CHARLES WAS A QUITE GUY AND NEVER CAUSED ANY BAD FEELINGS IN THE MANY YEARS THAT I KNEW HIM. WHO WOULD HAVE EVER THOUGHT THAT HE WOULD JOIN THE MARINES. WHEN I FOUND OUT OF HIS UNTIMELY DEATH ---WELL IT JUST HURT. I KINOW THAT THE DATE HE WAS KILLED IN VIET NAM WAS APRIL 30 1976 WAS A BLCK DAY FOR ALL CONCERNED. MAY HE REST IN PEACE.
Charles and I went to join the Marines on the ' buddy plan ' and we were one doctor away from being sworn in when Charles got as white as a sheet and he said to me ' Is there ANYTHING that can keep you out, I just got a REALLY BAD feeling about this .' I remembered that as a child I used to wet the bed due to my Dads drinking and so I told the last doctor we saw. He about hit the ceiling, kicked me out, and Charles went on to Vietnam to die on Hamburger Hill as I believe it was know to some. If it hadnt have been for him telling me of his ' bad feelling ' we would have BOTH died on that hill, so I consider him a Hero BEFORE he went overseas, as well as a Hero AFTER he went overseas. He was REALLY the BEST friend a man could have, and I ask God to give him Peace and Rest at last !
This picture of Charlie Shiver is from the Virtual Vietnam Veterans Wall of Faces. This is the group that built the Vietnam Veterans Memorial (“the Wall”) in Washington, D.C. Although the picture does not indicate the location, it very much looks like the area surrounding Khe Sanh. For those who have not been to the Wall, the names are by date and alphabetically within that date. All the Marines who died with Charlie on 04/30/1967 in Quang Tri Providence will be listed there with Charlie. There are 44 other names listed with Charlie.
The Hill Fights provides information regarding the fight for Hill 881S where Charlie died. If you scroll down the page approximately ¾ of the way you will find M Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment where you will find Charlie’s named listed in blue with the other members of his company that didn’t make it that day. Hill 881N, Hill 881S and Hill 861 are very prominent just west of the Khe Sanh airfield. During my time in Vietnam I spent a lot of “quality” time around Khe Sanh and points west and nothing good every happened there.
On a personal note I remember that evening when Charlie told me, Gary and probably Mackey that he had joined the Marines. Like most of the guys back then we all had some type of military obligation. I had already sold my soul to the Army with a reprieve until I graduated. I didn’t see Charlie after that evening. The next thing I remember was Gary telling me that Charlie didn’t make it and how upset Gary was. There is not a day goes by that I don’t think about Charlie and my friends that did not make it.
If you are ever in Washington, D.C. please go by and visit the Wall. I always went in the evening to be alone with my thoughts and prayers for my friends that were not as fortunate as I was.
Kenneth Hoyer
Charles and I went all the way through together. He joined the Marine Corps and was killed in Viet Nam.
David Robinson
CHARLES WAS A QUITE GUY AND NEVER CAUSED ANY BAD FEELINGS IN THE MANY YEARS THAT I KNEW HIM. WHO WOULD HAVE EVER THOUGHT THAT HE WOULD JOIN THE MARINES. WHEN I FOUND OUT OF HIS UNTIMELY DEATH ---WELL IT JUST HURT. I KINOW THAT THE DATE HE WAS KILLED IN VIET NAM WAS APRIL 30 1976 WAS A BLCK DAY FOR ALL CONCERNED. MAY HE REST IN PEACE.
Kathy Foley (Odom)
I knew Charlie from Orchestra. Hated to read about his death in Nam.
Robin Hallford
Charles and I went to join the Marines on the ' buddy plan ' and we were one doctor away from being sworn in when Charles got as white as a sheet and he said to me ' Is there ANYTHING that can keep you out, I just got a REALLY BAD feeling about this .' I remembered that as a child I used to wet the bed due to my Dads drinking and so I told the last doctor we saw. He about hit the ceiling, kicked me out, and Charles went on to Vietnam to die on Hamburger Hill as I believe it was know to some. If it hadnt have been for him telling me of his ' bad feelling ' we would have BOTH died on that hill, so I consider him a Hero BEFORE he went overseas, as well as a Hero AFTER he went overseas. He was REALLY the BEST friend a man could have, and I ask God to give him Peace and Rest at last !
Bill Bridges
This picture of Charlie Shiver is from the Virtual Vietnam Veterans Wall of Faces. This is the group that built the Vietnam Veterans Memorial (“the Wall”) in Washington, D.C. Although the picture does not indicate the location, it very much looks like the area surrounding Khe Sanh. For those who have not been to the Wall, the names are by date and alphabetically within that date. All the Marines who died with Charlie on 04/30/1967 in Quang Tri Providence will be listed there with Charlie. There are 44 other names listed with Charlie.
The Hill Fights provides information regarding the fight for Hill 881S where Charlie died. If you scroll down the page approximately ¾ of the way you will find M Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment where you will find Charlie’s named listed in blue with the other members of his company that didn’t make it that day. Hill 881N, Hill 881S and Hill 861 are very prominent just west of the Khe Sanh airfield. During my time in Vietnam I spent a lot of “quality” time around Khe Sanh and points west and nothing good every happened there.
On a personal note I remember that evening when Charlie told me, Gary and probably Mackey that he had joined the Marines. Like most of the guys back then we all had some type of military obligation. I had already sold my soul to the Army with a reprieve until I graduated. I didn’t see Charlie after that evening. The next thing I remember was Gary telling me that Charlie didn’t make it and how upset Gary was. There is not a day goes by that I don’t think about Charlie and my friends that did not make it.
If you are ever in Washington, D.C. please go by and visit the Wall. I always went in the evening to be alone with my thoughts and prayers for my friends that were not as fortunate as I was.
Grace and Peace.
Bill Bridges