Lt. Col. Charles Edward Daniels Jr. (USMC), Ret.

Lt. Col. Charles Edward Daniels Jr. (USMC), Ret., 89, of New Bern, passed away on Thursday, December 8, 2022. He was born in Frisco City, Alabama on February 1, 1933, and raised in Pine Hill, Alabama. He graduated from Pine Hill High School where he was active in sports. He went to Perkinston Junior College in Mississippi on a football scholarship. He played football and basketball there and received an Associate of Science Degree in 1953.

After graduating the went into the Naval Aviation Cadet program for flight training at Pensacola, Florida. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant and designated a Naval Aviator in June 1955. He then reported to Cherry Point to VMF-114 as a jet pilot flying the F9F8 Cougar. After this tour he reported to Pensacola as an instructor in primary flight, formation, and night flying.

In 1958, he reported to Marine Wing Service Group-17 in Iwakuni, Japan. After leaving Japan, he reported back to Pensacola for Photo School for the Aerial Reconnaissance Officer's Course.

In April 1960, he reported to Cherry Point and joined Marine Composite Reconnaissance Squadron-2 where he flew photographic and electronic reconnaissance missions in the RF-8A and the EF-10B aircraft. While at Cherry Point he also served on the Wing Staff as the Assistant Plans Officer in Wing Operations.

In 1963, he transferred to the First Air and Naval Liaison Company in Hawaii. During this time, he completed jump school and made 14 training and operational jumps. While still in Hawaii, he served as the Operations Officer of Marine Fighter Squadron 232 at Kaneoke Bay. From Hawaii he reported to Marine Aircraft Group-II at Atsugi, Japan, where 10 weeks later in June 1965, the entire air group moved to Da Nang, Vietnam. During the next year he served as MAG-11 fiscal officer and flew combat missions over North and South Vietnam. He was also promoted to Major.

After leaving Vietnam, he reported to VMCJ-2 at Cherry Point where he spent two years as the Operations Officer and flew the RF-4B, EA-6A, and EF-10B. Then back to Vietnam in September 1968, as the Operations Officer of VMCJ-1 the first part of the tour and as Executive Officer of H&MS-17 the last half of the tour. He also flew over 700 hours in six different aircraft in that year.

Following his second Vietnam tour, he returned to Cherry Point for a brief VMCJ-2 tour before being assigned in June 1970, to the college degree program at Auburn University. He received his B.S. Degree in Business Administration in December 1971, and then reported to Quantico as the assistant division chief in the Intelligence Division, Development Center. He was a student in the Command and Staff Class of 1973-74 and upon graduation reported to the Amphibious Warfare School where he was an instructor for the next two years.

In September 1976, he received his master's degree in Business Financial Management from The George Washington University and reported to the First Marine Aircraft Wing, Okinawa where he was Commanding Officer of Wing Composite Support Squadron-17 and Marine Air Base Squadron 36.

Throughout his aviation career Lt. Colonel Daniels flew approximately 7,000 hours in 22 different aircraft. He retired from the Marine Corps in June 1981. In retirement he worked in Business Management as a licensed CPA in Virginia and was the Chief Financial Officer of Surfa-Shield Corporation.

His wife, the former Janet Block of New Bern, N.C., completed her career as a teacher and principal in the Quantico Dependents' School System. He and his wife, Janet, retired to New Bern in 1994 where he continued his running streak of almost 24 years until he was hit by an errant car. Because of their love of travel, they began touring the U.S. by car. Each summer motel reservations were made and off they went for a month for so. During the next 14 years, they traveled in all the 48 contiguous states visiting and exploring the parks, canyons, monuments, and places of little and great renown. They also made several trips to Canada visiting all the provinces but the Yukon and the Northwest Territories. A record was made of all these trips by camcorder and later transferred to DVDs to enjoy. Several cruises were made during the spring of those years. Janet was his support and soulmate during his career and in retirement. They enjoyed being with each other whether traveling or sitting in their home on the Trent River. They broadened each other's horizons while making one another laugh and smile. It was a good life!

He is survived by his loving wife, Janet Daniels; grandson, Bryan Daniels and wife, Elizabeth; granddaughters, Natalie Daniels and Caitlyn Kessler and husband, Corbett; great-grandson, Keller Kessler; daughter-in-law, Susan Daniels; and many loving family members and close friends.

He is preceded in death by his son, Matthew Alan Daniels; and parents, Charles Daniels Sr. and Thelma Christine Daniels.

A graveside service will be held on Monday, December 19, 2022, at 11:00 AM at United Hebrews Cemetery in New Bern with Paul Anderson officiating. Military Honors will conclude the service.

Cotten Funeral Home is honored to serve the family and friends of Lt. Col. Charles Edward Daniels Jr. (USMC).