Sad News (Military thread)

[col90]

Beverly Heath called me this morning to let me know that Charles had died last night. He had a heart attack and they were unable to revive him in the emergency room.

There are no particulars as of yet, but as soon as someone knows, we will get them posted.

Colleen Formby

[NoahBriggs]

RIP, Charles. We shall miss your interesting an sardonic humor, and your bottomless vat of knowledge and generosity.

[Lucky]

R.I.P. Heath.

[shotntattered]

I am deeply at a loss for words. Not only lose a friend and confidant, but a great person who championed for preservation. My heartfelt prayers goes out to Beverly.
Brother Charles, you'll be deeply missed. R.I.P.

[Pvt.Bowz]

R.I.P. Charles. Thank you for all that you have taught me about this hobby. My sympathy goes out to Bev and the family.

Sadly,
Bob Bowser
Columbia Rifles

[Fauxban]

I will long remember you, maddening, infuriating, yet always teaching and tutoring.




"Time was when we frowned on others,
We thought we were wiser then;
But now let us all be brothers,
For we never may meet again.

So stand to your glasses steady,
'Tis all we have left to prize.
Quaff a cup to the dead already
And one to the next who dies."
Captain Darling

[trippcor]

Charles has made a lasting mark on this hobby that will not be forgotten anytime soon. My condolences to his family.

[Marylander in Grey]

RIP, Sir Charles. You are sorely missed.

[MD_Independent]

Great travelling companion. Excellent source of information. Tempermental, yes, but I owe him more than anyone else in this hobby. Many others can say the same. He will be missed.

Bill Birney
Columbia Rifles

[Bill Fean]

I never got a chance to know him, but I know I learned a lot from him. What a loss to the Civil War community.


Respectfully


Bill Fean

[Jim of The SRR]

Charles irreverent approach and wit was different. But, he gave much to our community as reenactors. He came and cooked at many events I attended or organized. He cooked for us at Shiloh and Westville and did not cut corners in his authenticity. I know he exposed many of us to historical aspects of the Civil War that I had never been exposed to. His knowledge, wit and volunteerism to our hobby will be missed.

Regards,
Jim Butler

[col90]

If anyone wants Bev's address to send a card, please PM me...I'd rather not post it publically.

Colleen

[Milliron]

Man, it's not going to be the same without Chawls around. I am truly bummed.

[Marc]

Charles Old Friend, You are now with the veterans both blue and grey. Truly one of the first people I got to know in this hobby. Sincere prayers for Bev and family.

[Henry_Rifle]

"We few, we happy few, we band of brothers . . ."

Charles Heath
- Athens, MO 2002

http://www.members.cox.net/bullseyejack/athens_2001/crispian.jpg

That may sound corny, but Chrles took the St. Crispians' speech from Henry V and adapted it to an obscure little early war conflict near the Missouri-Iowa border.

Charles often did the little things that made a big difference.

- Let us gather by the river . . .

Jack Cox
Company C, Scotland County Home Guard

[SCSecesh]

Very sad indeed! If you took the time to speak with Charles, you would find one who truly cared about the hobby and the history. He will certainly be missed.

[Arthur Stone]

To all,
My condolences to Bev and the Heath family. He was a good man and will be missed. I will miss him at the camp fire at Spangler's and Pitzer's Woods this summer. Our events will be dedicated to Mr. Heath.

God speed my friend

[David Dalton]

I must say that it was good to see him at ITPW. He cooked a good many meals for myself and my mess mates. Ill never forget the day he taught my mess mates how to get the water into a canteen out of a stream. (Boy you put your cup in the water and then pour it into your canteen, its a good thing im not your officer ide have you wipped good...)Words from ITPW....

We have truely lost a good friend.

R.I.P Mr. Heath

Christain Jebb

[Clsinclair]

Never met Charles but he sent me this last week:

If you receive an invitation to a "Camp Lee, 1861" event slated for 2011 from some young bucks you probably don't know too well, please take some time to listen to what they say. The site is likely to be north of Richmond, and the event is designed last longer than just a weekend.

