The United States Navy Memorial Stories of Service Program is honored to announce the April 2024 story of the month has been selected to recognize the service of United States Navy Veteran, Radarman Second Class Charles Yunker. The United States Navy Memorial Stories of Service Program was privileged to interview Radarman Second Class Charles Yunker at the USS Lloyd Thomas Association Reunion held at Annapolis Maryland in the Spring of 2023. 

Radarman Second Class Charles Yunker joined the Navy in February of 1967 and reported to San Diego for basic training and was quickly elevated to serve as the barracks Master of Arms. At different points of his interview, Radarman Second Class Charles Yunker shared unique moments where he would reunite with members of his family who also served. The first of these meetings occurred at boot camp where his older brother was able to secure liberty and enter Naval Training Center San Diego to check in on his younger brother. The reunion was a memorable one with a proposed idea that both brothers would serve together aboard ship. Charles thought otherwise and wanted to forge his own path at sea. 

Upon graduating from San Diego, Yunker was sent directly to the fleet as an Aviation Ordnanceman, assigned to the USS Yorktown. He spoke vividly of joining the USS Yorktown while in dry dock, the unpleasant living conditions, being served rabbit, and sharing situations that only those who experienced yard work will truly know. Upon completion of sea trials, the USS Yorktown set to sea and sailed for the Pacific. He shared, “we headed for the Pacific and Vietnam… about three fourths of the way there, the USS Pueblo was captured…” Yunker spoke of the tense time, not only with the capture of the USS Pueblo and Soviet aircraft and submarines actively tracking U.S. Naval movements, but the harsh weather conditions and temperatures going below zero. The USS Yorktown then sailed for Yankee Station, sending bombing missions against North Vietnam. Upon returning to the states, Yunker requested to return to the USS Yorktown and participate in a second cruise. He was sent to Radar A School and went from being a seamen recruit to E5 in two years. After graduating from Radar A School, he was assigned to a new ship which afforded new experiences.

Yunker recalled, “After I got off the Yorktown, I joined the real Navy and joined destroyers. The USS Lloyd Thomas was more like family. You didn’t have as much brass to shine or salute.” The USS Lloyd Thomas was homeported in Newport Rhode Island. The USS Lloyd Thomas would sail for Guantanamo Bay and refresher training, in preparation for the war in Southeast Asia. Yunker was assigned to the OI Division and spent much of his time in the CIC. He spoke of the role of the USS Lloyd Thomas during the Vietnam War, from Gunfire support, to plan guarding, supporting US and Australian troops, and more. While reflecting upon gunfire support, he shared, “we were very, very good and were very fast…we were given 1 gun fire, 5 rounds fire for effect, all in under 30 seconds and we were accurate.”  He recollected vivid detail about specific missions and efforts to support U.S. troops on the ground. This included one occurrence of landing rounds inside a cave entrance. He also spoke of trying moments, such as the events of September the 11th, 1970. “We were on our 2nd day on the line, some of the rounds were exploding prematurely…it was the 2nd command of 1 gun fire, 5 rounds for effect. I heard a double boom…I opened the door to the CIC and I could see out of the bridge, the whole front of the ship was just a big ball of orange from the blast. We went to general quarters, and I went over the radio in plain language, and said, scrub this mission, we just had a gun mount explosion and requested 3 medevac helicopters…” Yunker recalled the events of September the 11th as if it occurred yesterday. After the explosion, the crew quickly rushed to secure the area and treat the wounded. Assistance provided by the First Australian Task Force who sent 3 medevac helicopters. The USS Lloyd Thomas would leave the gunline to secure repairs and eventually have a new gun mount installed before returning to Vietnamese waters. In addition to battling the North Vietnamese, the crew of the USS Lloyd Thomas also faced an unknown enemy at the time, which is now known as the impacts of Agent Orange. Yunker shared in depth, operations of the USS Lloyd Thomas and efforts of the crew to be recognized as having been exposed to a silent killer, years after their return home. Before concluding his interview, he shared another unique meeting with a family member, this time overseas and reuniting with his cousin Patty who was an Officer on a U.S. Navy Hospital Ship. The story of Charles Yunker is an invaluable account of carrier life as well as destroyer life during the Vietnam War and Cold War. His memories were detailed, reflect key moments in Naval history, and will enrich the understanding of future generations who wish to learn from those who served.

The United States Navy Memorial honors United States Navy Veteran, Radarman Second Class Charles Yunker, featured within this series titled, Tales from the Navy Log, Story of the Month. Each month, this series honors a Veteran’s story recorded by the Stories of Service Program at the Navy Memorial. To learn more about this story and to explore the Navy Memorial archive, visit the Navy Memorial Stories of Service site at https://www.navymemorial.org/stories-of-service