Charles Everett Merritt

Rural Runnells native Charles Everett Merritt graduated from Southeast Polk High School in the class of 1967. He was drafted by the Army in May 1969 and was sent to Vietnam in October of the same year. PFC Merritt was assigned to the 25th Infantry Division as an infantryman in the Binh Duong Province. Just over two months into his deployment PFC Merritt was killed in action. On the night of December 28, 1969 enemy forces snuck into the perimeter of PFC Merritt’s unit’s defensive position. In the ten minute skirmish that ensued, eight Americans were killed. He sustained multiple fatal fragmentation wounds during the attack on Ho Bo Woods. Merritt was 20 years old at the time of his death. He was posthumously promoted to Corporal. The Iowan was buried at the Merritt Cemetery in Kellerton.