Charles

We had some mild words several years ago and then he came back and put in a plug for my painted oil cloths. I wish that I had had a chance to meet and talk to him. I pray that his family will find some peace during this sad time.

[Jerry Ross]

THE SAME CANTEEN (http://www.civilwarpoetry.org/union/soldierlife/canteene.html)
by Private Miles O'Reilly (http://www.civilwarpoetry.org/authors/oreilly.htm)



There are bonds of all sorts in this world of ours,
Fetters of friendship and ties of flowers,
And true lover's knots, I ween;
The girl and the boy are bound by a kiss,
But there's never a bond, old friend, like this,
We have drank from the same Canteen!

It was sometimes water, and sometimes milk,
And sometimes apple-jack "fine as silk;"
But whatever the tipple has been
We shared it together in bane or bliss,
And I warm to you, friend, when I think of this,
We drank from the same Canteen!

The rich and great sit down to dine,
They quaff to each other in sparkling wine,
From glasses of crystal and green;
But I guess in their golden potations they miss
The warmth of regard to be found in this,
We drank from the same Canteen!

We have shared our blankets and tents together,
And have marched and fought in all kinds of weather,
And hungry and full we have been;
Had days of battle and days of rest,
But this memory I cling to and love the best,
We drank from the same Canteen!

For when wounded I lay on the center slope,
With my blood flowing fast and so little hope
Upon which my faint spirit could lean;
Oh! then I remember you crawled to my side,
And bleeding so fast it seemed both must have died,
We drank from the same Canteen!


Charles,
I will miss your post on the A.C. the most .They were always over my head and had to read them several time to figures them out. It was a pleasure to share cooking details,tent,liquor and stories with you. See you on the other side.

[roundshot]

I knew Charles only through his posts. This is sad for such a young and knowledgable man. My sincere condolences to his family.

In a world full of copies, he certainly seemed to be a true original.

[Fenianboy]

I think Art Stone said it best Charles was like an Encylopedia.I'll miss his skill and wit at the cookfire and will cherish the 12th Corps badge he crafted for us out of scrap lead at Spanglers.Bev my condolences and congratulations.....living with Charles must have been an outstanding experience. He will be missed.

[Mcguire]

Charles had the ability to rub some people the wrong way including myself on a number of occasions. But, I never let that color my view of him as a truly well read, informed and intelligent individual who gave alot in terms of progressing the hobby. When I became interested in attending my first authentic event I voiced some concern about inadequacies in my kit on this forum. Charles was one of the first to encourage me to attend and gave me some advice on how to improve my impression.

Despite his sometimes lacking certain social graces and tact his contributions to the hobby should be respected and appreciated. My sincere condolences go out to his wife and family. Rest in peace Charles.

[NCYank]

Somebody is eating well in Heaven :-)..and receiving an earful. GodSpeed, freind Charles. We will miss ya'

Buddy Zech
1st MN Lincoln Guard

[Bummer]

The passing of a legend.......
A shock really.

[Ken]

I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Heath at the Spangler event last year for the first time. Nice fellow and a first rate living historian. Really quite a shock to have someone pass so suddenly and yet it is a sober reminder to us all that our time here is finite. Rest in peace Mr. Heath and God's speed to you.

http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/2176/cheathi.jpg (http://img10.imageshack.us/my.php?image=cheathi.jpg)
http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/cheathi.jpg/1/w512.png (http://g.imageshack.us/img10/cheathi.jpg/1/)

[Texasbutternut]

Thanks for the poem of the Shared Canteen. It was good to meet Charles at ITPW after reading his humorous and knowledgeable posts here.
His little photo icon of him wearing the red cap made me think he might be a ribald 30-year-old, and after meeting him I suspect that's what he was inside most of the time. A large section of 'the hobby' has fallen, and we'll have to carry on, but it won't be the same and we'll never forget him.
We will not weep for having known him but we will surely weep that no more memories will be made with him.
Say hello to all my ancestors for me, sir. We love you.

[Rob Murray]

Someone compared me to Charles a while ago. I will treasure that comparison as long as I live.

I miss you Chawls.

