Sad News (Civilian thread)

[PetePaolillo]

Re: Sad News

I never met the Man, but read many of his posts and articles. He was obviously very respected by all and the Hobby and CW preservation will truly miss him. As a fellow who really enjoys preparing period rations and the challenge of cooking at events, I regret that I won't meet him and get a chance to learn from a Master. My thoughts and prayers to Bev and the entire family.

[Campjacksonboy]

Re: Sad News

Having just heard the news, my condolences to his wife and family.
I knew charles only from a couple of events and his willingness to help us with trans-mississippi events. Last September he had my son Xavier collecting firewood and doing other odd jobs at Marmaduke's. Charles later described him as
"having a bright future in larceny." We had lots of laughs on that one.
I owed him a trip to the east and regret that this will be one debt that will not be able to repay.
I can't add to what everyone else has said but he will be missed.
Any word on funeral arrangements yet?
Frank

[Spinster]

Re: Sad News

Frank,

Arrangements are listed up thread, but hard to find in the volume.

.

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 whoever the webmaster here is can archive these wonderful memories of Charles for her.

Colleen Formby

[DougCooper]

Re: Sad News

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.

Well done Eric.

Charles' final act was to direct that donations be sent in lieu of flowers to CWPT - that is just like him. He was a leader in the one thing that when we are all gone will really matter - preserving the memory and saving the ground the old boys made hallowed by their sacrifice.

[Huck]

Re: Sad News

so nice seeing him at Marmy's Raid. When my Orderly Sergeant was captured, Charles made sure that "Huck" was properly fed and taken care of.

I have been thinking about this all day and I can only sum it up in four word, "Charles Will be missed" in his own way, he touched all of us.

[YankRI]

Re: Sad News

Charles had one of the most nimble minds that I've ever encountered. There will never be another like him.

After hearing the sad news I couldn't help but think of Gen. MacArthur and his speech before Congress when he recalled the line from the old Army song, "that old soldiers never die; they just fade away..." Something tells me he would like that.

My sincere condolences to his beloved wife, Bev.

Respectfully,

[Johan Steele]

Re: Sad News

A good man, a true asset to the community and above all a contributor to the history we all study with such enthusiam. He will be missed.

[Becky Morgan]

Re: Sad News

While I regret never having met Charles in person, he was a wonderful man to annoy and be annoyed by online. He knew the value of a good argument and must have had an entire library in his head. If we miss him this much, I can only imagine how rough it must be for his family.

[Garrett Silliman]

Re: Sad News

I was fortunate enough to know Charles some and lucky enough to have seen him recently at DRL. I can honestly say that I am better for knowing him and sorry to not have the opportunity to see him again. My sincere sympathies go out to his wife and family.

[pvtbordonaro]

Re: Sad News

Friends,
After giving it much thought I decided that the best tribute I could write for Charles would be to post a reply to a question that I emailed him once: How do you make corn dodgers? It's a long post, but that alone should tell you something about how helpful Charles was and how much work he was willing to do to provide that help. Here goes:
" Get your stick. Throw your canteen half business side down into the fire. Let's assume you were issued slab bacon.

Find the fattest piece of pork in your rations. Take your knife and skin off the hide. Save that pork skin for a little later, and don't worry about carving off the teats and hair. Slice up the remainder of the pork in 3/8" thick strips about 4" long.

Kick out some coals in a pile about the size of two fists. These should be dull cherry red/steak coals, and no hotter. Remove the now sanitized canteen half from the fire with your stick. Arrange the pork in the canteen half, and place on the coals. Listen for the hiss. the sound shouldn't get above a gentle sizzle, as the fat runs from the pork. This is rendering, and it needs to be a slow process. While this is happening, keep a close eye on your pards who are also cooking bacon. Get their grease before they throw it out, and just add it to your bacon as it cooks. Don't splash it around, or it will look like a diesel fuel fire, and that violates bachelor food rule #2*.

