Sad News (Military thread)

[SCSecesh]

Re: Sad News

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]

Re: Sad News

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]

Re: Sad News

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]

Re: Sad News

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]

Re: Sad News


THE SAME CANTEEN
by Private Miles O'Reilly



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]

Re: Sad News

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]

Re: Sad News

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]

Re: Sad News

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]

Re: Sad News

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

Buddy Zech
1st MN Lincoln Guard

[Bummer]

Re: Sad News

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

[Ken]

Re: Sad News

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.

[Texasbutternut]

Re: Sad News

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]

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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]

Re: Sad News

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]

Re: Sad News

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,