(Original information taken from the Pararescue Association Commemorative History Book).

For some unknown reason, people in ARRS (Aerospace Recovery and Rescue Service) have the innate ability to come up with varied and sundry shenanigans. They range from "mysterious, giant-like green footprints" on water towers to fixed-wing aircraft pictures with rotors. (The chopper folks feel it improves the overall appearance.)

Pararescue old-timers simply love to fill you in on other such goodies they have seen or experienced in their careers. One such example is the decades-long travels of a superbly unique character everyone calls "Charlie the PJ."

It has been said, in pursuit of developing one's mental capacity to its fullest potential, that a mind wasted is a terrible thing. In the case of Pararescuemen, a mind itself is a terrible thing; an idle pararescue mind is a horrible thing. This has been proven throughout pararescue history, most poignantly through certain customs and rituals, all of which lead an outsider to, once again, question pararescue sanity.

But then, what the hell�who cares what anyone else thinks?

It occurred in a moment of enlightenment in the tropical island group of Fiji in Circa 1960-1964; a chance meeting of one who was renown throughout the pararescue career field for his unwavering boast, "I'll whip yo' ass, sukka!" even as he laid sprawled upon the floor; the other who was so bad-ugly, the former, no raving beauty himself, instantly felt sorry for the latter.

Yes, Tony "Don't-hate-me-because-I'm beautiful" Willis was drawn, witnesses state, by nothing less than familial kinship to the object that day: an eighteen-inch high carved wooden South Sea demi-god of unbelievable proportions and ugliness. If beauty is cast in the eye of the beholder, Tony was unequivocally blind.

The thing was christened "Charlie," and immediately took on new dimensions within the pararescue career field. He even began to receive better treatment and greater respect than Tony. At Eglin AFB's 48^th ARRS, Howard Hadley administered Charlie an initial Pararescue Qualification Check-ride, which Charlie accomplished with a solid Q-1, earning his coveted jump wings, a parachute, diving mask, and fins.

Word of Charlie's uniqueness and symbolism began to spread throughout the career field, and his presence was demanded at numerous postings. The 48th, however, was solidly intransigent about any PCS for its primo PJ; and that's when it all began.

In the latter periods of that year, an unknown assailant�or assailants�within the Pararescue Brotherhood, infiltrated Charlie's quarters and whisked him away to the scenic location of the 55th ARRS, then located on the Atlantic isle of Bermuda. It was the first of a long line of stealthy abductions of Charlie, the PJ.

Knowledge of Charlie's propensity for travel raced through the career field. Short-notice PCSs became the norm for the little gnome, starting in the spring of 1965 when Aaron Farrior liberated Charlie from the 55th for a tour in Tripoli, Libya. That summer of 1965, through the summer of 1967, Charlie leaped continents: back to the United Sates, then to Southeast Asia, and on to Europe. By 1968 he was the guest of the Atlantic Air Rescue Center, (AARC) complements of travel arrangements by Master Sergeant "Dashing Dan" Daniels.

By December, 1968, Senior Master Sergeant Pappy Lacasse and Master Sergeant Charles Kezer took Charlie to the 67th ARRS in Moron, Spain. Kezer firmly believed that�by name alone�Charlie should be a member of his team at the 67th ARRS in Moron, Spain. Both Charlies were so delighted with each other, that when the 67th PCS'd to Woodbridge, United Kingdom, in December 1969, Charlie, the PJ, with orders, went also.

(From Bob Williamson,)

1967 or 1968 - I think it was Farrior who got him from Lajes and brought him to 67th Moron.  A few months later Lajes (Jaczala) came over and Charlie was in the secrets vault.  The night before Lajes
left, they broke into the secrets vault and took off before it was discovered.  Reporting the break-in to the base, the base commander ordered the 130 to RTB Moron.  The AP's tore the plane apart, but couldn't find secrets or Charlie.  They had him in a life raft.

