A Personal Tribute of One's Military
Service
A Permanent Remembrance
Military Heritage Gallery
C
CARGILL, Tyrell Clayton
Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps
U.S. Marine Cpl Tyrell Clayton Cargill
served on active duty from August 15 1999 to August 26 2003,
signing up at only 17 years of age. A member of the HMLA-269
Squadron, with the call sign of Gunrunners, Cpl Cargill served
as an Aviation Ordnance Team Leader and Collateral Duty Inspector,
all over the world from Afghanistan to Malta, but was based out
of North Carolina. In January of 2003, he was part of an elite
group of Marines, FARP team Echo (AKA the Texas 14) who were
the first to go "in country" to Iraq. During the 7
months Cpl. Cargill was deployed to Iraq he earned several awards
but perhaps the most prestigious of them all was when he was
awarded the NAVY AND MARINE CORPS ACHIEVEMENT MEDAL WITH COMBAT
DISTINGUISHING DEVICE for "heroic action in connection with
combat actions against the enemy while serving as a Team Ordnance
Leader. Cpl Cargill was responsible for the successful loading
of hundreds of guided missiles, thousands of rounds of small
arms, and over 1,000 rockets at seven forward arming and refueling
points, 24 hours a day. He was able to fix multiple aircraft
weapons problems and continued arming and loading aircraft even
during enemy attacks. Cpl Cargill's courageous actions and complete
dedication to duty reflected great credit upon him and were in
keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps."
Cpl. Cargill now resides in San Luis Obispo County, CA, the place
of his childhood home, with a family that is more than proud
to call this heroic Veteran their own.
CAYLER, Russell L. Cayler
Major, USAF; Colonel, California
State Military Reserve
Served as a regular U.S. Air Force
officer from 11 July 1963 to 31 July 1983. A native lowan received
his degree from Drake University, and was commissioned a Second
Lieutenant through AFROTC. Following jet pilot training at Webb
AFB, Texas and advanced helicopter training at Stead AFB, Nevada,
as a lieutenant was assigned as a Flight Instructor at Stead.
His overseas assignments include Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, Naha
and Kadena AB, Japan. A Command Pilot with over 3,200 flying
time in 9 different aircraft. Major Cayler flew over 70 combat
missions in Southeast Asia. He was credited with 15 combat saves
and over 35 humanitarian rescues. In 1978, he was a flight leader
in the Jonestown mass suicide recovery mission in Guyana, South
America. His decorations include the Silver Star, DFC with OLC,
Meritorious Service Medal with three OLC, Air Medal with five
OLC, AF Commendation Medal with five OLC and 16 additional federal
and state campaign and service awards. Major Cayler performed
the first non-combat and combat rescues in an Air Force HH-53
helicopter in Southeast Asia. Following active duty, he joined
the California State Military Reserve, attaining the rank of
Colonel.
CHAO, Cornell Clinton
Chief Warrant Officer 3, Army
Aviation, U.S. Army
Cornell C. Chao was born in Los Angeles, California on March
1970. He graduated from Sunny Hills High School in 1988, in Fullerton.,
CA.
CW3 Chao enlisted in the Army on July
1989 and served 18 years in US Army. He served in Germany and
South Korea among other places and fought in Kuwait and Iraq
during Operation Desert Storm. He attended Warrant Officer Candidate
School in 1999 and completed the AH-64D Aviator Qualification
Course and the AH-64D Aircraft Armament Technician Course in
2001 and Fort Rucker, Alabama. He was assigned to B Troop, 6
Squadron 6th Cavalry. He deployed to Iraq with his unit from
February 10, 2003 to January 2004. In August 2005, CW3 Chao was
assigned to 4th Battalion, 227th at Fort Hood, Texas as an AH-64D
Pilot in Command and Aircraft Armament Officer. CW3 Chao was
sent back to Iraq for the third time with the 4-227th ARB on
October 12, 2006 in support of Operation Iraq Freedom. On January
28, 2007 while conducting operations of Iraqi Security Forces
north of Najaf, his aircraft was shot down in an intense battle
with insurgents in Najaf, Iraq.
CW3 Chao's awards and decorations include
the Silver Star Medal, the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart
Medal, Air Medal with numeral 3, Army Commendation Medal with
5 Oak Leaf Cluster and additional 19 federal and state awards.
COWAN, James Henry (Hank) Cowan
Corporal, US Army Air Corps, World War II Veteran
Assigned to the 19th Bombardment Group
as a mechanic on B17 Flying Fortresses he was sent to Clark field
in the Philippines in 1941, On December 8,1941 the Japanese attacked
the Philippines and destroyed all but a handful of aircraft.
He was then assigned to the New Mexico National Guard 200th Coast
Artillery Group where he became a pretty good ack-ack gunner.
He participated in the withdrawal of General MacArthur's forces
to the Bataan Peninsula and fought the Battle of Bataan. Upon
surrender he survived the Bataan Death March, a cruel 65 miles
long forced March in the tropical heat with little food or water.
Anyone who faltered was brutally executed on the spot. He managed
to stay alive through three years of starvation, beating, slave
labor and other atrocities. The 6th Army Rangers finally rescued
him from Camp Cabanatnan on 30 January 1945. He came home with
a Presidential Unit Citation with four bronze oak leaf clusters,
a Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Prisoner-of-War Medal, Army Good
Conduct Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Philippine Defense
Medal, Philippine Liberation Medal, Philippine Independence Medal,
and the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation. He was a true
hero. Sent by Robert H. Cowan
CRANE, David (Dave)
U.S. Army, WWII, Private First Class Co.
D, 502nd Parachute Inf. Regiment, 101st Airborne Division. Service
from July, 1943 to February 1946. Served in the 87th Inf. Division
before volunteering for airborne duty. Graduated from the 101st
Division Parachute School at Chilton Foliat near Hungerford,
England and fought with the 502nd PIR through the Bastogne, Alsace
Lorraine, Rhineland and Southern Germany Campaigns. Awards: Bronze
Star, Combat Infantry Badge, Parachute Wings, European Theater
Medal With 3 Battle Stars, Belgian Fourragere Medal, Presidential
Unit Citation, Good Conduct and American Defense Medals. He is
a native of Castle Rock Washington, But he retired after 38 Years
with California Department of Transportation and lives in Fair
Oaks California.
California State Military
Museum Foundation
