Col. Charles R. Petty, USMC (Ret.)

Charles Robert Petty was born on 28 December 1934 to John Joseph Petty and Mary Gayle (Combs) Petty. Although he mostly grew up in Indianapolis and its surroundings, it was Bloomfield, Indiana that he considered his “happy refuge,” as he spent much of his time with his maternal grandparents, Homer and Grace. He was “exposed to the spectrum of countryside education” and by age 11, Charles had mastered fishing, hunting, farming, and even driving!

Through a series of fortunate happenstances, Charles graduated high school at the age of 15. In desperate need to escape the confines of Indiana, he forged his birth certificate and joined the Marine Corps. Sworn in as a private, he left the same day on a train for Parris Island, South Carolina. In his 42+ years of military service, Charles took full advantage of everything the Marine Corps had to offer him, and already having an insatiable thirst for knowledge and furthering his education, he was commissioned in 1957 as a Naval Officer upon his admission to graduate school.

Yet, as he had “changed the focus of [his] life often enough to stymie the average guy… and amassed quite a bit of military experience,” his life trajectory changed once more. In 1960, Charles received permission to resign his Naval commission from medical school and switched back to the Marines in order to attend the Naval Flight Training program in Pensacola. From there, his career as an aviator took off. By the end of his illustrious career, he accumulated at least 6,115 flight hours as a pilot-in-command and he was qualified to fly innumerable types of aircraft. His favorite, though, was the F-4 Phantom II, to which he was the first Marine selected to fly!

Charles’ military career took him to highly-hostile regions, including Cuba and Vietnam, where he was a Forward Air Controller and Station Flight Officer, among other duties. He was decorated with multiple awards, including an Air Medal for his actions in Vietnam. He was later “advised by the powers that be that [he] had held the first airstrikes in support of Marines since the Korean War!” It was also during this time that he was awarded the Bronze Star with Combat V for heroic actions in Vietnam.

When not on active duty in Vietnam, Charles was the Chief Pilot for the US Government via Continental Air Services and, later, he was Deputy Chief for the US Defense Attaché Office. As Deputy Director of Ops and Training for the American Embassy in Saigon, he was among the last to be evacuated in 1975. Upon returning to the States, he became the Policy Director and Supervisory Military Analyst with the US Army Training and Doctrine Command. He found this work to be most enjoyable as he was frequently embarking on journeys to distant locations for various projects. This led to a collection of passports, each page stamped from cover to cover!

In 1981, Charles met Ayla and he was “finally rewarded with the love of a true woman … whose love, guidance, friendship and bravery have set examples for all!” They married the next year and in time, had a “sweet daughter,” Charlotte. Charles had also officially settled down in the Nation’s Capital (or Burke, VA to be specific). It was then that he “enjoyed his best times” with the DSAA (Defense Security Assistance Agency) working at the Office of the Secretary of Defense until 1988. During this time, he used his special clearance accesses for his government assignments around the world, doing what he really relished, especially as the “folks [he] worked for and with were all top notch.” Afterwards, Charles was assigned to lead an anti-terrorism unit stationed out of Headquarters Marine Corps. He expressed that it was the “finest group of Marines I have ever commanded or seen!”

In 1994, Charles retired from the Marine Corps after 42+ years of service and the US Government after 25 years of service. An entrepreneur from a young age, he founded CRP LTD and as the CEO of a worldwide business for military security assistance projects, he continued to work closely with the US government and military. In his free time, he enjoyed reading (often two books at once!), writing, and discussing science, history, and politics with those who knew him best. He was a master of mathematics, a polyglot, a chef, and even a car aficionado. He was always ready, willing, and able to help those in need. Amidst all this, his utmost priority remained his beloved wife Ayla, cherished daughter Charlotte, and even the many dogs that Charlotte welcomed into their home.

Charles was exceptionally proud to be a Mason, holding memberships in both the Shriners and Scottish Rite Masons. It brought him joy and pride to be part of a brotherhood that held the same values as his own, including philanthropy, integrity, and humility. After his death, his family learned that Charles, alongside a fellow Masonic Brother, took significant personal risks to secure the safe passage of Vietnamese Masons and their families to the Philippines. Many owed their lives to Charles and his Masonic Brothers, but he was never boastful; he simply did what he believed to be right.

Charles had a way about him that few could duplicate, but all respected. He remained remarkably humble, paying little attention to the numerous titles and accolades bestowed upon him in both the military and government. He often let others take credit, and despite the secrecy surrounding his work coupled with his reserved nature, his many achievements were not pursued for recognition. For him, it was simply his duty to his country. As his closest friend and Masonic Brother described him, he “was a certified, professional, omni-directional, multi-phase, non-skid, puncture proof character.” He will be remembered for his humor, no-nonsense attitude, and the intellectual depth of his conversations.

Charles is survived by his wife, Ayla, and daughter, Charlotte. He is also survived by Shirley (Bryan) Beal and David (Robyn) Petty, his daughter and son from previous marriages, and their children, Nolan (Kayli) Beal, Matt (Kristen) Beal, Cam Petty, and Cole Petty, in addition to his great grandchildren, Cash Beal and Mia Beal, children to Matt.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Shriners Hospitals for Children at https://donate.lovetotherescue.org.

(Please note, dear reader, that these quotes are lifted directly from his autobiography, which he first began writing in Singapore, c. 1972.)

A funeral service will be held on Friday December 8, 2023 from 9:00 AM to 9:30 AM at Fort Myer Old Post Chapel, 101 Lee Ave., Fort Myer, VA 22211. Followed committal at Arlington National Cemetery, 1 Memorial Ave, Arlington, VA 22211.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.demainefunerals.com for the Petty family.