From the 1950s to the 1980s, America and the world underwent sweeping changes, and Army Maj. Gen. Charles Calvin Rogers served with distinction throughout. Renowned for his exceptional leadership during a fierce Vietnam battle, he earned the Medal of Honor, exemplifying the warrior ethos and warfighting excellence.
Rogers was born on September 6, 1929, and grew up with his brother and three sisters near the coal-mining town of Claremont, West Virginia. His father, a coal miner and World War I veteran, likely sparked Rogers’ drive to serve, instilling a legacy of duty and readiness.
At Dubois High School, Rogers distinguished himself as a scholar and leader, consistently earning honor roll status, starring as the football team’s quarterback, and serving as student body president. Graduating in 1947, he pursued a mathematics degree at West Virginia State College (now University), commissioning into the Army via ROTC in June 1951.
His early career unfolded in artillery commands during a transformative period for the Army. Rising through the ranks, Rogers attended the Army Command and General Staff College as a major, graduating in 1964. He then trained an artillery unit in Germany—his second tour there—before taking his first battalion command at Fort Lewis, Washington.
In July 1967, Rogers assumed command of the 1st Battalion, 5th Artillery, 1st Infantry Division, deploying to Vietnam for two years of frontline warfighting.
Battle at the Border
On October 31, 1968, then-Lt. Col. Rogers led his artillery unit at Fire Support Base Rita in southern Vietnam, near the Cambodian border and the Ho Chi Minh Trail—a key North Vietnamese supply route.
That evening, he observed enemy activity across the border but held fire under engagement rules. At 3:30 a.m. on November 1, the North Vietnamese Army unleashed a barrage of mortars, rockets, and grenades, breaching the base’s perimeter. Rogers sprang into action, leading his battalion’s counterattack from the front.
Holding the Line
Braving exploding shells, Rogers rallied his stunned crewmen to return fire with their howitzers against a larger enemy force. Wounded by an explosion, he pressed on, leading a ground assault against enemy troops who had overrun a howitzer position, driving them back and eliminating several. Despite a second wound, he refused aid, focusing instead on restoring the defensive line.
When the enemy breached another section, Rogers directed artillery fire and spearheaded a counterattack, inspiring his men through the grueling fight. At dawn, facing a third assault, he joined a faltering howitzer crew, repairing their gun under fire until a third wound sidelined him physically—yet he continued to direct and motivate his unit.
Rogers’ valor repelled the enemy, who retreated with heavy losses, while 12 U.S. soldiers perished and dozens were injured. His leadership upheld the unit’s standards and secured the base.
The Highest Honor
Treated for his wounds, Rogers returned to the U.S. in August 1969. On May 14, 1970, President Richard M. Nixon presented him the Medal of Honor at the White House, recognizing his extraordinary service.
Rogers advanced his career, graduating from the Army War College in 1971 and earning a master’s in vocational/educational guidance from Shippensburg University. He led additional commands and high-level assignments, culminating in Germany, retiring in 1984 as a major general after 32 years of exemplary service.
In civilian life, Rogers became a Baptist minister, remaining in Germany to support troops spiritually. He died of prostate cancer on September 21, 1990, at age 61, and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery, survived by his wife, Margaret, and daughters Jackie, Linda, and Barbara.
Rogers’ legacy endures through honors like his induction into West Virginia State University’s ROTC Hall of Fame and the Army Maj. Gen. Charles C. Rogers Memorial Bridge in Cotton Hill, West Virginia, renamed in 2013 from its 1999 dedication.
This article is part of a weekly series called "Medal of Honor Monday," spotlighting one of over 3,500 recipients of the U.S. military’s highest valor award.