1974 - Wheeler and company got him from Eglin AFB.  McClellan AFB, was torn up several times.  March AFB hit McClellan the night after Elmendorf AFB made a successful assault.  Wheeler was glad he departed as he was tired of replacing windows and doors.  Several weeks later March made a successful hit on Elmendorf.
Bob Watkins conned Elmendorf into thinking he wasn't interested and stored him in the maids broom closet until he could leave. The estimate of damage to billeting was unknown. We kept him at March until the next reunion- maybe '75.  There was a fresh laid sidewalk at March AFB with duck feet forever imprinted with his name and date in commemoration of his visit. We took him to the reunion hotel (I think the old Holiday Inn) across from the Indian burial mound on Hwy 98.  Since Charlie was now in the Reserves, we had him in a long hair wig.  Tony Willis took exception to that and decided he would stay at his home for a while.  I think that's the reference to him being retired due to travel fatigue.  Anyway, the hotel took some hits during the reunion and charged the PJ Association about $200 for damages to the secure room.  Joe Fernandez was president and during the general meeting tried unsuccessfully to intimidate the culprits for payment of damages.  When statute of limitations run out and I get immunity, I might testify.

(From Bob Wheeler, 7/16/00)

   Eric ripped off Charlie from the 55th in 1975.  Joe Fernandez was the NCOIC.  Chick Schwartz was in the process of drilling a hole in a floor safe (Charlie must be in plain sight at all time) but before it was completed, either Portland or Alaska PJ's broke into the section and made off with the little guy.  I have a photo of Charlie and the Pitsenbarger Award we received for 1974.  That is another interesting history.  How many sections have received that award and what is the roster?

(From Karl Morgan PJ 70-77)

The information on Charlie is that Sgt's James (Jim) Sargent and John Ford were the one to take Charlie from Scott AFB (Dave Berrio and crew) to the 55 th Sqnd in the spring of 1974. I put this on the message board a couple of weeks ago and got a email from Dave Berrio about it. Have a good time and enjoy your retirement.

For ten years, Charlie, the PJ, languished in the doldrums of premature retirement. By universal, career field-wide demand, he was returned to Fort Walton Beach, Florida in 1984. It was a momentous affair, highlighted by Charlie's reenlistment conducted by Major General William Mall, Commander, Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Service.

But an uneventful occasion it was not. Just as the General was inducting Charlie, the ballroom lights were suddenly extinguished. A mad stampede was heard converging upon the table where Charlie sat. Tables crashed, chairs flew, women shrieked, and PJs fought. When the lights came back on, only empty-handed, red-faced, bewildered PJs could be seen. Charlie was nowhere to be found.

And with good reason. For under the table scrunched Chief Master Sergeant Dave Milsten (Chief, USAF Pararescue), Charlie securely contained within his sinewy arms. The Chief had foiled a multi-effort conspiracy to, once again, PCS Charlie to the far-flung reaches of the world. General Mall, regaining his composure, ordered the Chief to protect and safeguard with his life (and any future hopes for any semblance of a safe and sane USAF career�as if the Chief was already leading such a lifestyle), and ordered the beloved mascot to be returned to Headquarters, ARRS. With those orders, the Chief promptly concealed Charlie from harms way and evaded out of the ballroom.

But that is not to say other attempts to abscond Charlie did not occur that night. Several more body-snatch attempts were made and all failed. Technical Sergeant Wayne Walls, however, failing to be deterred by others' failures, had his own ideas and did manage to grab hold of the little guy (Charlie, that is; not the Chief) and dart out of the hotel and into the night. Unfortunately for Wayne, the Chief had remained in peak condition far beyond the expectancy of his many years, and after a twenty-minute chase across the reaches of Fort Walton Beach, launched a flying tackle and downed the fleeing Walls. Charlie was safe once again�dependent upon which side one was cheering. The next morning, under full Security Police escort, Charlie was a distinguished guest aboard the General's aircraft, Scott AFB-bound.