While the modern miracle of bacon fat refining is taking place before your very eyes, find that sack of corn meal half busted and leaking all over your haversack. It doesn't matter if it is white, yellow, bolted or unbolted, but try to avoid the self rising. They ya go. Now, eyeball your pards to see if they have cornmeal, wheat flour, salt, pepper, or anything of value. They won't, dang their hides, but one of them may have a coffee cooler, trekker bowl, or plate that isn't in use. Go ahead and get it from them.

Get about 3 white oak acorns full of hot bacon grease. Get that pork skin that you saved earlier, and scrape off any remaining salt and pepper into the meal. Work it in. Get your canteen, and add in about twice that much water. Knead gently. Add in a touch more water, and make it into little patties about the size of three of those old style dollar coins stacked together.

Remove the pork from the canteen half, and toss it in your haversack. Freshen the coals. Return the canteen half with the grease to the coals, and wait until the little bubbles start to rise in the middle of the grease. When they start rising faster than you can count, gently slide in the corn dodgers. Usually 3 is aplenty at one time. While this is cooking, you'd best find a turner. A fork, a flat knife, or a good piece of sycamore bark works dandy. Keep the grease bubbling, but not splattering.

When the edge of the dodger turns golden retriever brown, the little feller is ready to be turned. If it turns bay mule brown, then it is burned, and is a direct violation of bacheor food rule #2*. Turn the dodger. If it crumbles, then there wasn't enough water. If it breaks in half, then there was almost enough water. Don't splash grease in the fire. Repeat for the other two dodgers.

Make up your next three dodgers. About this time, you'll notice pards you haven't seen all weekend slowly gather around the fire like vinegar flies on cider. The next part is crucial to the success of your breakfast, so pay close attention.

Send one or two them for water, onions, molasses, a bucket of steam, or something to make them leave the area. One subterfuge that works exceptionally well is , "I understand N*** S***** has set up a table over in the parking lot and is selling stuff out of his van." Next, if any of your pards are still around when you remove your dodgers, exclaim loudly, "Dammit, I burned them again!" while pretending to toss something into the high weeds behind the shebang. This ensures that you'll get to keep your first three dodgers, if nothing else. If you don't do something to keep the next best thing to hot donuts to yourself, you'll be like Brooklyn wondering where their Dodgers went.

Fire up the next three dodgers. They will be slightly more brown due to the residue in the grease. With luck, you can get nine dodgers from a canteen half of grease, but most of the time it is just six or so. Save one dodger for the fellow who loaned you a plate/bowl or whatever.

Find that skin. Slice it into 1/2" strips. Fry it in the remaining fat, and you have pork rinds for later in the day.

Clean up by throwing the canteen half back in the fire.


Note: If you have berries, turnips, dried peppers, or whatever is handy, chop it up and put it in the corn dodgers. They need not be plain, but they are good with molasses."

*Bachelor Food Rule #2: Burnt food sucks.

And there you have it. Charles's answer to a question from a newbie in the hobby.
-Joe Bordonaro

[henionjd]

Re: Sad News

Joe,

That shouldn't make me cry, but somehow it does.

[pvtbordonaro]

Re: Sad News

Jeff,
I've been crying, on and off, for a couple of days now. They say it helps.
-Joe

[Randy]

Re: Sad News

I'm searching for the words to express myself but just can't seem to find them. But I can only say right now that this is a big loss to us in this hobby who knew Charles and had the privelage to be his friend. I will always remember Charles Heath as a generous, warm-hearted, witty and sociable guy. He will be missed.

[Spinster]

Re: Sad News

Oh, but Joe, Jeff, can't you hear him?


Y'all pay attention. There will be a test.

What is Bachelor Food Rule #2?

Say it all together now.

Burnt Food Sucks.


And when I 'hear' him, I am somehow, not quite so heartsick.....

[neocelt]

Re: Sad News

“The Chawls” was a true iconoclast and a character of epic proportion. I will miss his rapier wit and his reverent irreverence. He was a bully boyo who would gladly share his immense knowledge (and his canteen) with you, but always teach you “how to fish,” too. He always put a smile on my face, and that’s good enough for me.

Charles, my friend, we will meet again…

~Aden