Rob

[Johnny Lloyd]

Rob/All-

I hoped your e-mail was in error, but now I see it isn't. Charles was my friend and he made many of my events better by his being there.

We travelled to Marmy's together 24 hours... we met at Piney. He was always a good laugh and a good friend.

I'm shocked and saddened. Ms. Bev, my condolences to you.

-Johnny Lloyd

[Gallo de Cielo]

When I read this on the OTB this morning it hit me hard. Charles Heath was a one-of-a-kind fellow. His loss will be felt. What he has done for this hobby, whether folks realized it at the time or not, cannot be replaced. He riled some folks up but I think he always hit the nail on the head.

The posts here and on other forums have underscored how much this one man meant to so many.

I've spoken to folks from Alabama, to Minnesota, Louisiana, and Texas throughout the day and I think it hit all of us hard. I imagine that it has hit his wife and family the hardest.

I most recently spent four days and nights around Charles at Into the Piney Woods. I'll remember those times and treasure them. Without a doubt he went much too soon.

Frank Aufmuth sent me this after BGR and I've always liked it.

"Who knows but it may be given to us after this life, to meet again in the old quarters, to play chess and draughts, to get up soon and answer the morning roll call, to fall in at the tap of the drum for drill and dress parade and again to hastily don our war gear while the monotonous platter of the long roll summons to battle?

Who knows but again the old flags ragged and torn, snapping in the wind, may face each other and flutter pursuing and pursued, while the cries of victory fill a summer day?

And after the battle then the slain and wounded will arise and all will meet together under the two flags, all sound and well and there will be talking and laughter and cheers and all will say: Did it not seem real? Was it not as in the old days?"
Regards,

[GeraldTodd]

It's been many years of knowing and dealing with "The Heef" for many of us. At times is could be excruciating, other times it could be frustrating, then there were times when you couldn't imagine having done it without him.

He wasn't perfect, not even close. I've seen people make that nails-on-chalkboard face at the mere mention of his name. He said what he thought and pulled no punches. Some of us were convinced he contained several, if not many, separate Heef's each of which playing us for his own amusement.

BUT, along with all of that, he was a fixture of our hobby, that thing we do for the love of doing it. Regardless of what you thought of him, you thought of him. If you had the slightest hand in organizing anything in the part of the hobby that cares about history - "Chawls" came to your mind. Charles Heath was often the devil on our shoulder, the angel on the other shoulder, or, more often than not, both.

He was a great asset, our conscience, a prolific historian, a pain in the ass, a visionary, a nutcase, and a friend. He will be greatly missed by us all.

I am so very sorry to hear of his passing.

[Jim of The SRR]

Here are two pics from Encampment at Pittsburg Landing in 2007. Charles handled the entire commisary (as he has done at other events). The one picture shows the commissary tent which highlights the great attention to detail he put into his efforts. He did his research for each event and made sure that the experience was as close to historical as possible (down to pickled potatoes, desicatted potatoes and salted fish).
I don't have any images of him from Struggles of Secession at Westville last year (probably because he was out down at the farmhouse minding the BBQ pit). Again, his attention to historical detail was great. I offered to get him chicken wire for the BBQ pit and he declined stating he would make his own with period wire and materials. I doubt anyone at the event knew how authentic their BBQ meal was down to every little detail in the process.
Having gone from frustration to friends with Charles, I grew to appreciate his humor as I knew he was someone I could count on at an event to volunteer to bring so much to all of us at the events he attended (maybe more than people realized).
Charles had already made plans for the 2010 Westville with the role to run a Boarding House. I truly pray he is at a wonderful boarding house with the Lord.

Regards,
Jim Butler

[jfeagin]

Sad News indeed. I had the luck of meeting him in three different events. My condolences and prayers to his family.

John Feagin

[Old Reb]

Some people and their influence on the hobby can never be replaced. Charles was one of those people. I have lost a good friend.

