Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Richard Wolff | Joint Task Force Guantanamo service members gather during a memorial service for Navy...... read more read more
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GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba — A memorial service honoring Navy Airman Andrew S. Charpentier was held July 27, 2009, at Joint Task Force Guantanamo, to pay respect to him, his family and give service members a chance to share their memories, tears and lift each other up in fellowship.
Charpentier, 21, an aviation electronics technician from Great Falls, Mont., died July 23, 2009, at Jackson Memorial Hospital, Miami, from a non-combat related illness incurred while assigned to the Navy Expeditionary Guard Battalion, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
Charpentier enlisted in the Navy in March 2007 within the advanced electronics field. After training, he answered the call to Joint Task Force Guantanamo as part of the Joint Detention Group, Navy Expeditionary Guard Battalion.
"He completed avionics technical training in June 2008," said Navy Cmdr. Michael Fulgham, NEGB commander. "Immediately after his training, he was handed the curve ball of coming down to JTF Guantanamo — after being firmly rooted into the aviation community. Charpentier answered the call without hesitation or doubt and from his initial arrival, he established himself as a man of character, a shipmate and [someone] who would always remain in our hearts and minds."
Friends and colleagues took time to remember Charpentier and share their memories with members from all branches of service. The ceremony was mournful, but held a spirit of hopefulness as service members spoke of Charpentier's antics, insightful nature, love of family and dedication to service, and his team.
"I knew Charpentier by his performance in the camps," Fulgham said. "There are men and women in the camps who flat-out give entirely of themselves. This young man, I knew him by reputation and by sight ... he was the one who gave of himself to serve with his shipmates without hesitation, without fail. He was the go-to guy, not just by reputation, but by word of mouth."
For those who were closer to Charpentier, like his roommates, their perspective of his character was well-rounded.
"I got to see a side of 'Charpy' that most people didn't see," said Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Dennis True, a friend and roommate of Charpentier. "He was very deep, and very quiet. I remember one Saturday morning, sitting out on the back patio having a conversation about religion and politics — two subjects I don't do well with. I was shocked to hear how deep and insightful this young man was, something I never expected from a 21-year-old man."
True, impressed by Charpentier's artistic and musical ability, smiled as he shared the details from that Saturday-morning conversation.
"At the flick of the wrist, he wrote a song on his guitar ... it was incredible. He was a free spirit, artistic, who hadn't quite found his place yet. [His wife], Kathleen helped him ground himself. I remember when he came to me and let me know he was going to pop the question [over his Web-camera] ... we were all watching off to the side and saw the tears streaming down her face [on the computer screen], she was ecstatic and he was on 'cloud nine' from that point on. There was nothing that brought him down, Kathleen truly was his life."
True's words and courage to speak to the crowd inspired other members of the NEGB to come forward and share their words.
"I'll never forget Charpentier," said Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Danielle Thomas, a friend and shipmate. "He was the only one from my company who — every time he saw me — said, 'Hey Thomas,' and gave me a hug."
Thomas shared a memory of Charpy, from the time they were training at Fort Lewis, Wash., just prior to coming to Guantanamo.
"We were doing [Oleoresin Capsicum training], I was holding the bag, and after he was sprayed [with the oleoresin capsicum, better known as pepper spray] he ran up to the bag and started jumping around, it was really funny. I know that's how [many people in this rotation] will remember him."
The mention of the training at Fort Lewis brought smiles and laughter to the team Charpentier served with, helping service members celebrate his life, and the moments that brought them together as a team.
"Being the senior enlisted [leader for the team Charpentier served with], and going through the training that Petty Officer Thomas spoke of, if you ask anyone, or try to identify Charpentier, it was about his video," said Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer Jodi Myers. "That man was so proud of his video; he would walk around with his laptop, just to show you his video [of the training].
"When I speak of a true warrior, someone who has so much pride in [their] job — that's [Charpentier]," Myers continued. "He was a Sailor who knew what he came here to do, and wanted to give 100 percent to do it. He never took the easy road. If there's something we can remember, take pride in what you do and use the example of Charpentier because he was a true warrior who took pride in what he did."
For the service members who didn't know Charpentier as well, like newly-appointed NEGB Command Master Chief Alfonso Rivera, learning about the service members from his predecessor was key to understanding his team.
"I didn't have the privilege of serving with Charpentier, but Master Chief Ed Moreno spoke well of him," Rivera said. "Regardless of his ailment, he was always focused on others. It speaks volumes of his character, loyalty and his love for [his] shipmates, family and in particular Kathleen — she was the love of his life. Those who knew Charpentier often spoke of how wonderful of a relationship he and Kathleen shared and that she was — indeed — his hometown sweetheart. He was looking forward to a life with her, and intended to marry her when he left here for his next duty station. I'm glad to see that he was able to marry Kathleen, despite the short time. They married two-and-a-half weeks before his passing ... I think that's a testament of their love."
Fulgham's words summed up the sentiments of the dozen service members who spoke about Charpentier.
"He was the type of individual who gave of himself selflessly," Fulgham said reverently. "He didn't have a selfish bone in his body [and] always made sure his shipmates, his wife and family were taken care of, especially as he battled his illness. He had a spark about him that inspired his shipmates ... hopefully that memory resides in our hearts as we move on and hold what he meant to us as we go on with our jobs."
Fulgham's advice to the service members of Guantanamo Bay is to, "remember Andrew Charpentier's memory and honor [him] in all that [you] do." According to him, Charpentier always stood up for what was right and had a dedication and loyalty to his shipmates that everyone could follow.
"Charpentier was an incredibly talented young man, and very, very smart," Fulgham continued. "He was one of the most enthusiastic, well-rounded Sailors that you'd want in your command, and the epitome of what we call a Shipmate. It's what he did for us and how he made the work-place better for everyone else around him that we're certainly going to miss."
For more information about Joint Task Force Guantanamo, visit the Web site at www.jtfgtmo.southcom.mil.
| Date Taken: | 07.27.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 08.07.2009 08:30 |
| Story ID: | 37246 |
| Location: | GUANTANAMO BAY, CU |
| Web Views: | 279 |
| Downloads: | 212 |
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