A1C Charles Dwayne Land was killed in action on 9 March 1967, when the EC-47 aircraft, callsign TIDE 86, on which he was serving as an Airborne Morse Systems Operator, was downed by enemy fire over South Vietnam. Tide 86 was the first EC-47 lost to enemy fire.

A1C Land was born in Madera, CA on 28 July 1942 and graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School, Tacoma, WA in 1960.

A1C Land enlisted in the U.S. Air Force on 1 November 1962, completing basic training at Lackland AFB, TX and Morse Code training at Keesler AFB, MS. He was then assigned to the 6981st Security Group, Elmendorf AFB, AK. On 31 August 1966, A1C Land was reassigned to Det 1, 6994th Security Squadron, Nha Trang Air Base, Vietnam.

A1C Land’s awards and decorations include the Purple Heart (Posthumously), Air Medal (1st OLC), Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, and Vietnam Service Medal.

In 1975, Misawa Air Base dedicated the base ski lodge as the Charles Land Ski Lodge in his honor. A1C Land is interred in the Belmont Memorial Park, Fresno, CA.His name is engraved on the Vietnam Veteran Memorial Wall on Panel 6E, line 46.

A1C Land is interred in the Belmont Memorial Gardens, Fresno, CA.