USNA Class of 1948, Lieutenant Junior Grade Strahley was a veteran of World War II. During the Korean War, he was a pilot of a F9F-2 Pantherjet fighter with Fighter Squadron 52, aboard the aircraft carrier USS VALLEY FORGE (CV-45). On March 21, 1952, he led a flight against an enemy rail network near Hamhung, North Korea. Although his aircraft was struck several times by enemy anti-aircraft fire, he continued the attack until his aircraft was destroyed. He bailed out but became entangled in the shrouds of his parachute in the water and drowned. His remains were not recovered.

Awarded
★ Silver Star
★ Purple Heart
★ Air Medal
★ Combat Action Ribbon (Navy)
★ National Defense Service Medal
★ Korean Service Medal
★ Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
★ United Nations Service Medal
★ Republic of Korea War Service Medal

Strahley, Charles Glasgow (posthumous)
The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Lieutenant, Junior Grade Charles Glasgow Strahley (NSN: 0-513261), United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with Fighter Squadron Fifty-two (VF-52), embarked in U.S.S. Valley Forge (CV-45), in action against hostile North Korean and Chinese Communist forces. On 21 March 1952, Lieutenant, Junior Grade Strahley led a section of jet fighters on a strike against the vital enemy rail network in the vicinity of Hamhung, North Korea, With the highest skill and precision, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Strahley destroyed sections of the track in four separate locations on four attacks. On the fourth attack, made through a hail of crossfire from automatic weapons, his aircraft was struck in several vital locations, and immediately began trailing smoke indicating an engine fire. However, the smoke dissipated shortly afterward and Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Strahley unhesitatingly returned to the target to make four more attacks, severing the enemy rail track in two more vital sections. As he recovered from his last attack, Lieutenant, Junior Grade,. Strahley's aircraft was again critically struck by a barrage of automatic weapons fire causing a dense fire in the engine compartment and the plane to erupt volumes of heavy smoke, whereupon he immediately flew a direct course to the coastline. By the time he was safely clear of enemy territory, however, his cockpit was enveloped in flames and he was forced to bail out. His body was seen to strike the horizontal stabilizer and though his parachute opened normally his body was not recovered. The gallant fighting spirit demonstrated by Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Strahley in the face of grave peril, coupled with the hazard of making several attacks in a flak-damaged aircraft is most evident of unbounded courage and bravery. His actions reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. Commander 7th Fleet: Serial 1602

Contributed By: Chuck Cummins