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"...THE SOLDIER WHO IS CALLED upon to offer and to give his life for his country, is the noblest development of mankind.”</div>
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<em>Charles Kirby Wilcox </em>heard the call when he was serving in Germany in 1967. He offered his life by volunteering for duty in Vietnam in July of that year, and he gave that life for his country at Bong Son, Republic of Vietnam, six months later.</div>
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Kirby was born 4 June 1942 in Springfield, Missouri. As a boy he was active in Scouting and was a stand-out Little League baseball player. He attended Parkview High School in Springfield, and earned a reputation for being an all-around athlete as well as an excellent student. He lettered in both baseball and football and was captain of the Parkview American Legion Baseball Team when it won the State Championship.</div>
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Kirby had expressed a desire quite early in life to attend West Point and become an army officer. When he graduated from high school in May of 1960, he received a principal appointment to the Military Academy from Representative Charles Brown of the 7th Congressional District in Missouri. He entered the Academy with the Class of 1964 on 5 July 1960.</div>
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The transition to cadet life was no problem for Kirby. He took academics in his stride and found time for many extra-curricular activities. During Plebe Year he played baseball but gave it up for the last three years in favor of intramural athletics. He was chosen the Most Valuable Intramural Athlete during his First Class Year, and enjoyed the dubious honor of being cadet-in-charge of the Goat-Engineer Football Game. He was a member of the Debate Council and Forum all four years and was chairman of the National Debate Tournament during his First Class Year. French was his weakest subject but that didn’t stop him from being a four-year member of the French Club. During his First Class Year, he also served as a Rabble Rouser. It is little wonder that Kirby was chosen to be the Activities Officer on the Brigade Staff.</div>
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June of 1964 brought graduation, and Kirby returned to Springfield to marry Linda Lou Hanks. In August, he reported to Fort Benning for Ranger and Airborne Schools. Kirby’s first troop assignment was with the 2d Infantry Division in Korea. It was a twelve-month tour, and while there, he served as a platoon leader and as aide to General Gleszer, who was then Assistant Division Commander of the Division. Upon his return from Korea in December of 1965, Kirby attended the Maintenance Officer’s Course at Fort Knox for twelve weeks, and then he and Linda went to Baumholder, Germany. Kirby was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 13th Infantry, and during the next sixteen months he saw duty as a platoon leader, company commander, battalion S3, and battalion Executive Officer.</div>
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On 7 June 1967, Linda and Kirby were blessed with a son, Curtis Scott. His arrival made both parents extremely proud and happy. Before Curt was born, Kirby had volunteered for duty in Vietnam. As soon as Linda and Curt were able to make the trans-Atlantic trip, they were all on their way back to Springfield, Missouri. Kirby settled his little family there and went on to Vietnam.</div>
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In Vietnam, Kirby was assigned as a staff officer in the 1st Cavalry Division's Support Command. In his letters he expressed a dislike for his duties in the rear, even though he knew that his job was a necessary one. He was an Infantry officer, and he wanted more than anything else to command an Infantry company in combat. After five months in the rear, Kirby got his wish, and he assumed command of a company in the 1st Cavalry Division. Two weeks later, on 9 January 1968, while leading his company on a search and destroy mission near Bong Son, Kirby was felled by an enemy grenade.</div>
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In everything that he attempted during his short life, Kirby excelled. His performance always drew praise and admiration. Whatever the task, Kirby could be counted upon to give it everything he had...And that is just what he did on the ninth day of January 1968.</div>
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Kirby was buried at the National Cemetery in Springfield, Missouri, on 18 January 1968 following a military funeral. Jim Mozden, a classmate, served as escort officer, and Jay Bennett, Bob Hillyer, Mike Moran, Marty Ischinger, Bill Kelley, and Mike Liebowitz served as pallbearers. Kirby is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Charles H. Wilcox, a sister, Patricia, and by his wife Linda and son Curt.</div>
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<em>—A Friend and Classmate</em></div>