Charles H. Buehring

Charles H. "Chad" Buehring (October 6, 1963 – October 26, 2003) was a United States Army Lieutenant Colonel who was killed in Baghdad on October 26, 2003. He was among the highest-ranking U.S. casualties of the Iraq War. Camp Udairi was renamed Camp Buehring in his honor in 2004.

Early life and education Born on October 6, 1963, Buehring was raised in Winter Springs, Florida.

Buehring attended The Citadel, graduating in 1985 with a bachelor's degree in political science. He later earned master's degrees in international relations from Troy University and in military arts and strategic studies from Air Command and Staff College.

Military service After graduation from The Citadel, Buehring was commissioned a second lieutenant, infantry. His first assignment was with the 2-22nd Infantry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division as platoon leader at Fort Benning, and later as company executive officer at Fort Drum.

In 1989, he graduated from Special Forces Assessment and Selection and graduated from the Special Forces Qualification Course in 1990. He was stationed at Fort Bragg for several years, where he served as an operational-detachment-alpha commander in 3rd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group, and later the 4th Psychological Operations Group, leading multiple missions to Botswana.

He deployed to Iraq in 2002 as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In Iraq, he served as the chief of the Military Information Support Team with the Coalition Provisional Authority. In 2003, Buehring served as senior Psychological Operations planner for U.S. Army Central Command. He was a scout master with the Boy Scouts of America. The attack had targeted Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz, who was staying at the hotel. Buehring pushed a group of fellow soldiers to safety before returning to his hotel window to engage the enemy, where he was mortally wounded. In 2004, Camp Udairi in Kuwait was renamed Camp Buehring in his honor.

In 2009, Buehring's name was included in a commendation and Joint Resolution passed by the North Carolina General Assembly.

In 2014, he was posthumously inducted with regimental honors as a Distinguished Member of the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, Psychological Operations Department.

Buehring is an honoree on the Military Hall of Honor. In 2023, The Citadel erected a historical marker and plaque honoring Buehring.