Boynton, Charles, SFC

IF HE/SHE PARTICIPATED IN ANY MILITARY OPERATIONS, INCLUDING COMBAT, HUMANITARIAN AND PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS, TO THE BEST OF YOUR KNOWLEDGE, PLEASE DESCRIBE THOSE YOU FEEL WERE THE MOST SIGNIFICANT TO HIM/HER AND, IF LIFE-CHANGING, IN WHAT WAY.
My father joined the Army shortly after Pearl Harbor, like so many patriots of the time. He was an infantry soldier and went the serve in the European Theater of War, from the landings in Normandy through France, Italy and ending up seeing the end of the war in Germany. His final battle involved his company attacking a town. His commanding officer had gotten pretty shot up. My father went out of cover to bring him back into the relative safety of the lines for medical treatment. As he recovered his commander, and was heading back into the lines he received machine gun fire which struck him 3 times in the back. He ultimately survived his wounds, and was awarded the Silver Star and Purple Heart for his efforts. His commander also survived. My dad was released after the war ended and went about his civilian life, until he was recalled in 1947, He served continuously until his death in 1965. During the Korean War, he was awarded the Bronze Star w/V-Device for action against the enemy in the Inchon Landing.

My father was involved with the liberation of one of Hitler's concentration camps. The horror was so bad that he had nightmares about it the rest of his life. My father never spoke to us kids about the wars he had fought in, but my mother told us later in life about the horror he saw, and how he suffered.

OF ALL THEIR DUTY STATIONS OR ASSIGNMENTS, ARE YOU AWARE OF ANY HE/SHE HAD FONDEST MEMORIES OF AND WHY? WHICH WAS THEIR LEAST FAVORITE?
I would have to say Fort Carson, Colorado under the 5th Infantry Division in the early 60's was his least favorite. My father really didn't like Colorado for some reason.

WHAT PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS DO YOU BELIEVE HE/SHE WAS MOST PROUD OF FROM HIS/HER MILITARY SERVICE?
Silver Star
Purple Heart
Bronze Star w/V-Device

ARE YOU AWARE OF ANY PARTICULAR INCIDENT FROM HIS/HER SERVICE, WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN FUNNY AT THE TIME, BUT STILL MADE THEM LAUGH LATER ON?
My father received an Article 15 for getting drunk, stealing a Jeep and wrecking it. It wasn't funny at all, and he got busted from E7 to E5. However, when my mother told me the story I thought it was funny. I never knew my father to take a drink. My mom said that when that happened, she told him if he every drank another drop she'd leave him. He never took another drop.

IF THEY WERE HERE TODAY, WHAT ADVICE DO YOU THINK HE OR SHE WOULD GIVE TO THOSE WHO FOLLOWED IN THEIR FOOTSTEPS AND RECENTLY ENTERED MILITARY SERVICE?
He was very vocal about not joining the military. He didn't want me or my brother to have to go through what he went through. He made us swear to him we wouldn't follow his footsteps. I knew I was lying to him. From the earliest memories of my father, I knew I was going to join the Army and follow in his foot steps.