberlin Jr.'s team.
LTC Chamberlin Jr., second from the left, with his Air Force interpreter, third from the left, alongside their Cambodian counterparts in uniform.
LTC Chamberlin Jr., first on left (in sunglasses), with his Air Force interpreter, third from the left. LTC Chamberlin Jr. and his interpreter had to wear civilian clothes, as there were reporters staying at the same hotel in Phnom Penh.
LTC Chamberlin Jr., left, with his Air Force interpreter, center. The interpreter would support Air Force forward air controllers on the ground, who directed air strikes in support of Cambodian and Army of the Republic of Vietnam forces. To the right of the interpreter was a Cambodian prince, who used much of his own money to purchase weapons from the Republic of Vietnam, since the U.S. was legally prohibited from selling weapons directly to the Cambodians.
The interpreter, originally from Haiti, spoke fluent French, as did the Cambodian counterparts he was charged with supporting. Given his key role, the interpreter was treated very well by the Cambodian forces.
LTC Chamberlin Jr. being awarded the Army Commendation Medal by Air Force Brigadier General Trogdon for his service to the Signal Support Branch, MACV/J-6.
LTC Chamberlin Jr., saluting on the left, as the Battalion Executive Officer, 9th Signal Battalion, 9th Infantry Division, with the Battalion Commander, saluting on the right.
LTC Chamberlin Jr. also served in this unit as the Assistant Division Signal Officer.
At the National Military Command Center, LTC Chamberlin Jr. was responsible for manning a console that coordinated communications with all of the military commands throughout the world, and various federal agencies involved in national defense and intelligence gathering.
Tasks included recording calls so that commanders could review calls in the future. LTC Chamberlin Jr. was one of the few required to wear a key around his neck that unlocked a box with codes that would permit commanders to commit the nation's nuclear forces to actively deliver strategic ordnance.
Rehearsals included preparing messages for delivery to the White House, that simulated communications that would occur if the President was required to order the nation's nuclear forces into action due to a sudden, strategic emergency.
LTC Chamberlin Jr., being presented a token of appreciation for his service as Senior Operations Officer, Operations Team Three, Emergency Actions Center, within the National Military Command Center, under the Joint Chiefs of Staff, at the Pentagon.
Here, LTC Chamberlin Jr. (right) meets with a Brigadier General (left), with whom he served with prior in the 10th Special Forces Group. The general was visiting to inspect the 122nd Signal Battalion. Upon completion of his review, the general declared: "I came down here to see what kind of standards you have, and now I have an excellent idea of what your standards are, and I won't have to come back and inspect you anymore."
When LTC Chamberlin Jr. first arrived in the Republic of Korea to command the 122nd Signal Battalion, they immediately participated in a parade.
LTC Chamberlin Jr. was proud of his unit's sharp appearance and marched them regularly in order to maintain discipline and guarantee their readiness for parade.
The battalion on parade.
While visiting the 2nd Infantry Division in the Republic of Korea, President Carter joined the 122nd Signal Brigade, bright and early, at 0600 for their standard three-mile run in under 25 minutes. As Battalion Commander, LTC Chamberlin Jr. led the main formation.
President Carter, front left (in the white shirt), led the run and impressed many of the soldiers with his brisk pace and endurance. LTC Chamberlin Jr. can be seen, front right, leading the main formation.
President Carter remarked later, after the run, that "the next time I come back, I'll wear combat boots and let you wear running shoes. Maybe we'll be more even. But I'll only run against those who are 55 years old."
President Carter, acknowledging the soldiers of the battalion, following the run. LTC Chamberlin Jr. can be seen, front right, saluting the Commander-in-Chief.
LTC Chamberlin Jr., right, on the chow line, adjacent President Carter, left.
As of 2025, LTC Chamberlin Jr. still wears his military heritage proudly, displaying for all to see: his legacy that includes service as a Green Beret, an Airborne Ranger, and a paratrooper; service as part of the Airborne MIKE Force in the Vietnam War; service in the "Screaming Eagles" of the 101st Airborne Division, the 9th Infantry Division, and the 2nd Infantry Division; along with his Combat Infantryman's Badge and Master Parachutist Badge.
This photograph, captures several Dallas Chapter Companions: LTC Chamberlin Jr. [far right]; LTC Don B. Munson, USA (Ret) [far left]; CPT Allen B. Clark Jr., USA (Ret) [second from the right].
Click here to see the September–October 2019 The Officer Review publication from MOWW, which captures LTC Chamberlin Jr.'s installment as the order's 89th Commander-in-Chief, along with his "A Call to Arms!" and "Remarks to the 2019 Convention."
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This exhibit is part of the Dallas Chapter MOWW Gallantry & Service Museum. Click the museum logo below to experience more stories of courage in battle, and faithful service to our nation.
