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Monday, January 30, 2012

Goodbye To Our Friend, Sarge Charlie



When I heard from Sanni today that our blogger friend Charles Cordle aka Sarge Charlie had passed away...it was a sad moment. The Old Sarge (as he liked to call himself) was a larger than life voice in the blogosphere with many friends and followers. He was an outspoken conservative, proud family man, and believed in fighting the good fight - no matter which fight he happened to land in. When he was diagnosed with cancer and began to blog about it, I was amazed by his positive spirit and willingness to share his struggles. There were good days and bad, but they were all classic Charlie.


Early in the fall of 2011 he sent me his peace globe ahead of time. I posted it on Facebook as an inspiration and example for others to see.  He was pleased.
 He wrote, "Our life is an open book, we dream of peace in our lifetime. Work to fulfill your dream before your book is closed."


Those words will remain with me. Thank you, Sarge.

His wife of forty-four years was truly the love of his life. Sarge and Miss Bee aka Empress Bee of The High Seas began peace blogging with us in 2006. Sarge usually made a patriotic statement and Bee held high court as Empress Bee "bringing peace to the high seas" she would say,  as they were often found living life on some cruise ship in the middle of an ocean.  Their relationship was one of solid companionship and love, as he recounted today in his farewell post, telling how he followed her to Baltimore way back in the day and won her heart.


Our sympathies go out to her and the rest of their large family.
Her blogosphere family will need to keep tabs on her and see that she is surrounded with support and far-fetched hugs. 


I will remember him as a man who loved his family, served his country, loved his country and spoke his mind.
How honorable a thing also, to be able to write your own epitaph which he did so eloquently today. It was a bittersweet and unselfish gesture.

 Sarge Charlie, Saigon 1968


Many will curse the cancer that invaded his body and that is certainly appropriate, but the origins of that illness began in a southeast Asian country as the result of Agent Orange, the poisonous chemical that thousands of servicemen were subjected to and paid dearly for later in their lives. I learned a lot of history by reading Sarge's blog. He never sugar-coated the realities of combat or the hellish arena of war. He experienced it up close and personal and always maintained that a soldier wants peace above all. 
Sarge Charlie always wanted to be a soldier and that he was. 
 
Just once more I'd like to say....
Dear Sarge, Thank you for your service to my country.
 
 We didn't agree on several things politically, but we did agree on peace.
He lost his life because of war.  
We blog peace not only to keep the flame burning, but also for the Sarge Charlies of the world whose lives were forever changed and altered as a direct consequence of battle.
This was his first peace globe in 2006. He and Miss Bee are part of the original peace blogging crew.  The slideshow above displays all twelve peace globes submitted by him over the years. They are all distinctively Charlie and very inspiring.
I will continue to post them each year. His voice will be heard on and on for the cause of peace. 
I can't think of a better way to honor a soldier.  

Sarge did not see peace in his lifetime but he knows peace now.
Soldier on.

 
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14 comments:

The Social Frog said...

What a beautiful post Mimi! He was such a great guy and he will be missed so very much in the blogging community!

Linda said...

Said so well, Mimi.

Sarge was definitely a man to be admired as he stood for what he believed in and he was a valiant soldier right to the end. Perhaps one didn't always agree with him but you had to admire him for sticking to his guns and his beliefs and for the love that he and Bee shared.

The world is one less human shorter today but heaven is one more angel richer with Charlie's passing.

katherine. said...

lovely tribute Mimi.

Reading these posts throughout the blog world feels a lot like hugging friends at the funeral of one of our own.

Hugging you.

Akelamalu said...

Wonderful tribute to a brave man Mimi. God Bless him.

Charles Gramlich said...

I am sorry to hear of this. This is a moving tribute to him.

Red Shoes said...

I am so sorry to read this... I didn't know of him, but it is always sad to read of one's passing... yeah, Agent Orange was hushed up... it was safe to have it sprayed upon you...

I've been to WAY too many funerals in the past 6 weeks...

Rest in Peace, Sarge Charlie...

~shoes~

Sherry Blue Sky said...

A beautiful tribute, Mimi - Sarge Charlie will be missed. My thoughts are with Miss Bee. What a touching love story.

ANGEL ABBYGRACE said...

Mimi
This is a beautiful tribute to an incredible man. Thank you for posting it.
Debra

Anonymous said...

"Work to fulfill your dream before your book is closed."

A beautiful and inspiring post filled with love and wisdom. A lovely tribute Mimi.

ShannonW said...

RIP Sarge Charlie. Hugs and prayers to all.

The Gal Herself said...

Farewell to Sarge Charlie! I was especially touched by the photo of him, ca 1968. For my uncle was just back from Viet Nam then, and he died in 11/2010 of Parkinson's, exacerbated by exposure to Agent Orange. We can never undo the terrible wrong that was done these men. May Sarge Charlie rest in peace.

Odat said...

He'll be sorely missed...so sad.
Thanks for the wonderful tribute to him.
Peace

Mimi Lenox said...

I am wondering today how Miss Bee is doing. We shall check on her.

Annelisa said...

I just saw this lovely tribute to the Sarge...I now have a big lump in my throat. He was a wonderful peace blogger, and a good man. He made the world a better place...

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