Charles L. Danberry was born on September 19, 1948, and lived in West Amwell Township, NJ. His home of record is Lambertville, NJ. He was a 1967 graduate of South Hunterdon High School where he was a star athlete. One of his family’s prize possessions is a 3-foot trophy awarded to Charles in 1966, by the Lambertville American Legion for being the best back and lineman among South’s gridders that year. Charles also excelled in basketball and baseball.
Charles’s nickname was “Big Red,” a name given to him by his friends. This is because he was very shy and quiet, and blushed easily.
Charles grew up on a farm four miles from town with his parents, Lewis and Doris, two brothers, Chris and Ken, and two sisters, Heidi and Jill. Charles, Ken and Chris had a very close relationship, something that no one could take away from them. They worked hard on the farm together.
Their father was a World War II veteran, having served with the US Navy. The entire family was very patriotic. They would always take off their hats as the flag went by. To this day, they still do.
As they got older, Chris and Charles shared a dream. After they graduated from high school, they would both join the Navy like their dad and then become police officers. Only one of them was able to accomplish that goal.
After graduation, Charles entered the US Marine Corps where he attained the rank of Private First Class (PFC). After training, he became an infantryman. On May 17, 1968, he went to Vietnam. Just six days later while in Khe Sahn during the Tet Offensive, Danberry was tragically killed by mortar fire.
On May 18, 1968, his only letter was sent home. In it he wrote: It’s going to be a long thirteen months, but I just hope that I come out all right, when the months are over. Those months ended in six days.
Today Chris wears two bracelets to remember Charlie and his old neighbor, Steven Rusch, to show that neither of them will ever be forgotten.
Charles Danberry has two nephews, Kenneth and Sean, who both pursued careers in the military, with the US Marine Corps and US Navy respectively.
Sources: Heidi Galloway and Chris Danberry (siblings), Reading-Fleming Middle School and NJVVMF.
12/17/2024
