Charles Richard Guttilla served as - 1st Lt. - grade 02
United States Army Reserve.
He was 23 years old at the time of his death.
Charlie was born on March 18, 1943 in Nutley, N.J. to Eileen and Charles W. Katt. Charles W. was killed in action on Nov. 27, 1943 when Charley Richard was nineteen months old. Charley's Mother remarried and moved to Decatur, GA. in 1945 wher Charley was adopted by his step father.
His tour of duty in Vietnam began July 10, 1966.
Charlie served with the 175th Combat Engineer Company, 196th Infantry Brigrade, Platoon Leader, 3rd Platoon.
Charlie died on Feburary 20, 1967 at the 196th Infantry Base Camp, Tay Ninh City, Tay Ninh Province. His death was a result of an enemy mine. Charlie was a passenger in a truck when it struck the mine.
Charles is interred in The Marietta National Cemetery,
Marietta, Cobb County, Georgia,
Section U, Row O, Grave # 329
Charles's religion was Roman Catholic. He was not married.
Charlie's name is listed on Panel 15E --- Line 66
of the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, D.C.
" Rest in Peace Charlie You Are Missed By All Who Knew You"
1st. Lt. Charles Richard Guttilla
United States Army
196th Lt. Infantry Brigade
175th Engineer Company
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Honors
Lt.Charles Guttilla's burial flag at the foot of the panel that bears his name at the Vietnam Memorial in Washington D.C. Charlie's name is highlighted in red in the upper left hand side of this panel. Years later the Flag would serve as the retirement flag for his brother Brad from the Navy.
Charlie at the 175th Engineer Company area located East of Tay Ninh City in late 1966. As I recall, Charlie had just returned from R&R in Japan with a new camera. Charlie was serving as the Platoon Leader for 3rd Platoon.
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Charlie came to the 175th Engineer Company at Fort Devens, Massachusetts. Most of the original unit was made up of draftees. We went through basic training, advanced individual, and advanced unit training as one unit. We knew each other well, when we went to Vietnam as a unit. Charlie's death brought great sorrow to all of us who knew him. Everyone of us had great respect for this kind and gentle man. His death brought a hardness to all our soles as we moved on without him. For his service to his Flag and Country,
Charles Richard Guttilla received the following awards:
Purple Heart for wounds received in an armed conflict.
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
Vietnam Campaign Ribbon
Good Conduct Medal
The Republic of Vietnam, Military Merit Medal
The Republic of Vietnam, Gallantry Cross with Palm
Charlie catching up on some letters home. This photo was taken around Sep. or Oct. 1966, at the 175th Engineers Base Camp, Tay Ninh.
Charlie in front of the 175th Engineers CP. Tay Ninh Base Camp Sep. / Oct. 1966
01/01/02
Charlie's high school graduation photo, class of 1960, from Webster Groves High School in Webster Groves, Missouri.
Charlie at home visiting friends before he shipped out to Fort Devens, Mass. in 1965.
"A special thanks to Rosalie Leposky & Dennis Driemeyer, Charlie's Friends and Classmates for supplying the 2 photos above."
Lt. Charlie Richard Guttilla 's Final Resting Place,
The Marietta National Cemetery, Cobb County, Georgia
The Cemetery is prominently situated on a rolling hillside in a position of honor to the right front of the main pavilion where all formal ceremonies are held and from where all featured dignitaries speak.
The Marietta National Cemetery is particularly beautiful because of it's lush foliage and meticulous groundskeeping. It was originally built on ground donated by a local family to inter the remains of Union soldiers who were killled at Kennesaw Mountain and the surrounding area, during the battle for Atlanta, during The Civil War. The Mountain sits less than two miles to the norhwest and can be clearly seen when the trees lose their foliage in the late Fall. The Confederate cemetery is also a short distance away.
