Private First Class - Medic, United States Army, Unit: HHC, 1st BN, 77th Armor, 5th INF DIV, USARV. Charles "Chip" is on the Wall at Panel 17W Line 024. Graduate of Brien McMahon High School, Norwalk CT.
A tremendous thank you for the following information provided by Fulton Rivers. Thank you to Rob McNabb for your heartbreaking contribution.
Bronze Star awarded posthumously to PFC Charles W. "Chip" Bachman Jr. Born on 22 July 1949 in Norwalk, CT, despite repeated attempts from his parents to dissuade him from enlisting, he had many friends who had gone to Vietnam and felt that he needed to do his share. After enlisting in December of 1968, he arrived in-country on 24 July 1969 and was assigned as a Medical Corpsman to Bravo Co. 1/77 Armor, 5th Mech ID. Less than three months after arriving in Vietnam, Bachman was KIA on 2 October 1969. He had just turned 20 years old at the time of his death.
Rob McNabb, a member of Bravo Co. 1/77 would later recall: "I have thought of Chip repeatedly throughout the years since the hilltop firefight on Rocket Ridge in Quang Tri Province. I was the tank commander on Captain Moore's tank the night of the ground attack. My driver was Ralph Coots and my loader was Norm Howard. That night, October 2, 1969, four tanks, two dusters and a squad of attached infantry were set up in a night defensive position. We were attacked by an estimated company of North Vietnamese Regulars. The first rounds into our perimeter were from a rocket propelled grenade, followed by mortars and then the ground attack. Captain Moore was manning the .50 Caliber machine gun on the tank. Myself, Coots and Howard were asleep under the tank, waiting for our turn on guard when the attack began. As the attack escalated, myself and my crew returned fire from underneath our tank. While reloading, I looked across the perimeter at an armored personnel carrier just as it took a direct hit from a mortar. I then saw our medic, Chip Bachman, jump up from his prone position and break into a run toward the armored personnel carrier. As he approached the carrier, a rocket propelled grenade hit the left rear panel of the armored personnel carrier. It hit just as Chip got to the carrier and shrapnel exploded into Chip's abdomen. He hit the ground and was not moving. Enemy mortars and small arm fire continued to pour into the perimeter. I then low crawled approximately 80 feet to reach Chip. I did reach him. I then turned over his body to see if he was alive and if I could provide him assistance. I pulled on his fatigues, right below his belt line. His torso was cut in half. Chip was a true hero and gave his life in a truly valiant attempt to rescue his fallen comrades. I did not know Chip personally. I just knew him as 'Doc'. I have been to the Wall, in his honor. I often cry myself to sleep thinking about that one night and Chip lives in my dreams. May God bless and care for you Chip. To me, you will always be a hero."
Contributor: Fulton Rivers (46843747)
A tremendous thank you for the following information provided by Fulton Rivers. Thank you to Rob McNabb for your heartbreaking contribution.
Bronze Star awarded posthumously to PFC Charles W. "Chip" Bachman Jr. Born on 22 July 1949 in Norwalk, CT, despite repeated attempts from his parents to dissuade him from enlisting, he had many friends who had gone to Vietnam and felt that he needed to do his share. After enlisting in December of 1968, he arrived in-country on 24 July 1969 and was assigned as a Medical Corpsman to Bravo Co. 1/77 Armor, 5th Mech ID. Less than three months after arriving in Vietnam, Bachman was KIA on 2 October 1969. He had just turned 20 years old at the time of his death.
Rob McNabb, a member of Bravo Co. 1/77 would later recall: "I have thought of Chip repeatedly throughout the years since the hilltop firefight on Rocket Ridge in Quang Tri Province. I was the tank commander on Captain Moore's tank the night of the ground attack. My driver was Ralph Coots and my loader was Norm Howard. That night, October 2, 1969, four tanks, two dusters and a squad of attached infantry were set up in a night defensive position. We were attacked by an estimated company of North Vietnamese Regulars. The first rounds into our perimeter were from a rocket propelled grenade, followed by mortars and then the ground attack. Captain Moore was manning the .50 Caliber machine gun on the tank. Myself, Coots and Howard were asleep under the tank, waiting for our turn on guard when the attack began. As the attack escalated, myself and my crew returned fire from underneath our tank. While reloading, I looked across the perimeter at an armored personnel carrier just as it took a direct hit from a mortar. I then saw our medic, Chip Bachman, jump up from his prone position and break into a run toward the armored personnel carrier. As he approached the carrier, a rocket propelled grenade hit the left rear panel of the armored personnel carrier. It hit just as Chip got to the carrier and shrapnel exploded into Chip's abdomen. He hit the ground and was not moving. Enemy mortars and small arm fire continued to pour into the perimeter. I then low crawled approximately 80 feet to reach Chip. I did reach him. I then turned over his body to see if he was alive and if I could provide him assistance. I pulled on his fatigues, right below his belt line. His torso was cut in half. Chip was a true hero and gave his life in a truly valiant attempt to rescue his fallen comrades. I did not know Chip personally. I just knew him as 'Doc'. I have been to the Wall, in his honor. I often cry myself to sleep thinking about that one night and Chip lives in my dreams. May God bless and care for you Chip. To me, you will always be a hero."
