Colt Model M .32 ACP serial number 568532 - Military
Model M .32 ACP pistol, arsenal refinished finish,
parkerized trigger, thumb safety and grip safety, with
U.S. PROPERTY mark on right side of frame and ordnance
wheel on left rear of frame behind thumb safety. Pistol is
documented as having been issued to Major General Charles
Marsden Duke and is pictured with its original black Vietnam
era holster.Major General Charles M. Duke graduated from
West Point with the famous class of 1939. He served in North
Africa during WWII as an Army Engineer with an outfit called
Darby's Rangers.
He also served in Korea and Viet Nam as a Combat
Engineer. He commanded all Army engineers in Vietnam from
1968 to 1970.
Colt 1903 Pocket hammerless .32 ACP - serial number 568532
right side showing U.S. PROPERTY mark on frame.
USMA, The Howitzer, Class of 1939 - Charles Marsden Duke
(bottom)
MAJOR
GENERAL CHARLES MARSDEN DUKE |
24 June 1917 |
|
Born, Texas |
1939 |
|
Graduated, USMA |
1942 - 1944 |
|
Corps of Engineers: Nicaragua |
1944 - 1945 |
|
Commanding Officer 30 Engineer
Topographical Battalion Africa & HI |
1945 - 1946 |
|
Office Chief of Engineers General
Headquarters Tokyo (Legion of Merit) |
1947 |
|
Masters of Science Civil Engineering
Cal Tech |
1947 - 1950 |
|
MA&E - Department of Military Art &
Engineering, USMA |
1951 |
|
CGSC - Command and general Staff
College (School) Ft. Leavenworth |
1951 - 1954 |
|
Log Division Headquarters European
Command |
1955 - 1956 |
|
East Ocean District, NY |
1956 - 1958 |
|
Office Chief of Engineers
(Commendation Ribbon) |
1959 - 1962 |
|
Dist Engineer, US Engineer District,
NYC |
1962 - 1963 |
|
G4 I Corps Group, Korea |
1963 - 1967 |
|
Engineer Command, Department of the
Army, Washington, DC |
1967 |
|
18EBde (Bronze Star Medal - Air
Medal) |
1967 - 1968 |
|
Engineer & Commanding General Troops
US Army, Vietnam (Distinguished Service Medal -
Air Medal)
|
1968 |
|
Engineering Division, North Atlantic |
1971 |
|
Retired |
21 August 1976 |
|
Died, Fairfax, Virginia |
Copy of letter and original index card from Rock Island
Arsenal documenting issue of "Serial No. 568532, Pistol,
Cal.. .32, Colt Issued to Brig Gen Charles M. Duke, Engineer
Commissioner, District of Columbia. Certificate sent Feb.
1965"
Colt 1903 Pocket Hammerless .32 ACP serial number 568532
with original holster - holster still bears General Duke's
name tag that was attached when he carried this pistol in
Vietnam.Charles M. Duke 1939
Cullum No. 11350 • Aug 21, 1976 • Died in Fairfax, VA
Interred in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA
Those
who had the fortunate experience to know Charlie soon
realized that he was a dedicated professional, a
perfectionst, a leader, and a loyal friend. He enjoyed a
reputation as a folksy figure, good-humored and
mild-mannered as well as strong-minded. Throughout his Army
career of over thirty-two years, his ability earned for him
promotions to include star rank and challenging assignments
to include command of all engineering troops in Vietnam.
Charles Marsden Duke was born in Jacksonville, Texas, on 24
June 1917. Appointed to the Military Academy upon graduation
from high school, he was commissioned a second lieutenant,
Corps of Engineers, on 12 June 1939. While at West Point he
distinguished himself by wearing stars and by commanding "A"
Company. His ready smile and engaging personality gained for
him a host of friends.
Following graduation, his assignment to an engineer
battalion engaged in survey and mapping operations along the
East Coast, took him to North Carolina. There he met Vemice
Lang Jones (his beloved Bunch) and they were married on 27
June 1942. His mapping assignment was continued in
Nicaragua; then following short assignments in the States,
he went overseas to command the 30th Engineer Battalion in
Africa and Hawaii in 1944-1945.
After a short tour in the office of the Chief Engineer, Far
East Command, Tokyo, he returned to the States for a year at
California Institute of Technology where he earned a Master
of Science degree in Civil Engineering. In 1947 he commenced
an enjoyable three-year tour at West Point as an instructor
in the Department of Military Art and Engineering. This was
followed by a student school assignment at the Command and
General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.
During the period 1951-1954 Charlie, Bunch and son and
daughter enjoyed three years in Heidelberg, Germany, where
he was in the Logistics Division of the United States
European Command. Back in the States he attended the Armed
Forces Staff College and then served in the New York
District Engineer’s office. After his next assignment of two
years in the Office Chief of Engineers, Charlie attended the
Industrial College of the Armed Forces graduating in 1959.
He returned to New York for three years as District Engineer
and from there was ordered to Korea as G4, I Corps Croup.
As Engineer Commissioner, District of Columbia, 1963-1966,
Charlie played a leading role in planning both freeway and
subway systems. He was a member of the three-member Board of
Commissioners and was well-known and respected for his
leadership in directing the District’s governmental
departments.
In 1957 Charlie was ordered to Vietnam to serve first as
Commander of the 18th Engineer Brigade and then as Chief
Engineer of the Army in Vietnam and commander of all
engineering troops there. While in the latter command he was
promoted to major general. For his final assignment Charlie
returned to New York City as Division Engineer for the North
Atlantic Division. There he was responsible for the Corps’
civil-works activities and administered the military
construction program for the region.
Charlie retired in 1971 to a home that he and Bunch had
built earlier in West Virginia near Harpers Ferry. However,
a serious illness soon forced them to move to Fairfax,
Virginia, where he died in a nursing home on 21 August 1976.
He was buried with full military honors in Arlington
National Cemetery.
Charlie’s decorations included the Distinguished Service
Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, the Air Medal,
the Army Commendation Medal and numerous foreign
decorations.
He is survived by his wife Vernice; a son, Charles M. Jr.; a
daughter, Allyson Duke Newman; a brother William, and a
grandson. |