Posted by Larry W. Sutherland on December 17, 2004:

From the 1958 Howitzer Graduation portraits page: "Charlie" E l Natchez, Mississippi Congressional Charlie came to us from Mississippi and diligently applied himself to Cadet life. Although many hours were spent in the pad, writing letters, and in being the company prankster, he always stayed ahead of the game and every now and then his name was found on the Dean's List. Charlie was always willing to help anyone in any way that he could, and this over generous spirit will make him an outstanding officer, as it has made him an outstanding classmate. Ordnance Club 4 3; Spanish Language Club 4 3 2 1; Cadet Chapel Sunday School Teacher 2; Howitzer 4; Sergeant 1. And, indeed he became an outstanding officer. Charles Profilet always put forth the extra effort toward excellence. Upon graduation from West Point and electing to enter the US Air Force, he took the first available Primary Flight School at Moore Air Base, Mission Texas cutting his Graduation Leave a little short. Said he wanted to get started early. His contemporaries said Charles wanted to get off to a ?flying start.? Of course, Charles did take time to be married to his beloved Sandra Vivian Sullivan on June 22, 1958 in Natchez Mississippi. It was an elegant wedding the newly married happy couple passing under an arc of crossed sabers held high by military members of the wedding party; Walt Barnes, Gene Scales, Stan Slater, Ray Tomlinson and Larry Sutherland. An aside note: A couple of years ago, Charles sent out thank you notes to the remaining military wedding party members. My response was, (Chuck and Sandra - Thank you for the wonderful memory. It was a special privilege for me to participate in that classy wedding. I had never seen anything like it before and none since. Larry W. Sutherland) Primary Flight school was successful and uneventful, except for an emergency landing in a T-34 experiencing a ?runaway prop.? The flight instructors stated that such an occurrence was rare, but Charles handled the situation well, by what he said was slowing and ?hanging the plane on the prop? to keep the engine from over-speeding. After Basic Flight School in T-33s at Laredo Air Force Base (AFB), Texas it was on to B-47 Combat Crew Training at McConnell AFB, Wichita Kansas. It was a cold winter in Wichita that year, but Charles was to return to cold weather often while a Combat Crew member. The Strategic Air Command (SAC) wanted its bombers at the Northern tier bases, being closer to the threat. Charles? first operational unit was in B-47s at Plattsburg AFB, NY. Soon after he was retrained to fly the B-52, then, came a short reprieve to warmer weather at Carswell AFB, Texas and Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. Charles attended the University of Oklahoma at Norman and received a Masters Degree Civil Engineering. Afterward, he was assigned to Headquarters 388 Civil Engineering Squadron, Thailand and received the Bronze Star Medal. The US Air Force Academy was next where he was assigned to the Department of Civil Engineering and received a Meritorious Service Medal for his accomplishments. Charles again returned to the cold country at K. I. Sawyer AFB near the city of Marquette, Upper Peninsula, Michigan. He was assigned to the 410 Bombardment Wing and to the 644 Bombardment Squadron becoming Squadron Commander. Here he was particularly successful. Though his unit endured the tragic loss of an aircraft and crew, Charles and Sandra lead crew and family members through the difficult times. There he instituted a concept of excellence called, ?A Touch of Class.? The unit responding to this superlative ideal, excelled by putting forth that "extra effort.? Charles last military assignment was at USAF Headquarters, Pentagon, where he again received the Meritorious Service Medal. While serving at the Pentagon, Charles received notification of being on the list for promotion to Full Colonel. Some of his contemporaries were not on that list. For his own reasons, however, Charles elected to retire from the Air Force and as an ?extra effort? began teaching an evening class to other officers on how to change to new and successful careers after retirement. Charles? own transfer to civilian employment was successful. His previously earned Masters Degree in Civil Engineering served him well. After retirement he was hired by a Civil Engineering Consulting firm in Florida where he again excelled. As an example, when colleagues were stymied by not being able to adequately develop a plan for constructing a sea port facility due to a conflicting expressway, Charles calmly suggested, ?Move the expressway.? Charles worked with several consulting firms, finally retiring from the civilian workforce beginning his own consulting firm. He was enjoying his family and home getting in plenty of golfing when health problems emerged. He battled the problem for nearly four years. Sadly, he succumbed to the illness November 13, 2004. Sandra was bravely by his side. From: "Samuel Myers" Subject: Charlie Profilet funeral today Date: Wed, 17 Nov 2004 15:14:13 -0600 Charlie was laid to rest in a well-executed military funeral this morning in Davie, Florida, with Sandra, two sons Charles Jr. and David and families present. Three classmates were there: Heyward Hutson E1, (who reportedly gave wonderful remarks), Clark Bailey D2 (who helped the family arrange things) and Jack Halsey M1. Several other graduates from the South Florida Chapter of AOG attended too. The flowers from the Class and Company E1 were excellent and very much appreciated by the family. The officiant, Rev. Bill Quick, gave a warm and personal eulogy and was a great comfort to the family. It is with a great deal of sadness, I close. Be thou at peace, Good Friend Charles. Larry W. Sutherland USMA 58 Lt. Colonel, USAF, Retired

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