More detail on this person: Commander Charles
E "Ed" McCaskill, USN (Ret), 78, died peacefully,
surrounded by family and friends, on August 20,
2016 near Williamsburg, Va. He was born in
Pensacola, FL on September 9, 1937 to Charles E
McCaskill, Sr and Ruth Shearer. Ed graduated from
Marion Military Institute in Marion, AL. In 1956,
he took the oath as a Midshipman and began his
four years at the United States Naval Academy with
the Class of 1960. It was there that he discovered
his love of sailing, and met other Midshipmen who
would become the closest friends of his lifetime.
Upon graduating, Ed returned to his hometown to
begin flight training. Winning his wings and
completing advanced training, he was assigned to a
Norfolk based anti-submarine squadron (HS-3). He
returned to Pensacola as a flight instructor,
serving a year in VT-1. He went to the Flight
Instructors Indoctrination Group as an
Aerodynamics and Propulsion Systems instructor.
Ed then volunteered for a Vietnam tour with
HA(L)-3, the famed Seawolves. While there, he
amassed more than two hundred combat flights,
most as a fire team flight leader. He was awarded
the Silver Star for "conspicuous gallantry and
intrepidity", eleven Air Medals and the Vietnamese
Cross of Gallantry. After being stationed at the
Amphibious School, Little Creek, and NAS Oceana,
he had a fleet tour in Rhode Island. Ed next
graduated from the Armed Forces Staff College, and
moved to Naval Air Force Atlantic Fleet for a
staff tour. Following graduation from the Safety
Management course at the Naval Postgraduate
School in Monterey, CA, he was assigned as the
Safety Department Head aboard the USS John F.
Kennedy. Ed completed his naval career by serving
tours as an Air Advisor at SURFLANT, and the US
Naval Safety Center as Publications Department
Head. After retirement, he worked for the City of
Norfolk, VA in the Department of Housing Services.
In 2008 he moved from Norfolk to Colonial Heritage
in Williamsburg, where he made many friends,
served on committees, and became very active in
the Woodworkers Club. Ed is survived by his wife
of 35 years, Sarah McCaskill, sons Jim (Shelly)
and John (Karen), daughters Elaine Turner
(Jonathan) and Stephanie Fridge, and a sister,
Vicki Christopher. He also has six grandchildren,
Nellia, Kodie (Lexi), Caleb, Hannah, Sophia and
Patrick, and a great grandson, Weston. He was
predeceased by his first wife, the former Suzanne
Barronton, and his son, Michael McCaskill. A
Memorial Mass will be held at Noon on September
16, 2016 at the former St Bede Chapel, now the
W&M Catholic Campus Ministry, on Richmond
Road at 10 Harrison Avenue, Williamsburg.
Interment will be at the United States Naval
Academy at a later date.
Published in Virginia Gazette on Aug. 31, 2016
Silver Star Awarded for actions during the Vietnam
War
The President of the United States of America
takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to
Lieutenant Charles Edward McCaskill, Jr. (NSN:
0-641420), United States Navy, for conspicuous
gallantry and intrepidity in aerial flight as Fire
Team Leader of a flight of two UH-1B helicopter
gunships attached to Helicopter Attack (Light)
Squadron THREE, Detachment TWO on 19 May
1968. Lieutenant McCaskill was called to aid the
Nhon Trach District Headquarters which was under
attack by an estimated company of Viet Cong and
in serious danger of being overrun. Disregarding
thunderstorm activity which required the fire team
to fly into the area at low level, Lieutenant
McCaskill led the flight to the besieged area. The
enemy was about to break the perimeter defenses
and overrun the compound. Despite the short
distance between the enemy and the defenders,
Lieutenant McCaskill led the fire team through
numerous attacks, beginning low level and
terminating by twisting and rolling to avoid the
heavy ground fire. When attack runs had to be
made over the same route, Lieutenant McCaskill
disregarded the savage pre-planned cross-fire of
automatic weapons and placed his deadly accurate
rocket and machine gun fire on the enemy. Finally
the enemy broke off its attack and began to
retreat in confusion. Quickly determining the new
location of the enemy, Lieutenant McCaskill
unleashed the remainder of his ordnance on them,
inflicting numerous casualties. Now totally
expended, Lieutenant McCaskill, realizing that the
enemy would regroup and attack again, remained in
the are and directed a Forward Air Controller and
relief fire team into the area. Remaining low
level, despite the intense fire he was unable to
return, Lieutenant McCaskill refused to be
relieved and remained on the scene as Tactical
Commander. He directed the relief fire team on to
the now concealed enemy, completely breaking
their spirit and causing them to flee the area,
taking heavy casualties. Although now near fuel
starvation, Lieutenant McCaskill did not leave the
area until it was clear that the compound was in
no further danger. Lieutenant McCaskill's devotion
to duty, courage under fire and outstanding
professionalism were in keeping with the highest
traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Action Date: May 19, 1968
Service: Navy
Rank: Lieutenant
Company: Helicopter Attack (Light) Squadron 3
Regiment: Detachment 2
Burial information: United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD
This information was last updated 01/10/2017
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