United States. A Signed Photograph of Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade

In color, signed in black ink at the lower left "To Joe Searles / With Sincere Best Wishes / Charles B Morris" on the obverse, measuring 202 mm (w) x 255 mm (h), extremely fine. Accompanied by a photo of the actual Congressional Medal of Honor award document signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson, a photocopy of same, along with a letter dated June 14, 1994 addressed to the named person on the photograph, Mr. Joe Searles and explaining where it was taken.

Footnote: Charles Bedford Morris was born on December 29, 1931 in Carroll County, Virginia and made his home in Roanoke, Virginia. He joined the Army from Roanoke, Virginia in 1953, and briefly served during the Korean War, before serving in Vietnam. By June 29, 1966, he was a Sergeant in Company A, 2nd Battalion (Airborne), 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade (Separate). During a firefight on that day in the Republic of Vietnam, Morris continued to lead his squad, fight the enemy, and help the wounded despite being wounded himself four separate times. For his actions during the battle, he was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor by the Department of the Army, General Orders No. 51 (December 14, 1967) and was promoted to Staff Sergeant. His citation states: "The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Staff Sergeant Charles Bedford Morris, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving with Company A, 2d Battalion (Airborne), 503d Infantry Regiment, 173d Airborne Brigade (Separate), in action against enemy aggressor forces at Xuan Loc, Republic of Vietnam, on 29 June 1966. Seeing indications of the enemy's presence in the area, Staff Sergeant Morris deployed his squad and continued forward alone to make a reconnaissance. He unknowingly crawled within 20 meters of an enemy machinegun, whereupon the gunner fired, wounding him in the chest. Staff Sergeant Morris instantly returned the fire and killed the gunner. Continuing to crawl within a few feet of the gun, he hurled a grenade and killed the remainder of the enemy crew. Although in pain and bleeding profusely, Staff Sergeant Morris continued his reconnaissance. Returning to the platoon area, he reported the results of his reconnaissance to the platoon leader. As he spoke, the platoon came under heavy fire. Refusing medical attention for himself, he deployed his men in better firing positions confronting the entrenched enemy to his front. Then for eight hours the platoon engaged the numerically superior enemy force. Withdrawal was impossible without abandoning many wounded and dead. Finding the platoon medic dead, Staff Sergeant Morris administered first aid to himself and was returning to treat the wounded members of his squad with the medic's first aid kit when he was again wounded. Knocked down and stunned, he regained consciousness and continued to treat the wounded, reposition his men, and inspire and encourage their efforts. Wounded again when an enemy grenade shattered his left hand, nonetheless he personally took up the fight and armed and threw several grenades which killed a number of enemy soldiers. Seeing that an enemy machinegun had maneuvered behind his platoon and was delivering the fire upon his men, Staff Sergeant Morris and another man crawled toward the gun to knock it out. His comrade was killed and Staff Sergeant Morris sustained another wound, but, firing his rifle with one hand, he silenced the enemy machinegun. Returning to the platoon, he courageously exposed himself to the devastating enemy fire to drag the wounded to a protected area, and with utter disregard for his personal safety and the pain he suffered, he continued to lead and direct the efforts of his men until relief arrived. Upon termination of the battle, important documents were found among the enemy dead revealing a planned ambush of a Republic of Vietnam battalion. Use of this information prevented the ambush and saved many lives. Staff Sergeant Morris' gallantry was instrumental in the successful defeat of the enemy, saved many lives, and was in the highest traditions of the United States Army." Morris reached the highest enlisted rank of Sergeant Major, before retiring from the Army. He died on August 20, 1996 in Spring Lake, Cumberland County, North Carolina, at the age of 64 and is buried in Morris Cemetery, Fancy Gap, Carroll County, Virginia.