Charles J. Antonelly

Antonelly saw his 4-month-old son once before he left for Vietnam, leaving him a letter that read: I know that you are much too young to understand what I say, but they say babies can understand everything for they know God ... We of the United States believe in freedom and have to defend this whenever necessary. I Long to be home with you and your mother, but as such God prevents it, as it is His will that I am here ... Ask God to protect your mother and yourself until I get home. Tell God that you can be his personal representative down on earth to keep an eye on her and keep her well. Antonelly attended Thomas Edison High School before enlisting in the Marine Corps in March 1962. The 20.year.old corporal, a helicopter mechanic with Marine Air Group 16 of the 1st Marine Air Wing, died on Nov. 6, 1965, in the hamlet of Phu Bai, Quang Tri Province. In addition to his wife and son, he was survived by his parents, a brother and sister.