[unionprivate]

I had the pleasure of meeting Chawls at Winter 64 in 2008. It was his smoked fish, which he left in our hut as a gift, that became the object of retribution, thinking we had been had by a rotting fish in newspaper. A good laugh was had by all, after we realized it was to be edible. At High Tide, he was the man responsible for keeping many in the march, as it were, for if he hadnt been hauling a water buffalo in his pickup, many would not have completed the trek. I was very much lookin forward to serving with him again at the upcoming Death March. Hopefully, in good time, we will meet again...

[boreguard]

I met Charles at the Antietam event back in '97. Myself and three others from my unit served in company with him. At the end of the event me and him each cut a button off our coat and traded. I have that North Carolina button here in my war room and am looking at it now thinking of Charles and praying for his family as they try and deal with his sudden passing. Rest in peace my friend.

[SCTiger]

I will miss him. My deepest sympathy to his family. I know his reenacting family will miss him. This attached photo is Charles at Westville, it was my last one of him.

[Clark Badgett]

I'm rather at a loss for words right now.

[LindaTrent]

I'm rather at a loss for words right now.

As am I. My sincere condolences to Bev and the family.

Linda.

[JimConley]

Charles and I never really saw eye to eye. Pleasant is not a word I would use to describe his demeanor. He always managed to find an interlude to insert entertaining and curt remarks into his lengthy writings. He did not sugar-coat anything, nor do I think he would want us to when remembering him.

Despite my differences with Da Heef, we always managed to put those aside and enjoy our time out in the field together. I remember one instance at Outpost III that we had fun scheming our intent to capture and hog-tie a certain officer on the other side because of our shared distaste for that particular fellow. And while everyone was near death at Pat Landrum’s Mississippi Scorchfest ’07, Charles mixed up some lemonade and personally issued each of us salt from his spoon to help replenish all the sugars and sodium.

As others have already pointed out, he did a lot to promote progression and attendance in the hobby. I did always enjoy reading his statistical analyses of how small our hobby really is when it comes to active participants. He was at damn near every event, big or small, that I have attended in the Western Theatre over the last several years (plus the ones I did not attend), and the guy lived in Maryland! He truly loved this hobby, even though he could be quite a pain in the ass. He was truly a unique individual.

I’ll miss Ol’ Heath. I wouldn’t go as far as to consider him a friend, but I like to think we had enough of an understanding of each other to still share and enjoy the hobby when we were out in the field. He knew how to get under my skin, but you have to respect a guy who could test your wit and patience the way Charles Heath did.

My sincerest condolences go out to his family and friends. Despite the fact that we saw things differently in a lot of ways, I would never wish anything bad upon Charles. His untimely death is truly hapless.

[Huck]

I have known Charles for many years now and I will say he will be missed. I can remember two events over the past 7 years that stuck out in my head, one was Athens in 2002 in the Portal to Hell and the Raid (08) were I almost had taken him captive instead I stirrd up a hornets nest. After spending sometime in the hands of the federals, Charles made sure my canteen was full and was was my belly.

Huck will miss him.

[Possum Skinner]

Despite conversing with him online many times, I only met Charles in person twice. At Athens, MO and Fort Donelson.

Both times we had great conversations and I liked him very much. I knew he rubbed some people raw, but he and I never really had any of those moments. I believe that a very unique and singular person has departed from our midst.

I can't say that I will miss mule feed in my rations, but I will miss the commissary man that put them there.

God speed Charles and my dearest sympathy to his loved ones.

[BenjaminLDavis]

It is very hard to think of the cookfires without the irrasable Mr. Heath tending to
the comestibles ~ it will not be the same. My sympathies to his family and dear
wife.

Some memories of the man who cooked for so many of us at so many events:
The "mule food" at Duffield.
The way Charles mother-henned us in the heat at Vicksburg - I will always be thankful
for it.
The meals at Marmaduke's, the last of his cooking I will ever eat.
Shock and sadness.

[OldKingCrow]

Wow. Very sad to read this today.

Heef always treated my boy and I very kindly and with lots of laughs.

Rest easy ole boy.

http://www.authentic-campaigner.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=489&pictureid=4407

[Rmhisteach]

It is suprising how one man can have such an impact on others.

