Carl E. Vettel

Carl E. Vettel was born October 2, 1919 in Caledonia, ND to Walter and Frances Vettel, the first of 12 siblings. He attended Caledonia High School, graduating in 1937 and that summer enlisted in the Hillsboro Army National Guard, 164th Infantry, Company L. The family moved to nearby Cummings, ND to purchase a farm and Vettel attended the ND Agricultural College in Fargo while working the new farm with his father. In February, 1941, Corporal Vettel and Company L were called into federal service for a one year tour of duty and were sent to Camp Claiborne, Alabama for training where he achieved his Sergeants stripes. After the December 7th attack on Pearl Harbor, Company L was sent to Hermiston, Oregon to guard a 24,000 acre munitions storage facility. While off-duty he foiled an armed robbery and was declared the town hero. In April, Company L shipped to Australia and then New Caledonia where he attended Officers Training School and was promoted to Staff Sergeant and then 2nd Lieutenant. He was then reassigned to Company A of the 164th Americal Division where on October 13th, 1942 the 164th landed on the beaches of Guadalcanal Island under heavy bombing by the Japanese air force. Lieutenant Vettel was assigned squad duty and lead many patrols in search of enemy emplacements. While leading a patrol west of the Matanikau River in the Point Cruz pocket November 21st, he was killed as he threw a hand grenade at an enemy machine gun nest. His family received his purple Heart and he is buried in the Punchbowl National Cemetery in Hawaii. Six of his siblings joined military service and two future nephews were named after him in his honor. Interred at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu, HI. Section C, Site 1507. Information provided courtesy of 2LT Vettel's nephew on April 12, 2021.