Ranger Infantry Company of the Korean War

Ranger Hall of Fame

COLONEL ROBERT L. CHANNON

Colonel Robert L. Channon is inducted into the Ranger Hall of Fame for his outstanding service to the United States Army and his demonstrated commitment to Ranger operations. Graduating from West Point in 1946, he volunteered for airborne training and served with the 11th Airborne Division in occupied Japan. At the onset of the Korean War, Colonel Channon, then a Lieutenant, volunteered for the newly formed Airborne Ranger Companies and arrived in Korea as the Executive Officer for the 3d Airborne Ranger Company in March 1951. On 11 April 1951, Lieutenant Channon's company, along with a company of tanks spearheaded a division attack north from the Imjim River. About mid morning, the company came under devastating small arms and mortar fire from well entrenched enemy forces astride "Bloody Nose Ridge". Out of range of friendly artillery and temporarily separated from supporting armor, the company found itself pinned down. Lieutenant Channon rallied the 1st Platoon and led a successful bayonet charge up and over the ridge and through the dug in enemy. Only seven platoon members and Lieutenant Channon were still on their feet after the enemy was routed. Although sustaining more than 20 entry wounds from mortar and small arms fire, Lieutenant Channon refused to be evacuated until he oversaw the reorganization of the unit, evacuation of the more seriously wounded and had led elements of the company several thousand yards to the company's final objective. After recuperating from his wounds, Ranger Channon later went on several clandestine missions into the islands off the west coast of North Korea where he established contact with and coordinated the efforts of friendly guerrilla units against the common enemy. Later during the Korean War and after the Ranger units were inactivated, Ranger Channon commanded Company I, 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team during combat operations. In the Iron Triangle during the Vietnam War, Ranger Channon served a 27 month continuous tour in the Civil Operations and Rural Development Support as the Director of Territorial Security for all of South Vietnam. He has remained active in the overall Ranger community since his retirement in 1976 and is a Past President of the Ranger Infantry Companies, Airborne. He has also found time to author two books on a Ranger company unit history and another on his experience in Vietnam. His leadership shall never be forgotten among the soldiers that he has served with and led during a long and extremely successful career of service to the nation.

RANGERS LEAD THE WAY!!!