My prayers to Mrs. Heath and loved ones.

I remember ...... Stews


Mule chow stew.

Fish head stew.

Plaid stew.



RM

[Strawfoot]

This is a tragedy for the hobby. The Chawls was a true champion of Civil War reenacting, a fantastic storyteller and a sincere student of history. He had some of the greatest one-liners ever uttered.

My deepest condolences for his family.


Mike Phineas
Arlington, TX

[ephraim_zook]

I'll miss "the Chawls". He gave me advice enough as I developed my own commissary impression. A pain in the a$$ sometimes -- you bet. A storehouse of knowledge, willing to share -- absolutely.

RIP Charles.

Ron Myzie

[Stonewall_Greyfox]

Just a quick thought as I get throught he surealness of this most tragic news...

Other than the online debates; I only met Charles, in the flesh a little over a year ago at the GMH event. It's amazing how much of an impact this 'Man's Man' had in my life in that brief period. And his readiness to jump in Ole Whitey at a moments notice to help kick-off some long-needed projects...Yes The Chawls was always ready to give the hobby an enema...and a I supose that goes for all the individuals out there like myself who needed more than a few...

Considering how much The Chawls has done for the advancement of the human condition, with special emphasis on our twisted history-based hobby...wouldn't it be appropriate to dedicate the June Cover of the AC to him??

Paul B.

(whose now missing his greatest teacher)

[unclefrank]

A man who will be long remembered both good and bad. RIP.

[col90]

I just got off the phone with Bev and have the arrangements.

The funeral will be held on Friday at 11 a.m. at the Douglas A. Fiery Funeral Home in Hagerstown, MD. The address is 1331 Eastern Blvd. North, Hagerstown, MD, 21752, and the website is here: http://www.douglasfiery.com/

Charles did not want an obituary, and in lieu of flowers, Bev requests that you make donations to the CWPT in Charles' name.

In addition, following the service, Bev will have a brief luncheon/get-together at her house. She and her family will have cold cuts, etc., there, but if you want or can bring some sort of side dish, that would be welcomed. She does need to have an idea of the number of people coming to her house after the funeral, so if you could just email me to let me know, I'll pass that back to her. We need to know no later than Thursday if you are coming to the house. My email is col90@yahoo.com

She told me that she has had a chance to look at some of the the things you have been posting here. I hope that someone here who is web savvy can archive these wonderful memories of Charles for her.

Colleen Formby

[PogueMahone]

Colleen,

Thanks for keeping us informed. And thanks for helping Bev during this time.

[Eric Tipton]

Paul and I talked this morning and we decided that it would be appropriate to put Charles' picture on the June cover of the AC to honor his contributions to the hobby. We have already selected the final three photos for June. The vote for those images will be held at the end of next month.

Our sincere condolences to Bev and to Charles' family. This is a shock to all of us, but most of all to them. He will obviously be missed.

[Ross L. Lamoreaux]

All these grand remembrances of The Chawls brought to my mind yet another couple of thoughts. Those that attended the 07 living history at Shiloh that Jim Butler alluded to earlier will always remember that not only was Charles a superb logistical juggernaut, but a master lyricist as well. Who will ever forget Charles' special version of Dixie with his very own adlibbed, albeit NC17 rated words, added to it. That event marked a milestone in my reenacting career for two reasons, one being around so many like-minded historians who set the bar higher and higher with each task, and Charles pulling me to the side after my company picked up breakfast and complimenting me on letting my privates and NCO's eat first before I did as the orderly sergeant. I knew I had arrived after that....

[PVT.BEN MILLER]

God rest his soul.

[Mcouioui]

I knew him really only by PM or the answers about my jokes on various subjects, I have crossed to IPW without seeing him really, but his jokes always made me laugh, he always had the good word and the good joke...
My best regards to his family and to his friends...

William

[johnnyreb43nc]

I was privelleged to meet Charles at IPW and he made all us Brits so welcome.
We first met Charles in Shoney,s in Natchitoches Louisiana and had a joke and a laugh.

My sympathy and condolences go out to his Family and friends.

May he rest in peace.

