CHARLES S. ROWLEY, COL, USAF
Charles Rowley '54
Lucky Bag
From the 1954 Lucky Bag:
Charles Stoddard Rowley
Riverton, Connecticut
From out of the New England hill country came the pride of Gilbert High's class of '49. Far from the tropical climate of Crabtown, Chuck became a proficient ski jumper. His mother's hair stopped turning gray when he had to give up the sport and pack his bags for prep school in Washington, D. C. Although D. C. was quite different from the hills of home, Chuck got used to big city ways and also proved himself no slouch in academics. Taking his appointment from the Naval Reserve quota he entered the Hall and found a home in the Navy. Chuck had been pointing for Navy for a long time. He knew what he wanted and he got it. This is the spirit that will take him a long way up the ladder in the outfit.
CROSS COUNTRY—4,3. STEEPLE CHASE—4, 3, 2. SOFTBALL—4, 3, 2, 1. VOLLEYBALL—2, 1. FOREIGN LANGUAGES CLUB—4, 3, 2. TENNIS—2.
Charles Stoddard Rowley
Riverton, Connecticut
From out of the New England hill country came the pride of Gilbert High's class of '49. Far from the tropical climate of Crabtown, Chuck became a proficient ski jumper. His mother's hair stopped turning gray when he had to give up the sport and pack his bags for prep school in Washington, D. C. Although D. C. was quite different from the hills of home, Chuck got used to big city ways and also proved himself no slouch in academics. Taking his appointment from the Naval Reserve quota he entered the Hall and found a home in the Navy. Chuck had been pointing for Navy for a long time. He knew what he wanted and he got it. This is the spirit that will take him a long way up the ladder in the outfit.
CROSS COUNTRY—4,3. STEEPLE CHASE—4, 3, 2. SOFTBALL—4, 3, 2, 1. VOLLEYBALL—2, 1. FOREIGN LANGUAGES CLUB—4, 3, 2. TENNIS—2.
Loss
Charles was killed in action on April 22, 1970 when the AC-130 gunship he was aboard was shot down while over Laos. There was one survivor from the crew of twelve.
Other Information
From Virtual Wall:
On the night of 21/22 April 1970 an AC-130A (tail number 54-1625, call sign "Ad Lib") of the 16th Special Operations Squadron departed Ubon RTAFB, Thailand, for a "truck-busting" mission along the Ho Chi Minh Trail in southern Laos. Two tactical aircraft, call signs Killer 1 and Killer 2, joined the AC-130 enroute to the working area.
At about 2 AM, while working a target some 25 miles east of Saravan, Laos, Ad Lib was hit by 37mm AAA fire and caught fire. Apart from a single advisory by Major Brooks, no radio calls were received before the burning AC-130 disappeared into the jungle below.
From researcher Kathy Franz:
Charles graduated from Gilbert high school in 1949. Voted Most Sophisticated. Known as: “Cheek.” Outstanding for: tooth. Seekin: chopper. Headin' for: “Tailors.”
On December 19, 1953, at Christ Church, Alexandria, Virginia, he married Virginia Davis Taylor of Winsted. She gave birth to Charles Stoddard Rowley on Oct. 22 at Ellington Air Force Base Hospital in Houston.
In August 1963, Charles received the Air Force Systems Command Junior Officer Noteworthy Achievement award at Cape Canaveral for personal contributions as electronics engineer to the space flight of Astronaut Cooper. He devised the two-way voice communication system used in the flight.
In July 1964, he attended the Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama.
Between 1966 and 1969, he trained pilots in Hawaii. In November 1969 he reported to Thailand.
His father Allan was a lumber mill truck driver, mother Rosabelle, brother Walter, and sister Elinor.
The collected remains of the crew are buried at Arlington National Cemetery; Charles is also remembered at the Courts of the Missing in Hawaii.
Photographs
Posted by his daughter, Patti, on 4/8/13
From his high school yearbook
Remembrances
From Wall of Faces:
There are so many wonderful stories to tell you about my Dad. He wasn't with us long, but he is etched on my heart forever. He was my spiritual guide as a young child. The first time he shared the Eucharist with me was one of the most profound moments in my life. He taught many of the neighborhood kids how to ride bikes. The best hiding place for me was behind the newspaper, on his lap, ever so quietly enjoying his warmth as my brothers looked. My Dad never gave me away. He protected me.
He is my hero. He always will be! 'I love you, Dad!' PATTI ROWLEY, POWDAD@AOL.COM, 4/8/13
This is MY Hero! I Love and Miss my Father. JAMES W. ROWLEY, 11/13/99
I was in the 16 SOS with Col. Rowley. I was not flying that night when #625 went down. He was a good SPECTRE. I will never forget him. CAPT. JEFFREY A. PARKER, DALLASPARKER@ALASKALIFE.NET, 3/2/00
Note
Charles was a Lieutenant Colonel when he was shot down, but he is listed as a Colonel by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency and in Memorial Hall.
Recovery and Burial
In 1995, Charles' daughter, Patti, was one of several family members of the crew to oppose a mass burial.
The "category" links below lead to lists of related Honorees; use them to explore further the service and sacrifice of alumni in Memorial Hall.