To expect Charlie to remain at Scott AFB and become a fully qualified headquarters puke was to believe in the tooth fairy, or that PJs had run out of excuses for losing their diving watches. After fitting ceremonies at HQ, Charlie was sent TDY to Kirtland AFB in 1984 for re-qualification with a student PJ class. And, once again, Charlie began his travels�.

Charlie, was obviously beginning to dig the hell out of PJ Reunions.

(From Jim Morris, July, 2000)
Addition to your Charlie,s itinerary: I was stationed at 1550 ATTW, Kirtland AFB, and abducted Charlie from General Patterson (commander 23rd Air Force, Hurlburt Field, FL) and returned him to Kirtland AFB for Chief Tobey's retirement. I believe this was in 1989. Chief Trujillo was at Hurlburt Field at that time and kept Charlie in what he thought was a secure location, HQ AF Special Operations Command. Ha ha ha.

  From there, if memory serves me correctly, Ray Cooper's team, Det. ?, 23rd Air Force, Kirtland AFB, took Charlie during Chief Tobey's retirement dinner and kept him until the 1990 PJ reunion. At that time I think Jim Derrick's team took Charlie from the 1990 PJ reunion to OL-?, 1550th, Little Rock AFB, AK. From there I lost track of him.

  Chief Tobey can verify my story because he met me at the HC-130 when we landed. OSI called him and was investigating the breach security at HQ AF Special Operations Command. I stole Charlie the night before we departed Eglin for Kirtland after a training/currency TDY. I rotated Charlie among various places on Kirtland AFB until Chief Toby's retirement dinner.

  I sent this email to Chiefs Tobey, Truijllo; Jim Derrick and Jim Norton. These guys should be able to verify my story or provide more input on the travels of Charlie during that timeframe. I don't have Ray Cooper's email address.

Hoo-Yah!......Let's do it again. Those were great times.

From John Smith , July 15, 2000
In 1988 Charlie was in the custody of the 55th PJ team at Eglin.  In October of '88 Charlie was liberated by Trujullo, John Smith and Joe Cardona and taken to the 1720 Special Tactics Group, HQ Air Force Special Operations Command.  Jan-Feb '89, Jim Morris got Ole Charlie right out from under the nose of AFSOC's elite guard.

However, in 1994 he failed to make his 10th Anniversary Return to Active Duty Celebration due to his current unit's ("The Boys-on-the-Hill," Pope AFB, North Carolina) preparation for the impending invasion of Haiti. He was sorely missed, but being the hard-core, through-and-through, blood lusting PJ mascot that he is, he could not pass up the opportunity for a possible fight with the bad guys of the world.

(From 304^th Pararescue Team)

Charlie�s tour of the northwest...the long version!

We could have had him sooner than we did, if we only knew. If we only knew that PJ from Moody AFB, who PCS�d to Okinawa via Portland in early spring of �98, was carrying very precious cargo. Only months later did we find out why he was so paranoid about having his gear locked up while he was out on the town. He made it in and out of town untouched...if we only knew the famous Pararescue mascot was right under our nose...brave move. I should just rat him out right here but that chain of events eventually assisted our capture of Charlie so maybe I should thank him?

Several months later at the Vegas reunion in October of 98, another PJ from Okinawa arrived with the 18 inch honored guest. For many old and young it was the first time they�ve had an opportunity to see the ugly thing only talked about in close circles like a legend. Barley able to speak let alone stand and in no condition to pull security, the representative from Okinawa and bearer of Charlie was an easy target for Tom Terlikowski, Tim Mortenson and the rest of the Portland Team. Using one of the oldest tricks in the book they were able to take down the unsuspecting pup and liberate Charlie the first night of the reunion.

Keeping true to traditions Charlie attended dinner the next night, only after a full search of the room was completed. Lacking in force, (4 or 5 men) we sacrificed our vacation and decided it was best to avoid alcohol in case a battle erupted. Security throughout the night loosened to allow for the obligatory photographs, though all the practical jokes and false attempts at stealing Charlie made us question our desire to be good sports. After the ceremonies, Charlie was swiftly removed from the area and treated to a night in Vegas before retiring to his hide site.

