Their Story
Remembering Charles L. Zoog.
PFC Charles Louis Zoog was born 2 Aug 1943 in Washington, Washington County, Pennsylvania.
Charles enlisted in the Marines 10 July 1963, at a Pittsburgh Recruiting Office. Upon arriving in Vietnam, Charles was assigned to India Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division.
India Company had landed with 3rd Battalion in Vietnam at the end of January during Operation Double Eagle.
On March 4, Operation UTAH was launched under the command of Task Force Delta in the Son Thinh District of Quang Ngai Province where the Marines would encounter elements of the 21st NVA Regiment. India Company was helicopter-ed to the area of operations the evening of 4 March, and the Marines moved forward on their search and destroy mission at first light on March 5.
While sweeping through the Chau Ngai village complex, India Company engaged elements of the 21st NVA Regiment in a battle that would last for more than 8 hours. The enemy was in well-prepared defensive positions with fields of fire that prevented the forward movement of Marines without taking casualties. By nightfall the fighting slacked, 17 men of the Company were killed during the battle and many more were wounded.
Charles died as a result of a gunshot wound to the head from hostile rifle fire. India and Mike Company lost 45 Marines during the intense fighting against the 21st NVA.
Charles is buried at Forest Lawn Gardens, Canonsburg, Washington County, PA and is honored on the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Wall, Panel 05E, Line 127.