Name: Charles Albert Meuse Rank: Private First Class Service Number: 1082562 Service: Company C, 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, United States Marine Corps Date of Birth: December 28, 1929 Place of Birth: Wakefield, Middlesex County, Massachusetts Date of Enlistment: July 27, 1948 Address at Enlistment: Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana Age at Enlistment: 18 Date of Death: February 24, 1951 Age: 21 Cemetery: Gray Cemetery, Noblesville, Hamilton County, Indiana Charles Albert Meuse was the son of Charles Edward Meuse (1905-1997) and Frances Mabel Meuse (LaMaraca) (1907-1990). Some records list the surname as Muse. His father was born in Wakefield, Massachusetts His paternal grandparents were Frederick ‘Fred’ Alfred Meuse (1883-1968) who was born in Quinan, Argyle, Yarmouth County, Nova Scotia, and Mary Elizabeth (Dulong) Meuse (1876-1946) born in Belleville in Argyle, Yarmouth Co., NS. Charles’ two half-siblings were Michael LaMarca and Jean Ann LaMarca, his stepfather was Charles LaMarca. Charles graduated from Washington High School and worked for a brief time for the Kasper Furniture Co. before he joined the Marine Corps Reserve. Charles Meuse completed basic training for a year in Puerto Rico. He enlisted in the Marines in July 1948 and served a year before his initial discharge. He was employed as an apprentice mechanic by the Reid-Holcomb on his return to Indianapolis and re-enlisted in the Marines late in 1949. He was with the 1st Marine Division when it departed for the Korean peninsula. Charles’ battle experience would have included landing at Inchon in September 1950, and the fighting including the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir in November and December 1950. Private 1st Class Charles Albert Meuse was killed in action February 24, 1951, while engaged with the enemy during Operation Killer south of Hoengseong, South Korea. He was killed while bringing wounded comrades from the battle front. The offensive lasted from February 20 to March 6, 1951, formulated by General Matthew Ridgway with the goal of annihilating enemy forces south of a line designated the Arizona Line. The operation was immediately followed by Operation Ripper. A funeral service was held at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Noblesville on September 27, 1951, with the burial held afterwards with full military honors. Charles Albert Meuse is interred at the Gray Cemetery in Noblesville, Hamilton County, Indiana. He is also remembered on The Wall of Remembrance at the United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Korea (UNMCK), and the Korean War Memorial in Washington, DC. Charles was awarded the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, Korean Service Medal, UN Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Presidential Unit Citation, and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.

Sources: American Battle Monuments Commission findagrave.com koreanwar.org

Charles Albert Meuse