Charles Jackson Utt was just one of the many men from the Slatington area who served in the U.S. military during World War 2.
He was the son of Clarence Utt (1894-1977) and Miriam Stettler (1899-1935); the grandson of Jackson Utt (1853-1928) + Elizabeth Hallet (1856-1927) and Charles Stettler (1875-1958) + Edith Edwards (1876-1945). After graduating from Slatington High school, class president in 1937, he attended University of Pennsylvania, graduating in 1942.
Details of his military service in the war are vague. He served with the 179th infantry regiment, 45th infantry division, 7th army in Europe. The 45th infantry division (Oklahoma national guard), known as the "Thunderbird, saw action in Sicily, Italy, southern France, and the Rhineland. Just after New Year's Day 1945, the division was shifted to the lower Vosges area in Eastern France in an attempt to exploit the thinly-held line there. On 11 January the Germans attacked in force. The 45th gave some ground before halting the advance. Losses were heavy through February.
Lieutenant Utt was wounded in action either 4 February or 5 February 1945. He was later awarded the bronze star and combat infantry badge for his actions on those days.
After the war, he returned to town and his home at 302 E. Franklin Street where he operated an independent insurance agency until his death in the 1980s. The insurance business had been originally started by his grandfather, Charles Stettler. Utt also served in the US Army Reserve, reaching the rank of colonel, before his retirement from the reserve in 1973.
His short obituary appeared in The Morning Call, 2 February 1986.