J.T.
Jason Tailford

LazyJacks Mess
Liberty Rifles.

ITPW
Bummers.

[MD_Independent]

Thanks, my European comrades. Anyone who was a POW with me on Wednesday night at IPW will remember Charles as the old man with the bowl of soup, making sure we were fed. He was one of my best friends, probably my best friend, in the hobby. Losing him is a heavy blow.

Billy Birney
CRs

[Tom Craig]

Charles was indeed a force in the hobby, and in some ways he was something of a force of nature. As a former member of the CR I saw both the good and the malevolent sides of Charles, and had the opportunity to work with him on various projects throughout the years. One thing no one can deny was his passion for this hobby. Without a doubt he poured more of his heart and soul into reenacting than anyone I ever knew of.

But Charles also had another passion that no one has mentioned here. He was deeply devoted to his animals. Being horse people, he and I had numerous conversations about his horse Sebastian, and his various mules, Kit, Holly, and the other odds and ends of livestock that he and Bev kept about the place. Charles took a great deal of pride in working his little corner of land and taking care of the critters who lived there.

Rest in Peace.

Tom Craig

[col90]

Colleen,

Thanks for keeping us informed. And thanks for helping Bev during this time.

I would say "my pleasure", but it's not...it's just the right thing to do.

Appreciate it.

Colleen

[RangerSWB]

Like many others here, I knew Charles mainly from reading his posts and our emails but we did a few events together, Paynes Farm and Wilderness, and I enjoyed many a conversation with him. I don't think I've ever met someone with more enthusiasm for the hobby.

Goodbye Chawls...The hobby will probably never see the likes of someone like you again...and probably to a man, we are all the better for having known you.

Rest in peace my friend.

Ranger
27th VA, Co. D
Stonewall Brigade

[sepoy1857]

I never met Mr. Heath (but I did read his posts here), but wish to express my sincere condolences to his wife and family. God Bless Them all.

[Strawfoot]

I've spent the past few days going through some of Charles' old posts, but there's one in particular I have not been able to locate. Back in the day after Rich Mountain, Charles was giving it pretty good to a few of the guys who complained about having to dump their knapsacks before the trek up the mountain.

I know him and Mike Schaffner used to get into it pretty intensely, with Charles labeling him "cupcake" and the like. I'll give it to Mike though, he didn't back down. This in itself was pretty brave, knowing the rapier-like wit Charles possessed in internet battles. Seriously, it was like dancing with the devil in the pale moonlight.

Anyhow, Pvt Schnapps had started a thread either here or over there regarding the quality and importance of company and battalion paperwork, to which Charles answered back with perhaps the funniest post on a discussion forum I'd ever read in my life. That had to be some of the wildest crap I'd ever read. No pun intended. If anyone could scrounge that post out of the archives I'd pay to read it.

Rock on Chawls.


Mike Phineas
Arlington, TX

[TKlas]

Like many on this thread I knew Charles from several events and on the forums here. He was always a champion of the EBUFU concept and attending history heavy events which we always agreed upon. Charles was wild with emotions at times and quite helpful at others. He got me on the OTB forum with an invite to jump in on the great sack coat debate of a few years ago knowing that the OTB really was not my type of gig. He knew several of the players on that discussion and figured I would enjoy it.

I was looking forward to checking in with him at Gettysburg NMP this upcoming August with the 1st Texas LH and our rare Carpe Eventum Iron Brigade LH at the park. I think we will miss his knowledge, perhaps not always his commentary depending whom you are, but I have a deep respect for what he did in this hobby, preservation efforts, and the lives he touched while sharing his knowledge.

I will always be fond of his three meat stew concoction at Shiloh in 07 that had a life of its own. He will be missed!

My prayers are with his family and friends.

Tom

[Spinster]

If anyone could scrounge that post out of the archives I'd pay to read it.

Rock on Chawls.


Mike Phineas
Arlington, TX

See Mike, that's the thing. This comes under the heading of "Things Learned Along The Way " . Read a whole bunch of stuff looking for something, find something else valuable that you weren't looking for, and didn't know you needed it until you found it.

