Shortly after he returned from Vietnam, Chuck asked me if I would like to go hiking with him up at Mount Rainier National Park.  I suggested that that would be a “busman's holiday” … coming out of the bush and then immediately going out for a hike.  Chuck replied that he really wanted walk down a trail without having to worry about having both his legs blown off.  So, off for a hike we went (followed up by a trip to the local Dairy Queen).

Chuck regaled our family with “sea stories” about Captain Dabney, “Big Chunk”, “Little Chunk”, Corporal Samsa, HM Mathis’ rat blowgun and other people and events.  Since I had followed in Chuck's footsteps as a Marine Option at the Naval ROTC Unit at the University of Washington I was of course most interested in listening to him speak of his experiences.  (Chuck was assigned to be an instructor at Fort Sill, OK after returning from Vietnam.  I visited him there, which motivated me to further follow in his footsteps by also becoming an artillery officer.)

Chuck passed away from leukemia at the age of 34 on October 8, 1979.  His son, Brian, was two years old at the time.  Chuck's daughter, Tracy, was born on the same day he passed away, but unfortunately eight hours after he died.  He is survived by them and his widow, Joanne.

I was home on emergency leave from the Marine Corps for the last week of Chuck's life.  I had purchased him a sweatshirt during the Marine Corps Bicentennial Year (“Since 1775 … The Marines”).  Chuck proudly wore that sweatshirt in his hospital bed during that last week of his life.

Chuck had a full military funeral, with Marine Barracks Bremerton providing an Honor Guard and bugler.  It was a very touching ceremony.  (I have to confess that ever since Chuck's funeral my eyes tend to mist up every time I hear “Taps”.)

Thank you.

Semper Fidelis!

Bob Schneider