SYLACAUGA, Ala. – Each month SylacaugaNews.com and Yea!106.5 feature a veteran online and on-air, honoring them for their service to our country. The SylacaugaNews.com Veteran of the Month for August is Charles Edward Ashley Sr.
*note SN is abbreviated SylacaugaNews.com, CA is abbreviated for our featured veteran, Charles Ashley.
SN: What is your full name?
CA: Charles Edward Ashley Sr.
SN: What is your date of birth?
CA: December 19, 1946
SN: What was your rank?
CA: E4
SN: What was your branch of service?
CA: Army
SN: What was your job?
CA: I was an infantry on the mortar platoon.
SN: When did you serve?
CA: 1966 until 1968
SN: Where did you serve? Stateside or overseas?
CA: I served one year stateside and one year in Vietnam.
SN: What is something you remember most about your time serving?
CA: Every once in a while we got hit, and most of the job, I got assigned to field special forces. Most of the time when the men on the field would come out to get a rest, we were their protection. We had to pull guard duty over them, but while we were doing that, we got hit a few times.
SN: If you could say anything to those who want to serve, what would you tell them?
CA: I would tell them it’s a good opportunity. It’s a good career in the Army. I like to tell all the youths if you go in, and get a good job, stay in. Because the government will pay for your education if you go in the military and if you come out young and get a job, then you’ll have a good life ahead of you.
SN: Would you do it again if you could and why?
CA: If I had to do it all over, I would stay in. It was a good experience for me because I was raised on a farm. It was a good experience for me to leave home and see parts of the world and meet other people. I really liked that we traveled a lot.
Congratulations to Charles Edward Ashley Sr., our Veteran of the Month for August 2018.