• December 6, 1913 – November 18, 1944
• Lt. Colonel Army
• Chattanooga, TN
• 41st Infantry Battalion 2nd Armored Division nicknamed “Hell on Wheels” when it was led by General George S. Patton while it was being trained in the United States
• College of Law – 1933-1937
• He was killed in action in Immendorf, Germany on November 18, 1944, and buried in the Netherlands American Cemetery in Margraten
• Silver Star
• Lieutenant Colonel Charles E. Etter was born on December 6, 1913, and later married Lillian Thatcher in Chattanooga, TN. He graduated from law school and worked as an attorney. His daughter, Charlotte White of Chattanooga, TN, was born on August 2, 1942. Etter joined the Army in 1941 and served as a colonel with the infantry in the European Theater of War. He was killed in action in Immendorf, Germany on November 18, 1944, and buried in the Netherlands American Cemetery in Margraten, The Netherlands (Plot: F, Row: 9, Grave: 21).
• Historical Note: Lt Col Charles E. Etter was Commanding Officer of the 41st Armored Infantry Regiment. On the 16th of November 1944, the 41st was the spearhead of the 2nd Armored Division assault on the Siegfried line East of the Roer River and captured Puffendorf. As the 41st continued its push into Germany, it came under an intense artillery and mortar attack. LtCol Etter and the Executive Officer, Maj Charles Berra, were killed in this time period.

Charles Elbert Etter (December 6, 1913 – November 18, 1944) was from Chattanooga, Tennessee. He graduated from the University of Tennessee’s Law School in 1937 and practiced as an attorney in Tennessee before the war. Etter enlisted in the United States Army immediately at the start of the war. He served as a Lt. Colonel in the 41st Armored Infantry Battalion in the 2nd Armored Division, nicknamed “Hell on Wheels” while under the command of General George S. Patton during its training.  The 41st Infantry made up the core of the 2nd Armored’s infantry and Lt. Col Etter served as their commanding officer from their campaigns in North Africa, Italy, and when it landed in Normandy during the D-Day Invasion. On the 16th of November 1944, the 41st was the spearhead of the 2nd Armored Division assault on the Siegfried line East of the Roer River and captured the city of Puffendorf, Germany. As the 41st continued its push, it came under an intense artillery and mortar attack. LtCol Etter and the Executive Officer, Maj Charles Berra, were killed in this time period outside of Immendorf, Germany. Lt. Colonel Charles E. Etter was awarded the Silver Star while commanding the 41st Infantry Regiment. He is buried at Netherlands American Cemetery in Margraten, Netherlands.

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