The next night, the last of the reunion, the 304th reps arrived to the banquet after a pre-mission recon of the premises to find a suspicious looking waiter politely serving our guest of honor table. Having the home team advantage, the 66th RQS PJ�s arrived with a formidable crew and gained some support from hired guns. (PJ�s from other teams who surely would have betrayed their employers given the chance.) As it turned out the waiter was a PJ plant also from the 66th. Tension in the room built and weighed heavy on everyone. Using cell phones for a communications link, the 66th had the place surrounded and every obvious exit blocked. Getting edgy, Charlie�s possessors activated his EPA.

304th�s Rich Konopka was used as a decoy to fake a steal of the wooden doll and run off through the kitchen of the Tropicana hotel. Immediately tables were overturned, glassware broken and people knocked down as the rush of PJ�s began their pursuit. Terlikowski, Eric Giacchino and Doug Kestranik made a futile attempt at blocking the mad pack that followed. Konopka made the hand off to Mortensen in the kitchen, who made it down the stairs to the getaway vehicle unscathed. His last words rang out; "F@#$ off loosers!" As the car sped away, mission complete...for the moment. The quick escape happened to fast for driver Brian Trubee to properly stage the getaway vehicle. As they raced away around the corner towards freedom, they quickly realized they�d driven down a loading ramp and become trapped. The screech of the tires was the call to battle as they slammed on the brakes and tried to back out of the alley. Bodies converged on the vehicle and the fight began. Cars were dented, suits were destroyed and faces were bloodied as the battle raged on. Greatly outnumbered and eventually overcome by the attackers the Portland Team regretfully lost Charlie. One of the Nellis PJ�s, with Charlie in hand, managed to escape the onslaught and ran off into the darkness. Battle worn but smiling, the crowd returned to the banquet to share a drink and enjoy the comeraidre. The few PJ�s remaining in the parking lot must have sounded pretty funny trying to explain what just happened to the Vegas police and Tropicana Hotel security.

A month later RAMZ training (read rescue mission) led 304^th PJs� Dean Dilday, Jim Eddings, John Lafferty and Tim Lum back to Nellis AFB. Although very thorough the search proved unsuccessful. Several-surprised 66th PJ�s found themselves bound, and interrogated upon return from a night flight, while the rest of the Portland team ransacked their building. Not a ceiling panel was left unchecked or lock left uncut. Some claim Charlie may have been secured off base. He surly wasn�t on display in a place of honor.

After launching a barrage of attacks, five in four months, the 304th finally liberated Charlie from the tyrannical chains of active duty early February 99. Timing could not have been better since Operations began to wonder why so many trips to Nellis AFB showed up on the schedule. Why would anyone leave Oregon and go to the desert for RAMZ anyway? Turtle and Ross were the warriors who breached the 66th section, under threatcon alpha conditions no less, freed Charlie with zero casualties and minimal property damage. Utilizing 24 hour SATO service Charlie had an electronic ticket and was "wheels up" by the time the 66th showed up for work. For the first time Charlie was rightfully station at the 304th RQS and stayed busy for the next year. For the first three months, he jumped, flew gun lines and called in live E-CAS, climbed Mt Hood and completed High angle/rope rescue training.

Charlie covertly deployed to the Balkans in May of �99 with the 304th Pararescue team. Working in a joint theater with 5 Pararescue teams, "Charlie opsec" was difficult to maintain. However, even in such a demanding situation, he was able to complete tours of Bosnia, Albania, Macedonia and the Russian and Polish sectors of Kosavo. When not on alert he spent his time soaking up the sun by the pool and even got off base to enjoy the culture of Southern Italy. As a farewell "Esprit De Corps" team event, Charlie scaled the 100 foot "elephant cage" and watched the sun set on yet another tour of duty for PJ�s.

