The Bravest of the Brave: Darby Ranger Captain Charles Merton Shunstrom (26 November 1920 - 4 December 1972)
I compiled the information on Ranger Shunstrom over many years with the help of his family and other Rangers. Finally, I submitted him for consideration to the Ranger Hall of Fame - sadly he was rejected the first time around in early 2021. This is the extended version of the Nomination Packet which was rejected by the 75th Ranger Regiment Association because according to them Chuck did not help himself dealing with PTSD. He committed several armed robberies in Los Angeles after the war. I submitted the packet directly to the Nominating Committee and heard nothing back - you only get notified upon induction. But Tom Hanks got in… you can read all about him and his amazing escape from a prisoner of war camp in The Houdini Club The Epic Journey and Daring Escapes of the First Army Rangers of WWII
Nomination Letter
CPT Charles “Chuck” Merton Shunstrom
Captain Charles “Chuck” Merton Shunstrom (26 November 1920 - 4 December 1972) is being nominated for selection to the Ranger Hall of Fame for his valorous service to the United States Army during the Second World War; for his contributions in setting the Ranger Standard for future Rangers; his contributions to Ranger combat laurels; for his leadership in training and combat; and his willingness to do what he asked of his comrades in battle. Captain Shunstrom’s incredible bravery and contribution to the war effort is well known to many of the WW2 Ranger inductees of the RHOF. He was one of the Rangers who built a reputation that had General Patton say that the Rangers were the “best damned combat soldiers in Africa” before the invasion of Sicily. Shunstrom was a Ranger’s Ranger worthy of inclusion into the RHOF for his military record alone. Captain Charles M. Shunstrom’s extraordinary combat record and experiences contribute greatly to Ranger history and Ranger lore, making him a worthy addition to the Ranger Hall of Fame. Lt. Col Walter F. Nye (RHOF) called Shunstrom “the bravest officer in the Rangers, the most daring, the most reckless, one of the best.” RHOF Signal Corps SGT Phil Stern said “there were a lot of personality types which were caught-up in the war. Some were just plain killers, which was Shunstrom.” Ranger Officer and historian Robert Black (RHOF) supports “his submission to the RHOF.” Ranger Sellers believed that Shunstrom of all the Rangers deserved the Medal of Honor.
Should have been a movie star.
CPT Charles “Chuck” Merton Shunstrom was born on November 26, 1920 in Boston, MA and died on December 4, 1972 in Buffalo, NY. CPT Shunstrom enlisted on September 11, 1939, graduated from basic training, and was assigned to the 19th Infantry Regiment Field Artillery in Schofield Barracks, HI. He rose to the rank of SGT and was a champion athlete.
Shunstrom was honorably discharged upon acceptance into OCS at Fort Benning, GA, and was commissioned as a 2nd LT on December 12, 1941, the day after the attacks on Pearl Harbor, HI, by Imperial Japanese Forces.
In February, 1942, 2nd LT Shunstrom arrived in Northern Ireland. He volunteered, in June 1942, for the newly-founded 1stRanger Battalion, commanded by Major William O. Darby, at Carrickfergus, NI. Shunstrom graduated the British Commando Basic Training Centre at Achnacarry Castle, Scotland. He was the youngest officer in the 1st Ranger Battalion. He served with HQ, CO C, and was commander of the four 75mm halftrack Canon Company.
He was promoted to 1st LT on November 21, 1942 after the invasion of Algeria during Operation Torch where he and his men captured over 400 prisoners. He participated in numerous hand-to-hand engagements including actions at Sened Station and El Guettar. It was in the savage fighting at El Guettar in January 1943, during which Shunstrom was a key player in the bayonet assault across the pass. It was here that Shunstrom began to lose hearing from shell shock when an artillery round exploded close to him.
His military decorations cite extraordinary bravery. While he was a 1st Lieutenant with Company C, 1st Ranger Battalion in North Africa he was awarded the French Croix De Guerre with Silver Star (Divisional Dispatches); the Croix du Combattant (Combat Service to France). The March 17th, 1943 citation reads that on "February 20, 1943, at the outpost before Feriana, by his skillful arrangements (orders) and his bravery, destroyed enemy detachments which were arriving upon our lines, capturing vehicles and taking several officers prisoner."
He was wounded in action at Tunisia on or about March 3, 1943 as a First Lieutenant.
The actions in the North African campaign by Rangers such as Shunstrom were significant to the creation of the 3rd and 4th battalions but significantly so to modern Ranger history. Painstaking planning, relentless training, audacious execution, and the indominable will to win were key elements that made the First Ranger Battalion the first truly commando-type unit in the United States Army .
First Lieutenant Shunstom was promoted to CPT on June 22, 1943 just before the invasion of Sicily during Operation Husky. At one time, Shunstrom was the youngest combat captain, aged 23, in the European Theater of Operations. In Sicily, at Gela, Shunstrom and Darby were involved in a personal battle with Italian counter-attacking tanks. A fight that Patton labeled a “gallant incident.”
