Colonel Charles R. Munske

COL Charles R. Munske

Military Government/Civil Affairs, WWII and Korea (1897-1985)

Bio

Charles R. Munske enlisted in the New York National Guard (NYNG) Coast Artillery in 1914, deployed to France as a coast artilleryman in 1917, and got his first taste of Civil Affairs/Military Government in 1918 handling war damage claims. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant, Coast Artillery, in 1920.

Munske served in the NYNG until 1940, when he went on active duty. In late 1944, Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) Munske attended the School of Military Government at the University of Virginia.

In post-World War II Japan, LTC Munske had three Military Government assignments before coming to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, to command the 28th Civil Affairs Company, and serve as a plans officer for the 95th Military Government Group.

During the Korean War, Colonel (COL) Munske ran Military Government efforts in P’yongyang and Chinnamp’o during the brief allied occupations in 1950, before helping to rebuild Seoul, Inchon, and Suwon.

He is a Distinguished Member of the Civil Affairs Corps, and was inducted in the U.S. Special Operations Command Commando Hall of Honor in 2019. The 95th CA Brigade HQ is dedicated in his memory.

Citation

Citation To Accompany The Award Of The Commando Hall of Honor Award to
LIEUTENANT COLONEL CHARLES MUNSKE

Front of Munske Medal
Commando Hall of Honor Medal
Munske Citation
Commando Hall of Honor Citation Certificate

Colonel Charles Munske distinguished himself with a career dedicated to civil affairs, at a time when it was not a branch in the active duty U.S. Army. As a Sergeant, his first exposure to Civil Affairs/Military Government activities was as a German language interpreter for the post World War I ‘engineer operations division of war damages in allied countries’ section of the American commission to negotiate peace in Paris. He received a commission in the coast artillery and served throughout the interwar years in the New York National Guard. He volunteered for Military Government in 1944 and attended the school of military government at the University of Virginia. He served on occupation duty in Japan for three tours before coming to Fort Bragg North Carolina to command the 28th military Government company and serve in the 95th Military Government Group. During the Korean War, he was a key officer in the United Nations Public Health and Welfare Detachment, later United Nations civil Assistance Command, Korea (UNCACK). He served as the mayor of P’yongyang during the 37-day UN occupation of the communist capital, the only one ever held by allied powers. COL Munske’s team restored basic services to the city before having to join the retreat south. Then, after helping to rebuild the severely damaged cities of Seoul and Inchon, he served as the deputy commander of UNCACK. After being the senior unit advisor for Military Government Units in the U.S. Army Military District of New York. COL Munske retired on 28 February 1958. Because of his exemplary long-term service in CA, the 95th civil affairs brigade elected to dedicate their new headquarters to his memory.

Second Far East Class, Civil Affairs Training School, Harvard University, January 2, 1945.
Second Far East Class, Civil Affairs Training School, Harvard University, January 2, 1945. COL Munske is #2, seated in the front row, center.

PHOTOS

Charles R. Munske grew up in Brooklyn, New York, in the days prior to World War I. He was the son of German immigrants
COL Charles R. Munske
COL Charles R. Munske
SGT Munske in WWI. Notice the patch below the rank, indicating he is a 1st Class gunner.
Munske received his commission to Second Lieutenant on 7 June 1920. He served in the New York National Guard Coast Artillery in the years prior to World War II.
COL Charles R. Munske
COL Charles R. Munske
On 15 September 1923 at the 13th Regiment National Guard Armory in Brooklyn, New York, First Lieutenant Munske married Anna Haderer. They remained together until his death sixty-two years later.
COL Charles R. Munske
This 8-inch Mark 6 howitzer was used by U.S. Coast Artillery units in WWI and would have been familiar to SGT Munske. Because of its familiarity with the weapons systems, the Coast Artillery was tasked to provide heavy artillery support for U.S. forces.
SGT Munske trained on artillery such as this Mark 6 eight-inch howitzer adopted from the British for use in World War I.
Battery G, 245th Coast Artillery in January 1930.
The Munske family in Japan, 1948.
Together the Munskes raised three children.
Part of COL Munske’s duties in Korea was to show the progress of UNCACK projects to senior officers.
COL Charles R. Munske
COL Charles R. Munske
COL Charles R. Munske
When COL Munske and his team arrived, P’yongyang did not have a functioning water system or working fire department. Fires, many set by North Korean saboteurs, raged unchecked throughout the city. COL Munske helped solve this problem by obtaining several motorcycle-based fire engines.
When COL Munske and his team arrived, P’yongyang did not have a functioning water system or working fire department. Fires, many set by North Korean saboteurs, raged unchecked throughout the city. COL Munske helped solve this problem by obtaining several motorcycle-based fire engines.
COL Munske helped obtain several motorcycle-based fire engines.
When COL Munske and his team arrived, P’yongyang did not have a functioning water system or working fire department. Fires, many set by North Korean saboteurs, raged unchecked throughout the city. COL Munske helped solve this problem by obtaining several motorcycle-based fire engines.
Colonel Munske speaking to boys and girls at the Prize Eloquence Contest on 16 Dec., 1951, under the auspices Korea Juvenile Campaigners' League
COL Charles R. Munske
COL Charles R. Munske
COL Charles R. Munske
COL and Mrs Munske, Garden Party to Gen Tanzy. 8 May 1947, Fukoko, Kyshue
COL Charles R. Munske
COL Munske led a fourteen-man CA team in P’yongyang. It has U.S. Army officers and enlisted soldiers, South Korean interpreters, and UN civilians.
One of the jobs of the CA Teams in Korea was to dust refugees with DDT. The chemical killed fleas and lice and helped prevent the spread of insect-borne disease.
The high profile of COL Munske’s work meant that he often met with top level military and government leaders.
Colonel Charles R. Munske led UN Civil Assistance Command Korea efforts in P’yongyang, and played a key role in UNCACK activities in Seoul.
COL Charles R. Munske
COL Charles R. Munske, P’yongyang, 4 December 1950
Charles R. Munske and his wife Anna in retirement. They spent their remaining years in Falls Church, Virginia. Their daughter Judy, wheelchair bound from Polio since 1948, also lived with them.