But you already know this lesson--because you do research.

I imagine there will be a good bit of filtering back through that massive archive in the coming months............

Weary to the bone, a thousand miles behind us, piled up in a motel in Hagarstown,

[John of the Skulkers Mess]

Never really met up with Charles in person but 'enjoyed' the Internet banter. He knew I was an Illinois CW junkie and would bird-dog stuff he'd come across or send folks my direction. And he held my tootsies to the fire a few times and posted 'where is Skulkerjohn' more than once. I have to give him props for making the long haul to the Midwest (over the scary river) especially to Athens, Missouri. I was heading to the 'Portal of Hell' event when my car broke down at St. Louis. I was amused when I found this, not too far from Athens...

http://www.stateparks.com/charlie_heath__and_memorial.html

I saw the announcement post early on but was pretty stunned into disbelief. And I still am.

Prayers going out to Bev.

:(

[D Harrelson]

I'd like to remember the Charles Heath of the '90's (when he would come by and do random "collarding" of my house) and we were getting the Rowdy Pards organized rather than the OTB 2000's version Of "Chawls". My mileage varied up until about 2000 at Five Forks....

I remember Jekyll and choose to forget Hyde. I hope he peacefully crossed the river and rests under the shade of the trees along with Duke.

Don Harrelson


D Harrelson

[Gallinipper]

I hope he peacefully crossed the river and rests under the shade of the trees along with Duke.

He's probably arguing with Duke right now. Either way, it's going to be quieter here.

I'll never forget how the name "Rowdy Pards" was created, one of my fond memories of Messrs. Heath & Murley.

[sam H]

I'd like to remember the Charles Heath of the '90's (when he would come by and do random "collarding" of my house)

That was always a sight to see. Getting off the school bus several times to see him sitting on the front porch with grocery bags of collards. Those were some damn good greens.

[Abrams]

I met Charles at Marmaduke's Raid last year, and am glad to have met the legend, and eat out of his pots. I ate the beans, and his coffee was strong and hot, but the chicken stew/soup/concoction kinda scared me a little. We shared a nip to help make the entertainment more entertaining that Saturday night, and I truly enjoyed his company.

He liked to bark, and grouse and generally try to be a mean old cook that weekend, but he was not a hard taskmaster, and it was just his way. I liked him, and wished I had had more time with him.

Best wishes to Charles' family and friends. He will be missed.

[tberkoff]

I recently found out about Charles Heath's passing and I'm saddened by the news. I was deployed to Afghanistan for most of this year and I'm now slowly catching up the goings-on in the hobby.

I first met Charles in 2001 when a few of us in northern Virginia attempted to form a more progressive-leaning unit and we sought out Charles as our mentor. Charles was like a father-figure for us as we tried to get organized. I'll never forget attending the Burkettsville event in September 2001 (the weekend before 9/11) -- one of my all-time favorite events -- and it was because of Charles's assistance that made that event happen for us. I also remember doing a winter drill event on Charles's farm in Maryland in January 2002 -- sleeping outside in 25 degree weather -- spooning by the fire, trying to stay warm. Charles also led our little unit at a Pamplin Park event in June 2002, during which we portrayed CS engineers, building gabions and rifle pits all weekend. He looked every inch the grizzled soldier. I remember seeing Charles at many event since then, including the CR's living history at Chatham Mansion at Fredericksburg in July 2004. Charles was the company cook for this event and he made sure the boys were well fed all weekend. I won't soon forget his lemonade on that hot July 4th weekend. He was always concerned for the common soldier and was not afraid of speaking his mind to those in charge.

Thank you Charles. You were a mentor to us all.

Regards,

Todd Berkoff
Sore Foot Boys, 2001-2002

[JerseySkilletLicker]

I thoroughly enjoyed his phone calls out of the blue to give me advice about great niche items I should carry and where to find them, usually ending with "I've been looking at (insert item) for the longest time and I'm sick of it. Send it on to me so it's off your dang site"
Now that I need advice, the guy who said "get beyond the gear" would be most welcome to chat with.

Skillet