In Sicily again, Shunstrom’s courageous leadership led to the capture of the mountain fortress Butera perched high like an eagle’s nest. His participation in the attack was legendary. In the history of the 1st Infantry Division the 3-mile march and the 2-platoon attack on Butera are called “one of the most brilliant actions of the war.” Hundreds of prisoners were captured. The Silver Star for a Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters citation dated December 7,1943, to then CPT Shunstrom, Co C, 1st Ranger Battalion reads: "For gallantry in action at Butera, Sicily. On 14 July 1943, Captain Shunstrom led his command, Company "C", 1st Ranger Battalion, under the cover of darkness to the base of a mountain at the top of which rested his objective, the walled city of Butera. Proceeding up the mountain his company came under intense machine gun and rifle fire. Captain Shunstrom bravely led his command in the attack, killing thirty and capturing ninety of the enemy, which allowed the remainder of his unit to advance and capture the city without opposition. By this outstanding ability, courage and devotion to duty, Captain Shunstrom contributed materially to success of the operation."
In mainland Italy Shunstrom suffered additional hearing loss from another shell spearheading the landing at Salerno in September 1943. He was also Darby’s Canon Company composed of modified half-tracks which proved vital in battles against the Germans in Italy. Shunstrom actions were likened to that of a genius demoralizing and confusing the German forces in the Chuinzi Pass. The actions of Canon Company prevented German forces from being moved forward to crush the allied beachhead at Salerno, Italy.
At the Winter Line near Venafro, Shunstrom participated again in bayonet charges, and hand-to-hand combat. The Rangers fought as line infantry in a meat grinder. CPT Shunstrom used his personally invented 60mm leg mortar rig with precision against enemy cave emplacements. He furthermore used his Canon Company’s halftracks in critical front-line resupply runs.
Another spearhead invasion saw the Rangers land during Operation Shingle at Anzio in January 22, 1944. Here, Shunstrom experienced his first malaria attack which was to plague him during his subsequent escape and evasion, and for years to come. Within one week another shell explosion rattled him. On 29 January, 1944 he suffered shrapnel wounds to his left thigh and the base of right thumb. His actions were legendary and he earned the nickname The Wildman of Anzio. In less than two weeks the Ranger Battalions were tasked with an operation into Cisterna. The 1st and 3rd Ranger Battalions fought against battle-hardened and superior numbered German forces. Unable to relieve the trapped battalion and suffering great numbers in casualties, the 4th Ranger Battalion was unable to reach its two sister battalions. Shunstrom, ran back and forth between the two battalions trying to coordinate the operation but ultimately had to assume command of the 1st Ranger Battalion when company commanders were lost or became incapacitated. The 1st and 3rdRanger Battalions were captured while the relieving 4th BN suffered
A killer of men.
Shunstrom was captured at the battle of Cisterna in 1944 that saw the destruction of the 1st and 3rd Ranger Battalions. He escaped and evaded his captors and trekked over 350 km in winter to rejoin allied lines at the Adriatic coast. During the more than two-month ordeal, he not only fought with guerrillas against Axis forces, but conducted a dangerous daylight passage of lines across No-Mans-Land to reach friendly forces after killing six enemy combatants.
A comrade serving with Shunstrom noted the Captain’s invention of a leg-rig for the 60mm mortar so he could shoot it as a direct fire weapon. And “if someone in the Rangers should have got the Medal of Honor, it was Shunstrom, ” wrote Ranger Dick Sellers. Noted Ranger and historian Robert W. Black (RHOF) wrote “there were many brave men in the Rangers. There were none braver then Charles Merton Shunstrom.” He earned the nicknames The Solo Killer and The Wildman of Anzio.
Shunstrom participated in the raid on Dieppe, France, spearheaded the invasions of Tunisia, Algeria-French Morocco, Rome-Arno, Sicily and Naples-Foggia. CPT Shunstrom was wounded during combat operations in North Africa, and in Anzio where he was captured at the battle of Cisterna, near Anzio, Italy. Shunstrom participated in 20 or more major battles.
After his successful escape, CPT Shunstrom was assigned to the 2nd Army Command in Memphis, TN to train recruits. He participated in the War Bond program and was interviewed on national radio, and covered in newspaper and magazine articles which cause some censorship issues with the Department of the Army. On June 12, 1944, Shunstrom attended the disbandment of the Ranger Battalions at Camp Butner, NC. He served as a military technical advisor to the Hollywood films, Darby’s Rangers and The Story of G.I. Joe. On January 2, 1945, Shunstrom returned late to his command having been AWOL and written bad checks in hospital – anxiety, drinking,, broke down when recounting war exploits, impulsive behavior . He was hospitalized for mental observation were he broke down broke down when recounting war exploits and his impulsive behavior. He had difficulties adjusting to a peaceful life. Despite the obvious problems, Shunstrom was declared legally sane, but the report adds that he was “medically mentally ill; needed treatment.”
