PFC Charles A. Dickman, of Cashton, WI, born August 3, 1932, to George and Elizabeth Dickman, was presumed killed in action in the Korean Conflict July 12, 1950. He was 17 years old. His remains were recently identified, and he will be brought home.
His surviving family includes his sister, Patricia (Filut) of Pewaukee, Wis., along with many nieces and nephews.
Charles’ family members who are now deceased include his parents, George and Elizabeth Dickman; and his brothers and sisters, Laverne, Gerald, Mildred (Jernander), James, DuWayne, Donna Mae (Steinmetz) and Richard Dickman.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 21, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Cashton, Wis., with Father Michael Kloss officiating. Burial with full military honors will follow in the church cemetery. Family and friends are invited for visitation on Saturday, Oct. 21, from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the Torkelson Funeral Home in Cashton.
Following is a release from the Department of Defense, which was put out after he was listed as missing in action:
On July 11, 1950, the U.S. Army’s 21st Infantry Regiment, which had arrived in Korea six days earlier, was placed in defensive positions near the town of Chochiwon, South Korea. Chochiwon was located along one of two roads to the Kum River and Taejon. The regiment was not at full strength and lacked artillery and anti-tank weapons. That day, they were attacked by North Korean forces and were forced to withdraw to avoid being surrounded, as well as to buy time until they could be reinforced and resupplied. Comprised of the remnants of Task Force Smith, the 1st and 3rd Battalions repelled the North Korean Advance until 12 July. During the battle of Chochiwon, the 21st regiment suffered 531 killed, wounded, or missing. PFC Dickman was reported missing in action on July 11, 1950, near Chochiwon, as his unit fought the North Korean People’s Army in a series of delaying actions. He was not seen to fall in battle, and he was not reported to be a prisoner of war. After the area where he was lost returned to friendly control, numerous extensive searches were conducted for his remains, but all were unsuccessful. Today, PFC Dickman is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
