Charles Horton Eubank was born on December 17, 1948, to James O. and Evelyn M. Eubank who then lived in Amarillo, Texas.  Charles was one of three children; his twin siblings, Patricia Ann and Reese Lee, were born two years earlier.

 When Charles was born, his grandparents on his mothers side, George H and Bessie S. Reinhart, traveled from Wayne, Pennsylvania to help with the children for 9 months while Evelyn recuperated.  His grandmother took care of their newborn, and his grandfather took care of the twins.  They asked if a name was chosen for their baby, which had not.  His grandmother suggested Charles for his great grandfather, and Horton after his grandfather’s middle name. Charles was 9 pounds, 15 ounces, and 23 inches long when he was born.

 Charles mother, Evelyn, worked as a typist, and his father worked as a Stock Manager at Jewel Tea Company.  The family moved to Lubbock, remaining in the barren northern Texas Plain in 1956, then to Valley Station, Kentucky, (along the Indiana border, 10 miles southeast of Louisville) 1957-67.

Charles graduated from the Valley High School, in Valley Station, Kentucky in 1967, where he played baseball and basketball. He attended the Valley Christian Church, and played on their softball team.  Charles at 6 foot 5 was known as happy go lucky, but dependable, quiet, but loved to tease.

 The family moved to Chester Springs, Pennsylvania, in June 1967 to a house on Rt.401, near Rt. 113.  His father, James, obtained employment managing the Parts Department the Wasson Motors AMC/Jeep dealership on Gay Street in West Chester (then located next to Pep Boys) 1967-68 until the dealership was sold.  He then worked as a Parts manager at the Batton Motors Chrysler Plymouth Dodge Dealership on the 300 block of East Gay Street (across the street from the Current West Chester Borough Hall).  His mother worked as a secretary at Wyeth Labs.

The family took day trips around the area, favoring the Amish area of Lancaster.  Viewing the immaculate farms, and expansive green fields, James swore he never would return to the barrens of Texas.

Charles obtained employment with John F. Bubel, Inc. Masonry Contractors on June 26, 1967,  based out of Media, Pennsylvania. There he met Paul Brannon, a pastor in training, who became a close friend. Mr. Bubel, the owner, was a graduate of Williamson Trade School where hero William Taylor graduated. 

  Mr. Bubel recounted that Charles was a hard worker, and dependable.  He often would arrive early to prepare stock for the days work. Charles purchased a used blue 1964 Dodge Dart for transportation.  Charles became a member of the First Baptist Church of Berwyn (today reincorporated as the Victory Baptist Church moving to 531 E. Uwchlan Ave., Chester Springs, PA).

Charles enlisted in the Army on July 7, 1969, during a period in which many were dodging the draft.. His mom said, “He felt he should serve his time, just like the rest.  He received basic training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, and received advanced training at the Communications Center Specialist Course, Southeastern Signal at Fort Gordon, Georgia. as granted a 20-day leave. He returned home to visit his family, and on his way to California, he visited Paul Brannon who had moved to Hayes Center, Nebraska.  Charles was notified that he was going to Vietnam.  His mom recounts: “When he was notified that he would be going to Vietnam, he was not particularly overjoyed to go in that direction.  But he was willing to go wherever they sent him.”

 He then reported as ordered on March 24, 1970 and was assigned to the Army Overseas Replacement Station at Oakland, California.  Charles immediately shipped out to a unit which was ‘wiped out’. Charles served as a “Criticom Operator” in Vietnam.

Critcom Operators served in the Radio Research Communications Unit Vietnam (RRCUV) whose mission “was to operate and maintain a Communications Relay Station (CRS) within the Critical Intelligence Communications Net (CRITICOM) and to insure the expeditious receipt, processing, and transmission of all traffic from and to other relay and tributary stations within the CRITICOM net. The unit also served as the traffic control station for all CRITICOM stations in Vietnam.”

 That is the Army’s official description.  However, these units involved secrete electronic eavesdropping  on enemy communications, often working with the CIA.  For security, these participants were often officially assigned to fake or non-existent units, such as the 509^th Transportation Detachment, to which Charles was ‘assigned’.  Charles was instructed to remove all identifying patches from his uniform before going to Vietnam.

 Charles served with a Criticom unit in Bien Hoa,  Dong Nai Province, a major military base about 20 miles east of Saigon. In his off hours, he worked with a pastor at a local church.

 On May 21, 1970, a deranged fellow soldier shot Specialist 4th Charles Horton Eubank to death without warning.

 The Army sent two 2^nd Lieutenants to notify the family.  Neighbors informed them that Charles parents were at a family reunion. The Lieutenants had orders to give notification that day, and tracked down his parents, and interrupted the reunion to deliver the dreadful news of the death of their son.

 A service was held on Friday June 5^th at the Alleva Funeral Home, 1724 E. Lancaster Ave, Paoli. His friend, Rev. Paul Brannan and the Rev William Kearse from the 1^st Baptist Church of Berwyn, conducted the service.

  Charles was buried in the Valley Forge Memorial Gardens, located at 352 S Gulph Rd King Of Prussia, PA. He was buried with full military honors

 Charles was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Army Commendation Medal, National, Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Rifle Qualification Badge – Marksman, and the Good Conduct Medal.