Some Gave All!!

July 2, 1962 - March 12, 1984

Looking at him in this photo my heart totally breaks, he was just a boy, his life was just beginning, little did we know it was also the beginning of the end. I will never forget the phone call. I'm not sure people can understand the devastation unless they have experienced it. The shock of knowing that we would never see him alive again. 34 years later and it stills feels like I am being kicked in the guts as I write this.

He was so happy to join the Marine Corps. I was the chaperone at his going away bash. Still makes me giggle to think about that. My baby brother a MARINE. Chuckie was so excited to be following in his Dad's and Grandpa's footsteps.

These men were so very proud of their boy. Chuckie was a long waited for son, grandson. Shirley and Philip Massey had been blessed with 3 daughters and it was 6 years before Chuckie was born, 3 years later the family was joined with another brother and my parent's family was complete.

In 1980 Charles John Massey at the age of 17 years enlisted in the United States Marine Corp. Because he was not considered an adult, His mother and father has to sign for him to be able to join. Chuckie came from a very proud military family so his parents stood behind him and allowed him to enlist. I'm not sure of all the dates, but at one point he served in the Philippines for a year.

Chuck told me that "mostly he loved the marines". He missed home and friends and family. He considered becoming a lifer but as time went on and he was closer and closer to discharge he has decided to get out. My brother was at the end of his term, with only 2 months to go he started to train on base instead of being sent over seas again. He was training new marines on how to hide in a fox hole. Families are never told exactly what happens in these kind of accidents so all we knew was the tank went over the fox hole and it caved in. Three men were inside. Thank God the other two were ok. Chuckie, my brother, was revived but as they were transporting by helicopter to the nearest hospital he passed away. He was pronounced DOA.

This is the only photo that we have of all my siblings together. From top: Sandra Grandma Weaver, holding lil Phil, Grandpa Weaver, Middle Row: Romona (Mona), Angela, Front Row: with his belly hanging out, Charles John Massey - our very much missed brother.