Obituary of Carl L. Birtel, US Army, Ret.

Carl Leonard Birtel died at home on September 26th after an illness. Born in Hawley on November 8, 1926, he is survived by his wife of 61 years, Evelyn Hatley Birtel, whom he married on July 3, 1945, in Charlotte, NC. Carl, an avid hunter, trapper and woodsman, was a member of PA Trappers Association and the 82nd Airborne Association, and was a past Commander of VFW, Post 5823, Hawley. He entered the U.S. Army in 1945 and served with the 29th Engineer Battalion, Luzon, Phillippines. Recalled to active duty in 1950 during the Korean War, he then served with the 306th Truck Company and various units, including 8th Army Headquarters. At age 36, he volunteered for Special Forces and parachute duty and, upon graduation, was assigned to Co. C, 5th SFG, Fort Bragg, NC, serving two years there. Carl was then assigned to Co. A, 8th SFG, Panama, and participated in missions to Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic. In 1967, he was reassigned to Co C, 5th SFG, DaNang, Vietnam; he served the next year in Okinawa with training missions to Taiwan and Hokkaido, Japan. In late 1969, he was again assigned to Vietnam and served with Special Operations Group (SOG) in the Central Highlands until November 1970. He returned to Fort Bragg and retired in May 1971 with 23 years service. During Carls military career he was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge, Pathfinder Badge, Parachute Wings, two Air Medals, two Bronze Stars, and the Purple Heart. The Vietnamese Government presented him with Vietnamese Parachute Wings, the Honor Medal, and the Cross of Gallantry for serving 27 months involving seven Campaigns in the War of Southeast Asia. Throughout Carls career his family traveled with him, living in Fort Sill, OK; Germany; Fort Eustis, VA; Fort Knox, KY; Fort Bliss, TX; Fort Bragg, NC; Panama and Okinawa. He retired from the PA Game Commission in 1983 with twelve years service and later worked with the Pike County Sheriffs Department and County Jail through 1989. In addition to his wife, Carl is survived by his seven children: Martha Foy of Alburg, VT; Linda Birtel of Royersford, PA; Patti Steimling of Blooming Grove, PA; Mark Birtel of Lake Ariel, PA; Eric Birtel of Royersford, PA; Lt. Commander Amy Smith of Middleburg, VA; and Shawn Birtel of Hawley. Carl is also survived by his seventeen grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. A grandson, Liam, and a great-grandson, Kane, were both born in 2006. A younger brother, Harry Birtel, of Albuquerque, NM, also survives, as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Carl was preceded in death by his parents, Martha Rocker Birtel and Leonard Birtel, a brother, Donald Birtel, and a sister, Dorothy Campfield, all of Hawley. Another brother, Leonard, died in infancy. A memorial service for Carl will be held at St. Pauls Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hawley on Friday, October 6th, at 2:00PM. At Carls request there will be no calling hours. In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to St. Pauls Lutheran Church, Hawley, in Carls name. Burial services will be private at the convenience of the family. The Birtel family wishes to thank the Hospice Unit of Wayne Home Health Services for the care and comfort they provided to Carl in his last weeks.