Charles Wesley Shelburne

Brigadier General, U. S. Marine Corps

Navy Cross

Charles Shelburne graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Class of 1935. He retired as a U.S. Marine Corps Brigadier General.

GENERAL ORDERS:
Fleet Marine Force Pacific: Serial 79500
CITATION:
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Colonel Charles Wesley Shelburne (MCSN: 0-5078), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism as Commanding Officer of the First Battalion, Fifth Marines, FIRST Marine Division, during operations against enemy Japanese forces on Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands, from 1 April to 22 June 1945.
Skillfully leading his Battalion through rugged and inaccurately mapped terrain characterized by difficult cross corridors and absence of supply routes, Lieutenant Colonel Shelburne vigorously eliminated stubborn enemy resistance and assisted the advance of units on his flanks. In the final, desperately contested phase of the campaign, he led his Battalion in a gallant fight against strongly-entrenched and well-organized forces. On 24 May, he boldly launched a surprise dawn attack on heavily-fortified Shuri Castle. Carrying the assault through mud and over terrain which the enemy considered impassable for an attacking force, he skillfully maneuvered his Battalion and, despite intense hostile fire, quickly penetrated the moated castle and occupied the strategic hill mass surrounding it. By his unfaltering leadership, skill and courage under fire, Lieutenant Colonel Shelburne contributed materially to the success of a difficult operation and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.