MEMORIAL ARTICLE Published Assembly Nov '93 Charles Edward Bonner    No. 15375  Class of 1946  Died 16 August 1951 at Fort Sheridan, Illinois, aged 27 years Interment: Orwell Cemetery, Orwell, New York.

CHARLES EDWARD BONNER, known to friends and classmates as Chuck, was born June1924 in Cortland, New York. His father was a Presbyterian minister. When Chuck was young, his father became pastor of a church in Utica, New York, taking the family with him. Chuck spent his high school years at the Utica Free Academy, where he was active in many school activities. In addition to being an honor student, he sang in all the school musical organizations and was the bass soloist in the choir. After graduation, he attended Hamilton College in Clinton, New York for one semester before gaining his coveted appointment to West Point. Chuck was very patriotic and, with World War II underway, wanted to emulate his two brothers, Harry and James, and sister Katherine, who were serving as Army officers. So it was with a great deal of pride that Chuck reported to West Point on I July 1943 to join the Class of 1946.

Life as a cadet posed no great problems for Chuck. Naturally smart and interested in things scientific, he was made for the academic curriculum. He continued his interest in music and became a soloist in the Cadet Chapel Choir. He also sang in the Cadet Glee Club. E!mo E. Cunningham, a D-I Company classmate, remembered, "Chuck was very outgoing with a great sense of humor, highly liked and admired by all. He had confidence in himself. The singular thing about Chuck was that he managed to be the all-round' type of cadet. Success and being an achiever, was his nature."

Chuck had to face a very trying time towards the end of yearling year, however. His brother James, who was an Infantry Company Commander in Europe, was killed in action. When graduation rolled around, Chuck's high academic standing allowed him to be commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Corps of Engineers.

Following graduation, Chuck joined his classmates at Fort Benning, Georgia for the Branch Immaterial Course followed by the Engineer Officer Basic Course at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. While at Belvoir, he was one of eight of 54 classmates who volunteered for parachute training. Pat Pendergrass recalled that the Office of the Chief of Engineers was less than enthusiastic about that decision: "If you wanted to be Infantrymen, you should have joined the' Infantry." Pendergrass remembered an incident at jump school that demonstrated Chuck's drive and determination to succeed: "The Pendergrasses had given a joint birthday party for Chuck and Bud Sterling. As the guests were returning to the BOQ, a drunk driver struck their car. Chuck was unconscious for some time and suffered skip amnesia. We advised him to drop back to the following class, but he insisted on finishing with us. He completed the tower phase and his six qualifying jumps with all the preceding instruction erased from his memory."

After jump school, the eight fledgling paratroopers received orders to the replacement depot at Camp Zama, Japan, jubilant over the prospect of assignment to the 1lth Airborne Division. Instead, it seems an Engineer classmate assigned to Army headquarters in Hawaii let it he known that there were eight Class of '46 Engineers still unassigned in Japan. The net result was that all eight were assigned to the Post-Hostilities Mapping Program. Three went to Korea, two to Okinawa, one stayed in Japan and Bob Supplee and Chuck went to the Philippines. After Korea and Okinawa were mapped, all but one were transferred to the Philippines.

By mid-1948, there were still four USMA '46 Engineer officers assigned to the 29th Engineer Base Survey Company based in Tacloban, Leyete: Ferd Anderson, Pat Pendergrass, Bud Sterling and Chuck Bonner. Those classmates shared most of Chuck's all too brief career. They remember him as an officer of exceptional drive and energy. He projected maturity and competence and was a favorite with superiors and subordinates alike.

Pat Pendergrass recalled an incident indicative of Chuck's potential: "At Tacloban, Chuck was assigned to the boat platoon, a fleet of LCMs manned by some of the toughest characters in uniform. The toughest of the lot kept an ape chained to the wheelhouse as a guard 'dog.' During a surprise inspection, the ape bit Chuck severely. Before seeking medical attention, Chuck gave the boat operator a chewing out the likes of which he had never heard before. When Chuck left the 29th, the boat platoon had been transformed into a shipshape, can-do, service-oriented outfit." His exceptional leadership and potential were recognized even then, and he was selected to be aide-de-camp to the Chief of Staff of the Fifth Army at Fort Sheridan, Illinois.

Chuck Bonner died at Fort Sheridan on 16 August 1951. An indication of the high esteem in which he was held was the fact that Major General Eastwood, Chief of Staff, Fifth Army, attended Chuck's funeral in New York. Chuck was survived by his parents, brothers Harry and Albert, and sisters Rachel and Katherine.

In his short time on earth, Charles Edward Bonnet impacted the lives of all who knew and loved him. One of his airborne Engineer classmates, Bob Malley, recalled, "He had a deep sense of faith and duty. He tried very hard to live up to the ideals given to him by his father and by West Point. He spoke often of that; it was really genuine. Chuck was a very complex person -- normally very exuberant and full of fun, a great guy with whom to spend time. But there was a very serious side to him. He set very high standards for himself and tried very hard to meet them." Elmo Cunningham remarked, "His untimely death at the young age of 27 terminated what would have been a highly successful career and life. I have no doubt he would have done well." He will be remembered as a conscientious, sincere and sensitive person who tried very hard to live up to the standards of Duty, Honor, Country that meant so much to him. His family, friends and classmates will always remember him. They join together to say, "Rest in Peace, Chuck!"

Personal Eulogy