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Lake Murray Member Awarded the Bronze Starby P/C Debra Allen, P Chaplain (Lieutenant Colonel) Mike Charles, Division Chaplain
with the 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) stationed in Baghdad has been
awarded the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service accomplished with
distinction. Major General Michael Oates is pictured pinning the Bronze Star Medal and congratulating Mike. The photographer just missed Mike's wife, Mel, who was present and proudly watching Mike receive this honor. When asked about the specifics of the award, Mike said, "They
always use flowery language, you know. But, bottom line: merit."
He describes involvement with numerous trips "outside the wire," or what we would call "combat missions" but then negates the significance of his participation compared to other soldiers, saying "Most of the time I was in helicopters or convoys and did NOT get shot at - so one cannot claim bravery just by being in a chopper." Mike sums up this achievement as recognition for "meritorious service, there lies the teeth of it. Prayers and rites over every Soldier killed during my watch." The number of killed on his watch is 71, and he has conducted the ramp ceremonies, the memorial ceremonies (traveling to the site) and the broadcast memorial tributes. "Some of these Soldiers, as you know, came from South Carolina," Mike said. "It never fails to bring tears to eyes to walk the casket into the aircraft, pause with the honor guard and pray. But, prayers and tears on behalf of America's Mothers and Fathers is what somebody is supposed to do over here before we send back our fallen dead over there - and when it comes to that, they call me and it is my honor and privilege to go and attend to what needs to be done - whether 'inside the wire' or outside it." While with Mike at his family's farm on Buttermilk Road, west of Knoxville, TN, in January, he told me that he had laid his hands on every casket that has left Iraq during his tour. "It was not a duty, but an honor," he said. P/C Mike Kirk sums it all up, "Mike doesn't really think this is any kind of big deal but I do and I know you are all as proud of him as I am. Please join in giving Mike congratulations and wishing him a speedy return home." Mike and Mel (known to the US Army as Major Melody Charles) joined Lake Murray Power Squadron in 1997 while stationed at Fort Jackson. Both are stationed in Baghdad. Two of their boys, Jacob and Jonah, are with family in Tennessee and the oldest, Alex, is a student at the University of Tennessee. We hope to see Mike safely back in the U.S. by May and Mel back home by July Fourth. Word is that their next posting will be Fort Bragg where they hope to have relocated from Fort Drum, NY, by August with plans to see their fellow squadron members on the water for Labor Day. To offer your congratulations and words of encouragement, you can reach Mike for a few more weeks at michael.d.charles@iraq.centcom.mil. |
Updated
22 January 2010
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