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.
  Join us for BlogBlast For Peace Nov 4

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