Contributor: Fulton Rivers (46843747)
Private First Class - Medic, United States Army, Unit: HHC, 1st BN, 77th Armor, 5th INF DIV, USARV. Charles "Chip" is on the Wall at Panel 17W Line 024. Graduate of Brien McMahon High School, Norwalk CT.
A tremendous thank you for the following information provided by Fulton Rivers. Thank you to Rob McNabb for your heartbreaking contribution.
Bronze Star awarded posthumously to PFC Charles W. "Chip" Bachman Jr. Born on 22 July 1949 in Norwalk, CT, despite repeated attempts from his parents to dissuade him from enlisting, he had many friends who had gone to Vietnam and felt that he needed to do his share. After enlisting in December of 1968, he arrived in-country on 24 July 1969 and was assigned as a Medical Corpsman to Bravo Co. 1/77 Armor, 5th Mech ID. Less than three months after arriving in Vietnam, Bachman was KIA on 2 October 1969. He had just turned 20 years old at the time of his death.
Rob McNabb, a member of Bravo Co. 1/77 would later recall: "I have thought of Chip repeatedly throughout the years since the hilltop firefight on Rocket Ridge in Quang Tri Province. I was the tank commander on Captain Moore's tank the night of the ground attack. My driver was Ralph Coots and my loader was Norm Howard. That night, October 2, 1969, four tanks, two dusters and a squad of attached infantry were set up in a night defensive position. We were attacked by an estimated company of North Vietnamese Regulars. The first rounds into our perimeter were from a rocket propelled grenade, followed by mortars and then the ground attack. Captain Moore was manning the .50 Caliber machine gun on the tank. Myself, Coots and Howard were asleep under the tank, waiting for our turn on guard when the attack began. As the attack escalated, myself and my crew returned fire from underneath our tank. While reloading, I looked across the perimeter at an armored personnel carrier just as it took a direct hit from a mortar. I then saw our medic, Chip Bachman, jump up from his prone position and break into a run toward the armored personnel carrier. As he approached the carrier, a rocket propelled grenade hit the left rear panel of the armored personnel carrier. It hit just as Chip got to the carrier and shrapnel exploded into Chip's abdomen. He hit the ground and was not moving. Enemy mortars and small arm fire continued to pour into the perimeter. I then low crawled approximately 80 feet to reach Chip. I did reach him. I then turned over his body to see if he was alive and if I could provide him assistance. I pulled on his fatigues, right below his belt line. His torso was cut in half. Chip was a true hero and gave his life in a truly valiant attempt to rescue his fallen comrades. I did not know Chip personally. I just knew him as 'Doc'. I have been to the Wall, in his honor. I often cry myself to sleep thinking about that one night and Chip lives in my dreams. May God bless and care for you Chip. To me, you will always be a hero."
Contributor: Fulton Rivers (46843747)
A tremendous thank you for the following information provided by Fulton Rivers. Thank you to Rob McNabb for your heartbreaking contribution.
Bronze Star awarded posthumously to PFC Charles W. "Chip" Bachman Jr. Born on 22 July 1949 in Norwalk, CT, despite repeated attempts from his parents to dissuade him from enlisting, he had many friends who had gone to Vietnam and felt that he needed to do his share. After enlisting in December of 1968, he arrived in-country on 24 July 1969 and was assigned as a Medical Corpsman to Bravo Co. 1/77 Armor, 5th Mech ID. Less than three months after arriving in Vietnam, Bachman was KIA on 2 October 1969. He had just turned 20 years old at the time of his death.
Rob McNabb, a member of Bravo Co. 1/77 would later recall: "I have thought of Chip repeatedly throughout the years since the hilltop firefight on Rocket Ridge in Quang Tri Province. I was the tank commander on Captain Moore's tank the night of the ground attack. My driver was Ralph Coots and my loader was Norm Howard. That night, October 2, 1969, four tanks, two dusters and a squad of attached infantry were set up in a night defensive position. We were attacked by an estimated company of North Vietnamese Regulars. The first rounds into our perimeter were from a rocket propelled grenade, followed by mortars and then the ground attack. Captain Moore was manning the .50 Caliber machine gun on the tank. Myself, Coots and Howard were asleep under the tank, waiting for our turn on guard when the attack began. As the attack escalated, myself and my crew returned fire from underneath our tank. While reloading, I looked across the perimeter at an armored personnel carrier just as it took a direct hit from a mortar. I then saw our medic, Chip Bachman, jump up from his prone position and break into a run toward the armored personnel carrier. As he approached the carrier, a rocket propelled grenade hit the left rear panel of the armored personnel carrier. It hit just as Chip got to the carrier and shrapnel exploded into Chip's abdomen. He hit the ground and was not moving. Enemy mortars and small arm fire continued to pour into the perimeter. I then low crawled approximately 80 feet to reach Chip. I did reach him. I then turned over his body to see if he was alive and if I could provide him assistance. I pulled on his fatigues, right below his belt line. His torso was cut in half. Chip was a true hero and gave his life in a truly valiant attempt to rescue his fallen comrades. I did not know Chip personally. I just knew him as 'Doc'. I have been to the Wall, in his honor. I often cry myself to sleep thinking about that one night and Chip lives in my dreams. May God bless and care for you Chip. To me, you will always be a hero."
Contributor: Fulton Rivers (46843747)
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