Sgt. Charnopolsky Honored By PBHS Class Of 1970

Every Memorial Day, the PBHS Class of 1970 remembers the service and sacrifices of classmate and veteran John Andrew Charnoplosky. John entered the Army in October 1970. He received the Purple Heart on January 27, 1972.

On November 21, 1971, Specialist 4 John Andrew Charnoplosky was serving with 187th Assault Helicopter Company, 11th Aviation Battalion, 12th Aviation Group, 1st Aviation Brigade, in Tay Ninh Province, South Vietnam. He died when the helicopter of which he was a crewmember crashed due to non-hostile causes. He is buried at Mount Vernon Memorial Cemetery.

John was awarded a posthumous promotion to Sergeant. His badge and medals include: Army Aircrew Badge, Air Medal with Silver and 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, and Vietnam Campaign Medal.

Honors include: the name John A. Charnoplosky is located on Panel W2 Line 67 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall. Audra State Park Bridge was named in his memory on May 17, 2014, as the Patriot Guard Riders stood in honor. SGT John A. Charnoplosky has Honoree Record 3634 at MilitaryHallofHonor.com.

The Class of 1970 honors John with a personalized brick at the Belington VFW Post 410 Flagpole Memorial at the PBHS sports complex.