Charlie served 25 years in the USAF. His combat service was with the 483 Security Police Sq in Vietnam in 1970; 3 MAPS in Operation Just Cause in Panama in 1989 and 23 Maintenance Sq in Operation Southern Watch in Saudi Arabia in 1993. After his retirement  from the USAF, he worked at the Durham VA Medical Center for 15 years as a Radiologic Technologist.

Charlie is now retired and lives with his wife Mary Anne in Raleigh, North Carolina enjoying their Grandchildren, playing golf and volunteering at the Durham VA Medical Center, USO at RDU and the VFW with Wake Forest Memorial Post 8466.