Charles Thomas Hesse

Charles Thomas Hesse grew up in Des Moines County. Both his parents were killed while he was a child and he was raised by his aunt in Mediapolis, north of Burlington. He attended the Mediapolis school district and was a member of the First Presbyterian Church. Hesse was drafted by the Army in July 1967 and started his tour in South Vietnam in February 1968. He was assigned to the 1st Cavalry Division as a helicopter door gunner and he specialized as a Huey repairman. On July 23, 1968 SGT Hesse was killed during a helicopter accident. During a routine refueling operation near Camp Evans, the Huey Hesse was aboard was struck by another aircraft. He was 21 years old at the time of his death. He was buried at the Kossuth Cemetery in Mediapolis.