In October of �99 the men of the largest Pararescue class graduated and were awarded their berets. Additionally, the Pararescue student dormitory on Kirtland AFB was dedicated to fallen brother William Pitsenbarger. This celebration turned out to be one of the biggest gatherings of PJ�s since the �98 reunion. The guest list included active and retired PJ�s, distinguished Vietnam-era rescue crews, Scotty Garen, Tim Wilkinson, the Balkans rescue teams and Vega 31. Charlie was also present. The 939 Wing Commander Rusty Moen and D.O. of the 303th Oral Carper flew him to Kirtland via C-130. Security team included Matt Ramp, Mark Ross, Don Frank, Steve Colletti, Steve Corey, Dave Waite, Konopka, Giacchino, Turtle and PJ Flight Surgeon LTC. Lewis Neace

By this time the innovative northwest PJ team enlisted some professional help and created a "vault" for their honored guest. With his new cage, not only could Charlie remain on display for all to see and even touch while at home station, he could securely deploy to any Pararescue function. This was the first test of the mobile vault. Things went immediately wrong when we arrived at the graduation. A vanload of non-PJ�s trainees (led by instructors who promised "favors?") ambushed us before we even entered the building. Once the news of the crime spread the Chiefs promised heads would roll if things weren�t made right. Meanwhile the criminal students and their ringleaders were at the base fire station trying to open the vault. They succeeded and Charlie was delivered during the middle of the graduation ceremony and placed upon the stage in the center of the formation for photographs.

The graduates donned their berets and stood at attention while the audience applauded. Suddenly the newest 304th member, Scotty Light broke ranks, grabbed Charlie and plowed through his classmates to the edge of the stage. Colletti and Ross took the hand off and were joined by Barnes and Corey. An enormous dog piled formed instantly with Portland and the wooden Icon at the bottom. Chairs flew, a 20-foot high partition wall broke loose, a grand piano was knocked over and people were being crushed. Wives and guests screamed and ran for their lives. The mayhem migrated into a hallway where an organized rugby scrum pushed the pile of bodies until Charlie was visible. Colletti grabbed the doll, and ran like the wind. Fellow Portland teammates pulled off a convincing fake that led the most of the enemy force in the wrong direction. After the smoke cleared the festivities resumed, marking the first time in history Charlie left the function with the same team that brought him.

A graduate�s wife was overheard saying, "why do they do that?"

The wife of a veteran PJ at the same table calmly replied, "you better get used to it."

Finally in December 99 the inevitable happened. While flying with the 304th for upgrade training, a pup from the 23rd STS accidentally pulled the wrong handle and jettisoned the H-60 cabin window into the tail rotor. Luckily no one but the helo was hurt. But more importantly in December, Charlie was kidnapped. It happened on the evening of December 17. On the last day of their trip one of the pups hid in the ceiling until everyone left the building for the day. Later that night the other two returned with a rented circular saw and they went to work cutting a hole in the back of Charlie�s vault. Almost immediately, a cloud of metal dust set off the fire alarm. They all ran outside and jumped into the bushes. They waited there for about 20 minutes but no fire or security people responded. Being persistent, they jimmied the front door latch and went back to work. It took awhile but they finally cut a hole big enough for Charlie to fit through and off they went without resistance! The next morning was truly a sad time in Portland.

Though devastated, the team pulled together and organized our lessons learned from the experience in preparation of Charlie�s imminent return. 1. Build a stronger vault. 2. The fire dept or cops may not show up just because the alarm goes off. 3. The building was not as secure as we thought. 4. PJ�s get more upset about loosing their guest mascot than they do over windows launching into the tail rotor during a night flight. 5. The last and most important lesson learned: If after work, your sitting around having a beer with the team joking about another visiting team stealing your precious mascot, you should check it out...they probably are!

Good luck Charlie it was great to have you and we�ll see you again!

