Charles Edwin Tegtmeyer
Colonel, Medical Corps, U.S. Army

Tegtmeyer received an AB in Chemistry from Colgate University, Hamilton, NY, before attending the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Columbia University Medical School where he received his MD in 1935. He entered the U.S. Army Medical Corps Reserve as a First Lieutenant on 14 August 1935. He practiced in Hamilton, NY, before being called to active duty in November 1940 and assigned as a Battalion Surgeon to the 26th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division (he remained with the 1st Infantry Division throughout the war). He later served as commander of an ambulance company and Collecting Company B, 1st Medical Battalion, through operations in Algeria, Tunisia (he was wounded at El Guettar), and Sicily. Following the Sicilian Campaign in July 1943 and now a Major, he became the Regimental Surgeon for the 16th Infantry Regiment.

In that position, on D-Day, 6 June 1944, MAJ Tegtmeyer’s unit was in action against German forces during the invasion at Normandy, France. The 1st Infantry Division and one regimental combat team from the 29th Infantry Division comprised the first wave of troops that assaulted German Army defenses on Omaha Beach on D-Day. The 1st Division had to run 300 yards to get to the bluffs, with some of the Division's units suffering 30 percent casualties in the first hour of the assault. When MAJ Tegtmeyer landed with his Medical Section, the assaulting troops were still pinned down on a narrow beachhead and, due to the devastating German fire, numerous casualties had been sustained. Ignoring his own safety, MAJ Tegtmeyer covered the length of the beach, administering aid to the wounded lying all along the shore. Over and over, MAJ Tegtmeyer went into the mine-strewn waters and pulled the wounded to comparative safety behind a shale barrier. Despite the heavy fire, MAJ Tegtmeyer unceasingly rendered aid to the wounded under the most hazardous conditions. MAJ Tegtmeyer’s personal bravery, courageous actions, devotion to duty and extraordinary heroism that day earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

Dr. Tegtmeyer remained in the Army after the war, completed the Medical Field Service School Hospital Administration course in 1955 and received his MA degree in Hospital Administration from Baylor University in 1956. He was Deputy Commander, US Army Medical Services Combat Development Group at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Tegtmeyer was promoted to rank of Colonel on 10 March 1959. He was assigned as a Medical Faculty Member of the US Army Chemical School at Fort McClellan, AL, when he suffered a heart attack and died on 9 September 1963.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Silver Star Medal with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star Medal with 4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
Purple Heart
Army Commendation Medal
American Defense Service Medal
American Campaign Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with Arrowhead Pin, Silver and 3 Bronze Stars
World War II Victory Medal
Army of Occupation Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Croix de Guerre with Palm (France) 2 Awards
Presidential Unit Citation
Combat Medical Badge

Distinguished Service Cross Citation

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Major (Medical Corps) Charles E. Tegtmeyer (ASN: 0-335197), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Regimental Surgeon, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces on 6 June 1944, in France. When Major Tegtmeyer landed with his Medical Section, the assaulting troops were still pinned down on a narrow beachhead. Due to the devastating fire of the enemy, numerous casualties had been sustained. With complete disregard for his own safety, Major Tegtmeyer covered the length of the beach, administering aid to the wounded lying all along the shore. Time and gain, he went into the mine-strewn waters and pulled the wounded in to comparative safety behind a shale barrier. Major Tegtmeyer, heedless of the heavy fire, worked unceasingly in rendering aid to the wounded under the most hazardous conditions. Major Tegtmeyer's fortitude, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 1st Infantry Division, and the United States Army.

Headquarters, First U.S. Army, General Orders No. 31 (July 1, 1944)

Death and Burial

Colonel Charles Edwin Tegtmeyer suffered a heart attack and died on 9 September 1963 at Fort McClellan, AL. He is buried at the Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Arlington County, VA, in Section 8, Site 232-B.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/119941623/charles-e-tegtmeyer

[Excerpts from Colonel Tegtmeyer's personal memoir of his wartime experiences as a medical officer with the 1st Infantry Division were prepared after the war and some excerpts can be read at https://history.amedd.army.mil/booksdocs/wwii/Normandy/Tegtmeyer/TegtmeyerNormandy.html]