MASTER SERGEANT CHARLES E. HOSKING JR. From WWII Battle of the Bulge, to 3 tours in Vietnam, Final Mission 21 March 1967
DISTINGUISHED MEMBER OF THE SPECIAL FORCES REGIMENT DOD
Master Sergeant Charles E. Hosking Jr. was born on May 12, 1924, in Ramsey, New Jersey. He left high school early to join the Canadian Army so he could fight in World War II, until his age was discovered and he was sent back. He attended Ramsey High School and when he was 17, he left before graduating to enter the U.S. Army during World War II.
During World War II, he was assigned to the 509th Parachute Battalion, 82nd Airborne Division, and was a participant in the Battle of the Bulge.
Master Sgt. Hosking missed duty in the Korean War due to a bazooka training accident that broke both of his legs and left him with numerous shrapnel wounds. He joined the Green Berets in the early 1960s, serving as a member of the Special Forces in Bad Tolz, Germany, during the Cold War. He began the first of three tours of duty in Vietnam in 1961. In addition to being a demolitions expert, he was proficient in many languages, including Vietnamese.
On March 21, 1967, at the age of 42, MSgt. Hosking was killed in action. Due to his valiant actions on that day, he was awarded the Medal of Honor. His citation reads:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Master Sgt. Hosking, then-sergeant first class, Detachment A-302, Company A, greatly distinguished himself while serving as company advisor in the III Corps Civilian Irregular Defense Group Reaction Battalion during combat operations in Don Luan District. A Viet Cong suspect was apprehended and subsequently identified as a Viet Cong sniper.
While Master Sgt. Hosking was preparing the enemy for movement back to the base camp, the prisoner suddenly grabbed a hand grenade from Master Sgt. Hosking’s belt, armed the grenade and started running towards the company command group which consisted of two Americans and two Vietnamese who were standing a few feet away. Instantly realizing that the enemy intended to kill the other men, Master Sgt. Hosking immediately leaped upon the Viet Cong soldier’s back. With utter disregard for his personal safety, he grasped the Viet Cong in a “Bear Hug” forcing the grenade against the enemy soldier’s chest. He then wrestled the Viet Cong to the ground and covered the enemy’s body with his body until the grenade detonated.
The blast instantly killed both Master Sgt. Hosking and the Viet Cong. By absorbing the full force of the exploding grenade with his body and that of the enemy, he saved the other members of his command group from death or serious injury.
Master Sgt. Hosking’s risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty are in the highest tradition of the U.S. Army and reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces.
Hosking Physical Fitness Center on Fort Bragg, North Carolina, was memorialized
REMEMBERING CHARLES “SNAKE” HOSKING JR. MOH, MARCH 21,1967
POSTED BY: BY STEVE BALESTRIERI, SPECIALOPERATIONS.COM on wall of faces website
Charles Ernest Hosking Jr. was a career soldier who fought as a U.S. paratrooper in World War II and then was one of the original Green Berets when the unit was created in 1952. He was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for Valor in the Republic of Vietnam for his actions on March 21, 1967.
Hosking leaped on the back of a Viet Cong prisoner who held a hand grenade. Holding the grenade between him and the prisoner, he gave up his life bearing the brunt of the blast but protected several of his commanders nearby who the VC was looking to take out with the grenade.
Beginnings and Itching to Serve: Hosking was born in May of 1924 in Ramsey, New Jersey. With World War II underway and before Pearl Harbor in 1941, Hosking ran away from home and hitchhiked to Canada. He enlisted in the Canadian’s famous “Black Watch” Regiment trying to get into the fight.
He eventually was tracked down by his U.S. congressman and others and being underage was shipped home. He then tried to join the Coast Guard with his grandfather’s permission but a heart murmur ended that venture as well. Undeterred, Hosking sought out his congressman, he received a waiver and was inducted into the U.S. Army in 1943.
But just serving wasn’t enough. Hosking volunteered for airborne duty and was assigned to Company B of the 509th Airborne Infantry Battalion. He joined them in Italy and served in the Rome-Arno, Southern France, and Ardennes-Alsace campaigns during the war in Europe. Of the 1500 men in the 509th, only 29 would serve the war and go without being killed or wounded. Hosking was wounded by machine-gun fire during the Battle of the Bulge in the Ardennes.
He missed serving in Korea due to a training accident when a bazooka round exploded and he suffered two broken legs and severe shrapnel wounds that required many months to recover from.
When Colonel Aaron Bank created the new Special Forces unit at Ft. Bragg, Hosking volunteered and served as a demolition or Engineer as well as a Weapons Sergeant on his A-Team. He was assigned to both Smoke Bomb Hill on Ft. Bragg and to Bad Tolz in Germany. He went to different training programs including language training and spoke Czech, German and Vietnamese.
Hosking served three different tours in Vietnam, in 1963, 1965-66 and his final tour in 1967. More Here . Citation below
*HOSKING, CHARLES ERNEST, JR.
Rank and organization: Master Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company A, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces. Place and date: Phuoc Long Province, Republic of Vietnam, 21 March 1967. Entered service at: Fort Dix, N.J. Born: 12 May 1924, Ramsey, N.J. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. M/Sgt. Hosking (then Sfc.), Detachment A-302, Company A, greatly distinguished himself while serving as company advisor in the III Corps Civilian Irregular Defense Group Reaction Battalion during combat operations in Don Luan District. A Viet Cong suspect was apprehended and subsequently identified as a Viet Cong sniper. While M/Sgt. Hosking was preparing the enemy for movement back to the base camp, the prisoner suddenly grabbed a hand grenade from M/Sgt. Hosking’s belt, armed the grenade, and started running towards the company command group which consisted of 2 Americans and 2 Vietnamese who were standing a few feet away. Instantly realizing that the enemy intended to kill the other men, M/Sgt. Hosking immediately leaped upon the Viet Cong’s back. With utter disregard for his personal safety, he grasped the Viet Cong in a “Bear Hug” forcing the grenade against the enemy soldier’s chest. He then wrestled the Viet Cong to the ground and covered the enemy’s body with his body until the grenade detonated. The blast instantly killed both M/Sgt. Hosking and the Viet Cong. By absorbing the full force of the exploding grenade with his body and that of the enemy, he saved the other members of his command group from death or serious injury. M/Sgt. Hosking’s risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty are in the highest tradition of the U.S. Army and reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of his country
| Charles Ernest Hosking, JrMaster Sergeant DET A-302 (BIEN HOA), A CO, 5TH SF GROUP, USARV Army of the United States Ramsey, New Jersey May 12, 1924 to March 21, 1967 CHARLES E HOSKING Jr is on the Wall at Panel 17E, Line 5 See the full profile or name rubbing for Charles Hosking |