On March 1, 1945, CPT Shunstrom, suffered from repeated bouts of malaria and battle fatigue (PTSD), as well as a loss of 55% of his hearing in the right ear resulting in Tinnitus. Medical examinations additionally cited psychoneurosis, anxiety state, severe, manifested by tension, restlessness, irritability, insomnia and alcoholism. He resigned for the good of the service with an Other Than Honorable Discharge.
After his service to the military he tried to find employment in Hollywood but like many veterans he was blocked from work as an electrician by not being in a union. After returning to the US, Chuck had difficulties transitioning from combat to peace-time, suffering from then-unrecognized battle-psychosis, PTSD. For him the war was never over refighting it daily, and he found solace in the bottle even though he never showed any bitterness to the war or his experiences. He believed the true heroes were the ones who had died fighting for their country. His wife and daughter suffered because of it. His mental struggles combined with a frustration complex resulted in a short run of criminal activities after failing to secure union work, usually barred to vets. He even led war vets to boycott and protest unions to no avail. He was arrested and found not guilty because of his mental state. Superior Court Judge Walter S. Gates of Los Angeles blamed the military, government and society for failing to help veterans readjust to life after war. It is because of Shunstrom that legislation in the CA State Penal Code was put forth to allow war veterans to use their war record in part of their defense. Shunstrom also spoke to legislature in Michigan and California about the challenges veterans faced in securing union work. Shunstrom was 26 years old by this point. He was a symbol of the government’s failure to supporting its returning war veterans
Superior Court in Los Angeles - not guilty. The government failed him.
Shunstrom was the epitome of the ancient Roman god Janus – one side represented his incredible achievements in combat, the other demonstrated the challenges of returning veterans to adjust to a civilian life without support from the military, society, or the government.
CPT Charles “Chuck” Merton Shunstrom died in Buffalo, New York on December 4, 1972 of a fatal heart attack in a liquor store.
On October 17, 1975, a Certificate of General Discharge replaced the OTHD stating that “that although Shunstrom’s misconduct cannot be condoned his contribution to the war effort far outweighs the incidents which resulted in his elimination. On February 18, 1976, the Department of the Army authorized a Discharge Under Honorable Conditions. CPT Charles “Chuck” Merton Shunstrom was buried at Arlington National Cemetery, VA with full military honors.
His decorations and citations include: the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon and five Bronze Service Stars (Campaigns); a Distinguished (Presidential) Unit Citation and Oak Leaf Cluster; the Silver Star and Cluster; the French Croix De Guerre with Silver Star (Divisional Dispatches); the Croix du Combattant (Combat Service to France); Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster; Combat Infantryman Badge; Bronze Star Medal; American Theater Service Ribbon; Allied Nations Campaign Ribbon; Expert Infantryman Badge; American Defence Service Medal; American Campaign Medal; Honorable Service Lapel Button.
One of the most moving tributes to a comrade I have ever read.
Porposed Citation for Induction to the Ranger Hall of Fame (Not Inducted)
Captain Charles “Chuck” Merton Shunstrom is inducted into the Ranger Hall of Fame for extraordinary valor and heroic service to the nation as a Ranger leader. Major Darby chose then 2nd LT Shunstrom to join the newly-formed 1st Ranger Battalion in Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland. Previously a SGT, he received his commission on Dec 12, 1941 at Fort Benning, GA. A graduate of the British Commando Basic Training Centre, he was one of 50 Rangers who participated in the British-led raid on Dieppe in 1942. CPT Shunstrom saw action in every Ranger campaign and amphibious landing from its inception on June 19, 1942, until its destruction at Cisterna on January 30, 1944. He was a fearsome infantry leader rising to the rank of captain. CPT Shunstrom fought in several bitter hand-to-hand battles in North Africa and Italy. At Gela, Sicily, he and then LT COL Darby personally destroyed an Italian tank. He famously led two platoons to capture the mountain fortress of Butera, Sicily, earning the Silver Star and Cluster, as well as the French Croix De Guerre with Silver Star, and the Croix du Combattant. CPT Shunstrom commanded the newly-formed Canon Company which became legendary in the fighting at Chiunzi Pass and the Winter Line in Italy. He took temporary command of the 1st Ranger Battalion during the battle at Cisterna, near Anzio. After the capture of the 1st and 3rd Ranger Battalions, CPT Shunstrom conducted a two-month long escape and evasion, covering in excess of 350km, in winter. During that time, he engaged with guerrillas, and disposed of numerous German soldiers as he fought to return to his Allied lines. As a recipient of two Purple Hearts CPT Shunstrom led by example throughout his illustrious Ranger career. He was considered a Ranger’s Ranger. It is most fitting that Ranger Shunstrom enters the ranks of the other Ranger Hall of Fame awardees.