304th Pararesuce Team

THIS IS A FIRST: On July 21, 2000, the Ft Walton Beach retirees with their families today absconded Charlie the PJ from the elite AFSOC, 23Special Tactics Sq., Hurlburt Field, FL. We have pictures and video to document this historical moment. I (Jim Watson) on 7/19/00 went to the 23^rd STS and spoke with TSGT Dirk Wincrich informing him that I am the editor of the "Canopy Chatter" newsletter and up-dating the legend and chronology of Charlie the PJ for an article in my next newsletter. The first thing he said was hell man you�re trying to rip-off Charlie. I said no! no!, I showed him my beer belly and PJ Association folder with all of Charlie�s info in it and said, hell man I�m 64 years old, so he eased up a little. I set it up for me to take pictures on Friday. When I left I got to thinking, could the retirees get Charlie. We have all talked about it at the reunions hospitality room but when Charlie is at the reunion he has many young PJ horses all around him and we were to old and worried about injuries. I made some calls to the Ft. Walton Beach retirees and told them I had a plan to take Charlie and ask what they thought. Some were doubtful it could be pulled off, there would be to many young horses around. Also some of the younger retirees couldn�t get off work or were out of town. Finally, the team was organized using the wives: Charlie and Vivian Jenkins, KO and Barbara Kelly, Jim and Marie Watson, Chuck Straley, Rick Chapman, Aaron Farrior, Joe Vigare, and Pappy Lacasse who was visiting from Reno, NV. They had Charlie in a weapons vault with a peephole and Dirk said see we are abiding by the rule Charlie being visible. KO Kelly, Rick Chapman, Pappy Lacasse, Jim Watson and Joe Vigare with Video camera to document the operation went inside the compound, which is surrounded by 10 foot razor wire fence. We knew we had to get Charlie outside if our plan was to work and the WAF vault controller didn�t think Charlie should leave the area. KO and I talked Dirk into letting us take Charlie outside to take pictures of Charlie on some of the equipment and he agreed; he said afterwards he trusted KO, HA!, that was his first mistake. After we were outside they would put Charlie on equipment with Ronald Ellis and Dirk handling Charlie. Dirk suggested we put Charlie on the boat which had the 23^rd STS emblem on it. The boat was on the back of the compound and we had to get Charlie over by the front fence. Dirk really got relax and let KO handle Charlie, playing the film director brilliantly. I told Rick who is about 250-275 to back up and try to slow down 2 PJs working on equipment, and I said to Pappy we would try to slow down Dirk and Ronald when KO makes his move ( Pappy said , O-God what am I doing here). KO made his way over by a rubber boat by the front fence, He said where�s Aaron, we realized then we didn�t have a signal, (all plans are not perfect) I said I don�t know but I hollered, Aaron Farrior, where are you, Go! Go! Go!, Aaron came running from behind a concrete structure and KO threw Charlie over the fence to Aaron. Joe Vigare was documenting this on film. Aaron ran to the car where Charlie Jenkins and Chuck Straley was waiting, engines running and Charlie Jenkins had just taken a sinemet pill and was fired up and ready to go. The operation would have failed right there in the parking lot if it wasn�t for Vivian Jenkins, Barbara Kelly, and Marie Watson. Dirk and Ronald after they realized what was happening said oh shit they�re taking Charlie, ran thru the back building to the parking lot. It was lunchtime traffic on the main road going out the back gate and traffic was busy. The wives with walking cane and a red handkerchief stopped the traffic and made the getaway and operation a success. Dirk Wincrich said afterwards, he didn�t think retirees could take Charlie. I told him to read Paragraph 11 of the rules on Charlie the PJ. The team in berets delivered Charlie back to the 23 STS ranking Pararescueman on July 24, 2000. Hoo-Yah and the Ft. Walton Beach retired PJs outwitted the elite 23 STS.

