Posted by John James on November 18, 2004:

Charlie was my Tac and Ann and Charlie hosted my wife, Gael, for a couple of months before we were married on 8 June, 1967, the day after graduation. Most Tacs were assigned "tongue-in-cheek" nicknames by cadets like "SuperTack" for Major Adams or "Ignorance" for Captain Bliss but Major Charles Saint was "Saint Charles" for D4 cadets. He was a soldier's soldier and we learned from him to honor and respect those who toiled under us. There were many memorable times at Charlie and Ann's home but one that stood out was the time that he called our CQ to extend Taps for D4 Firsties who would be returning late to the barracks from his quarters. A few days later the Commandant, without mentioning Charlie or D4, wrote a note indicating that Tactical Officers would not extend Taps for cadets. He repeated that story at a gathering of D4 files during our 35th reunion when he and Ann were our guests. There were also some cadets in the group when Charlie discussed the Taps incident as well as talked about what it meant to him to be a Tactical Officer, shaping the way that future officers would take care of their soldiers. One indicator of how well he instilled a sense of comradeship in D4 cadets was that there were more D4 files at our 35th reunion than from any other company. A member of the Class of 2004 who heard Charlie talk later said that he wished he had taped Charlie's remarks. That cadet has since graduated, finished the Infantry Officer's Basic Course and, last week, started Ranger School enroute to the 10th Mountain Division. His service, like that of many other soldiers, will have been shaped by the humor, insight, and love of country that Charlie brought to all he did. He will be missed by many. John James, '67

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