Charles C. Underwood Army Col. US Ret.

Col. Charles C. Underwood, US Army Ret, age 89, formerly public affairs officer at the Fourth Army US Army, Ft. Sam Houston, and a survivor of the Bataan death march, died November 18, 2006, at the Army Residence Community, San Antonio, Texas.

He was born October 6, 1917, in Sugar Lake, Missouri, and lived most of his youth in Kansas.

He graduated from the University of Missouri in June 1939, with a degree in journalism and an Army ROTC commission. He rejoined the Amarillo Globe-News where he had worked in the summer as a reporter.

Charles was called to active duty February 1941, with the 2nd Infantry Division at Ft. Sam Houston. He was reassigned to the 31st Infantry in Manila, Philippines in May 1941. With the fall of Bataan in April 1942, he became a prisoner of war of the Japanese until liberated in Japan in August 1945.

He and the former Geneva Jimmie Sullivan of Amarillo were married at Ft. Sam Houston on November 3, 1945.

His more than 31 years of active military service included command of infantry, armored infantry and armored units from platoon through brigade. Most of his staff assignments were in information and public affairs. He received a masters degree in journalism from the University of Missouri in June 1950.

Charles served twice in the Pentagon in the office of Public Affairs and was the chief of the public information division from June 1964 to June 1966. He also was information assistant to two secretaries of the Army and senior aide to the Commander-in-Chief, US Army, and Europe. When he retired in Honolulu in May 1972 he was chief of public affairs, US Army, Pacific and had held a similar assignment with Commander-in-Chief, Pacific.

His decorations include Legion of Merit, with cluster, Bronze Star, with cluster, Army Commendation, with cluster, Purple Heart, with cluster. Combat Infantry Badge, Glider Badge, Army General Staff badge and various campaign medals.

When Charles left San Antonio in 1964, he was made an alcade by the late Walter McAllister, then mayor of San Antonio, and was presented a certificate of appreciation from the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce.

When the family returned to San Antonio in 1972, he became active in the San Antonio Retired Officers chapter, serving as vice-president for public affairs for a number of years and was involved in Republican Party activities as a precinct chairman and a member of the Bexar County Republican committee.

He was a member of St. John Neuman Catholic Church, Alpha Tau Omega social fraternity, Military Officers Association of America, Association of the US Army, 31st Infantry Association, American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor, Ex-Prisoners of War, and Disabled Veterans Association.

Charles is survived by wife, Geneva; daughter, Victoria Lambdin and husband, Mark and granddaughter, Rebecca of San Marcos; two sons, Dr. Charles C. Underwood, Jr. of Kittery Point, ME and his three daughters, Megan Christian and husband, Jamie and their daughter, Riley of South Carolina, Sarah Fahrbach and husband, Chris of New York and Emily Underwood of New York, and son James Underwood and two grandchildren, James E. Underwood, presently stationed in Korea and Michelle Underwood of San Antonio.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Charles' name to Vista Care Hospice, 4242 Woodcock Dr., Ste. 101, San Antonio, Texas 78228, 800 836-6727.