Comrades in Peace, Jim Watson (PJ 63-75)

The 2000 Joint Reunion in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, was great and everyone who attended had a fabulous time. The Canadian Pararescue Association was a terrific host and had several activities scheduled. Charlie the PJ escorted by the 23^rd STS PJs made his presence at the banquet and was secured inside a very nice glass case built by the Canadians. This was a mistake from the beginning. The case was approximately 18 inches x 18 inches and 3 feet high. We were informed later that they had created a false bottom in the case. The Canadians were going to turn off the lights, and in the confusion, Charlie was to be dropped into the bottom of the case. That operation was never performed because the USAF Alaska PJs approached the table where Charlie was displayed and attempted unsuccessfully to break the glass case. After several unsuccessful attempts to break the glass, they pushed the case over onto the floor. By this time the PJs from Hurlburt field and Pope AFB joined the scuffle to get Charlie. At this time the operation became very dangerous to the guests at the reunion and the PJs. Now there were by my count approximately 11 young PJ horses trying to take Charlie. After several attempts by all to kick in the glass case, one of the bigger PJs jumped on top of the case. The case broke into many pieces and all the PJs were scuffling on the floor in the broken glass. I was asked, Jim, why don�t you retirees get into the skirmish and get Charlie. I replied, you must be crazy, we are too old to compete with those young horses and that we used finesse to get Charlie not strength. I think the Alaskan PJs had control of Charlie at this time and ran out of the banquet room into a hallway with Hurlburt and Pope PJs in pursuit. They must have caught the Alaskan PJ in the hallway because there was another scuffle in the hallway. Then they came back through the banquet room again and went through the waiter�s service area on the opposite side of the room. I believe the Alaskan PJs still had control of Charlie. Someone tackled the PJ who had Charlie and the fight for control of Charlie was on again. The Alaskan PJs still had control of Charlie and finally got loose and escaped outside but the PJ who had the key to the get-a-way car was left up on the hallway floor with a knee injury. So, the Alaskan PJ who had Charlie was hiding in the parking lot when the PJs from Pope AFB found him. I heard he put up a good fight but there were too many Pope PJs for one person to handle. So Charlie now is with the PJs at 24 STS, Pope AFB, NC. The PJ who jumped on the glass case had to get several stitches in the upper arm and one PJ ended up with a knee injury. However, there could have been some serious injuries to guests attending the reunion and the PJs who were involved in getting Charlie. I think the Association was extremely luck someone didn�t get seriously injured. Something should be done to amend the rules on the procurement of Charlie. We will need the full support of the active and reserve senior NCOs to insure the rules are enforced.

Naturally, the drive to acquire�and retain�Charlie as a team acquisition is a priority goal for all PJs. It is visual demonstration of a team's ingenuity, pride, esprit de corps, tenacity, and drive�its wherewithal�to get the mission accomplished. It is the spirit of Pararescue made visible.

Logically, then, rules must be established and set in place to govern the acquisition of so coveted a symbol:

Where Charlie is today is anyone's guess. But one thing is certain, he's out there, somewhere, appearing in the least expected locations, and disappearing whenever his absconders fail to adhere to the age old combat adage: You snooze; you lose. Good traveling, Charlie!

There may be some difference of opinions on the Chronology or History of Charlie. If so, please contact the Canopy Chatter giving name and verifying source and it will be corrected. To insure adequate future records of Charlie's travels, if the active/reserve duty PJ's would contact the Canopy Chatter and give: Date, Who, What and Where -- we will publish it in the newsletter. If the unit absconding Charlie doesn't report it, then the unit losing Charlie should want to report when they got Charlie, who brought Charlie to their unit, and last but not least who took Charlie from them. The Canopy Chatter goes to every active duty and reserve Pararescue unit. This will alert PJ's worldwide as to where Charlie presides and insure that the unit holding Charlie abides by the rules of possession. Also, most of the Pararescue units have internet access to the two Pararescue home pages, so it should be published there.

Future absconders to insure your unit and name is included in the History and Chronology of Charlie the PJ make sure you complete the enclosed Chronology.