Charles Bayles Sutton

September 28th, 1932-October 4th, 2023

A career soldier, Charlie served in the USAF in the Korean War and then transferred to the Army so he could add helicopters to his fixed wing aircraft training. He had 2 tours in Vietnam with 101st Airborne Div. Among other things, in the Army he was a senior helicopter maintenance crewman and inspector. Charlie was stationed or worked out of many overseas bases in Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Panama Canal Zone and many other locations his services were needed. He was also in the Oregon Army National Guard for a short period of time between the Korean War and stationed with the USAF in Japan. He retired in 1975 after over 24 years.

SGT 1st class Sutton was highly decorated for his honorable service and received the following: Bronze Star medal, Air Medal (2 awards), United Nations Service medal, Army of Occupation (Japan), National Defense Service medal, Army Commendation medal, Korean Presidential unit Citation, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign medal, Good Conduct medal (6 awards) and Master Aircraft Crewman badge. After he retired, he took his aeronautical engineering training and certification in Texas. He then went to work in Iran for Bell Helicopter International and barely made the last flight out of Tehran when the Shaw was ousted. He then worked in various places in the middle east-including Saudi Arabia & Dubai.

Charlie spent his final 9 month of life in the loving care of the Edward C. Allworth Veterans Home in Lebanon, Oregon. While there he liked to explore the campus and visit with fellow veterans and the staff at OVH. Charlie liked country drives, John Wayne westerns and bird watching. Charlie is survived by four daughters, Kathleen, Colleen, Heather and Melanie. He was preceded in death by his wife, Conni L. (Scoggins) Sutton, a daughter, Erin, his sister Phyllis and his parents Ballice and Jessie (Stufflebean) Sutton. Charlie was born in Hines, Oregon in 1932 at home as his father was the first crane operator in the log yard of Edward Hines Lumber Company's mill.

Donations to Edward C. Allworth VA Home in Lebanon, OR or other organizations that support veterans in Oregon.