This month, the 442 American flag atop Old Glory Tower in New Bedford’s North End honors the memory of Army Maj. Charles A. “"Bill” Morgan, formerly of Mattapoisett, who died on Nov. 4, 2001.
During World War II, he served in the 511th parachute Infantry Regiment as captain of Company F in the Pacific area, and he participated in the battles and campaigns of new Guinea, Southern Philippines, Luzon an the Central pacific. He also served in the Army during the Korean Conflict.
Morgan received two Purple heat medals with clusters for wounds sustained in action, a Bronze Star, America-Pacific Theatre ribbon with four battle stars and one bronze arrowhead, American Theater ribbon with one star, two Combat infantry badges, the Senior Parachute badge, Distinguished Unit badge, Philippine Liberation Ribbon with one star, World War II Victory medal, Korean Service medal with one bronze campaign star, United nations Service medal, national Defense Service medal and Commendation Ribbon with metal pendant.
He retired from the Army on April 30, 1958, after 21 years of service, with the rank of major, while serving at Fort McWilliams in Maine as a recruiting officer for the northern New England area.
After retirement, he returned to Mattapoisett and worked as a part-time police officer, an accident and health life insurance agent and in production control at Cornell-Dubilier before serving 20 years with the Mattapoisett Water and Sewer Department, first as clerk and then as superintendent , retiring in 1981. He was a member of the Florence Eastman American Legion Post 280, the 511th Parachute Infantry Regimental Association and the 11th Airborne Division Association.
The late Joseph Theodore, a World War II veteran and Purple Heart recipient, began the practice of flying veteran’s flags above Old Glory Tower 37 years ago. Linda Ferreira, a marketing representative at Ashley Ford in New Bedford, researches the life histories of area veterans, and Paul Neary, general manager of the dealership, raises the memorial flags on the veteran’s behalf.