CHARLES W JEWELL's Obituary
Obituary of Mr. Charles W. JewellCharles W. Jewell, 84, of Georgetown passed away at home on April 14, 2014. He was born on March 25, 1930 to the late Frank and Ida Spicer Jewell in Georgetown. He served in the US Army during the Korean Conflict, was shot and wounded and taken prisoner and suffered great indignity at the hands of North Korean guards at a Prison Camp on the Yalu River, 15 miles from the border with China in 1951. His ordeal in the POW Camp lasted 30 months. Upon release he returned to his family, which became the entire focus of his life after imprisonment. Liberated on Aug. 26, 1953, he caught the first flight home and married his childhood sweetheart, Mary Darling, raised kids, and worked hard never being honored or recognized by the Army for his ordeal in Korea.Approaching fifty years later, his daughter began researching what happened to Mr. Jewell, leading the Army to recognize he had slipped through the cracks.At a Ceremony at Return Day, he was officially recognized and awarded six medals and awards by Major Gen. Francis Vavala, Adjutant of the Delaware Guard and then Gov. Thomas Carper. He was conferred the Combat Infantryman's Badge; Order of the Purple Heart; the Prisoner of War Medal; the Korean War Service Medal; United Nations Service Medal, with three campaign stars; and the Republic of Korea Presidential Citation. Mr. Jewell was a "very, very nice man" according to his friends who never turned anybody in need down. He treated everybody else's kids as his own. For anyone who said, "Chuck, I need..." he was there. He is survived by his wife, Mary Darling Jewell; a son: Chuck Jewell of Georgetown; and daughters: Sandy Kelley of Georgetown; Mary Bennett, of Houston, DE; Lorraine Willey, of Seaford; and Arlene Yannucci, of Milton, DE. Chuck was preceded by his sons: Alton and Billy Jewell; and a daughter: Brenda Jewell Mifflin, all of whom were precious to him. He is also survived by two brothers: Gene Jewell, of Seaford; and Frank Jewell, of Camden and two sisters: Barbara Wilkerson, of Georgia; and Aretta Ryan, of Essington, PA. He was preceded by three of his siblings: Luke Jewell; Kenny Jewell; and Helen Jewell. He has 17 grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren.A graveside service will be held on Tuesday, April 22, 2014 at 1:00 PM at the Hebron UMC Cemetery, located on Seaside Highway, Georgetown, DE with the conferring of Military Honors. Rev. James Van Der Wall will officiate. Electronic condolences to:www.watsonfh.com
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