Name: Charles Chester Chelette War: World War II

Rank: Aviation Ordnanceman 1st Class Serial no.: 6448835 Branch: U.S. Navy

Unit: Aircraft carrier U. S. S. Franklin

Battle: A Japanese suicide plane hit his ship - 1,200 killed

Decorations: Purple Heart, American Campaign, Asiatic Pacific Campaign, WWII Victory Medal

Date born: April 05, 1923

Place born: Orange, Texas

Date died: March 19, 1945

How died: A Japanese suicide plane hit his ship

Place died: Aboard the USS Franklin

Place buried: Buried at sea – a memorial marker is in Beauregard Cemetery

Home place: 307 North Division, DeRidder, LA

School(s): DeRidder - graduated in May of 1940

Affiliations: Pentecostal Church

Interests: Fishing, hunting, banking

Spouse: None

Children: None

Parents: E. M. and Lettie Chelette

Siblings: Herschel Chelette and Theda Thomas

Comments: Charles' portrait hangs in the president's office of the First National Bank where he worked before going to the Navy.

Data provided by: His brother: Herschel E. Chelette, 1117 W. 8th St., DeRidder

Other sources: News article and two official documents

Date printed: October 24, 2002