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Strike of the Sword claims another American Hero
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Marine Corporal Charles Seth Sharp of Adairsville, Georgia.
President Obama has recently committed 21, 000 additional soldiers to Afghanistan in an effort to protect the rights of the Afghani people to vote in the upcoming August election.
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This increase in number of soldiers and the increased fervor of the Taliban has resulted in an up sweep of casualties. While in Russia, this week President Obama was questioned about this and he stated it was too early to assess the effectiveness of this new surge.
Many have been concerned that this is not enough soldiers to be effective in their objective to protect the Afghani people and the lives of our soldiers This area is very rough and has approximately twice the population and land mass of Iraq. However, President Obama stated that he did not intend to increase the number at this time.
This upcoming election is very important to the people in Afghanistan for them to be able to participate in the free elections of their country.
The increased violence has come close to home, however, once again as a plane will arrive at Gordon Airport in Georgia on Thursday, July 9, 2009, carrying the body of a young man who with great ideals and hope for the future will be returning home to family and friends grieving the loss of his life
The Patriot Guard, family and friends will meet the plane and then escort the hearse to Northpointe Church, 30 Orchard Road in Adairsville, Georgia. (770-387-8135 ) His funeral services are slated for Saturday, July 11 at 2 PM at the church. His final resting place will be at the EastView Cemetery in Adairsville.
Marine Cpl. Charles S. Sharp was 20 years old. He died July 2 while supporting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C. He died during the mission of “Operation Strike of the Sword.”
That is who he was to the Marines – but to his family and friends, he was much more than name, rank, and serial number. May we, as his fellow Americans never forget the sacrifice that he made at such a young age for his country – for you, me, our children, grandchildren and those children yet to be born. Sometimes if it is not personal, then it is harder for us to imagine the profound affect tragic events have on others – that is until it is in our own backyards. I just sent my sixteen year old grandson out the door to go for a fun day of golf taking advantage of an off morning from football practice. I watched him as he hurried about fixing an ice cooler with soft drinks and getting prepared for his day of fun.
It always makes me stop and ponder, and to say a prayer, for the safety each time someone leaves the house. But I cannot imagine the thoughts, fears, and apprehension that parents, grandparents, husbands/wives, and other family members feel when they send their young people off to war - real war where they may not come back standing up.
What an awesome mixed feeling of being so proud of them for standing tall for their American ideals with hopes of a future derived from their experiences and training in the military – and at the same time that nagging feeling in the back of their head that it might be the last time they see them alive.
Audie Murphy, decorated World War II hero, once said along with others that war is “hell,” referring to the horrendous events that soldiers experience; but the same thing can be said for those left behind.
Come Saturday, to us another Marine will be laid to rest – but for his family he was all that and much more. He grew up from infancy to adulthood with family and friends around him who knew him intimately. He attended the local schools where he played freshman football for Adairsville High School. He enlisted at the age of 17 and had already spent a tour of duty in Iraq.
Like so many of our soldiers, he had compassion for the Afghani children, once requesting color books and crayons for them. One Thanksgiving Day, my grandchildren helped me pack schools supplies of all sorts to send to a soldier who was at that time in Afghanistan. This soldier went out regularly to the surrounding villages to take supplies and items to the children. While he was there he helped to plant 70 apples trees. I have prayed often that they would all grow strong and healthy and produce an abundance of apples so that in many years to come, those people would enjoy apples that were made possible by a stranger dwelling in their land – an American stranger.
The dangers of war are far more than we can imagine. While standing ready to fight the enemy, our warriors need to be careful of the civilian population particularly the women and children. And now as reported in this article http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/news/300090.php the militants are dressing as women in order to escape only to be able to attack once again.
According to the Associated Press the death toll in Afghanistan has reached 646 with 3,161 wounded. And once again we see 
the handiwork of David Guttenfelder, photographer, on hand to snap this picture of a soldier jumping a stream. Along with the death of Charles Sharp from Georgia, there are two other very young soldiers who have died. recently, Justin A. Casillas, age 19 of Dunnigan, California and Aaron E. Fairbairn, age 20 of Abderdeen, Washington.
the handiwork of David Guttenfelder, photographer, on hand to snap this picture of a soldier jumping a stream. Along with the death of Charles Sharp from Georgia, there are two other very young soldiers who have died. recently, Justin A. Casillas, age 19 of Dunnigan, California and Aaron E. Fairbairn, age 20 of Abderdeen, Washington. It was once said that the average person on earth will directly touch and affect the lives of at least 400 people – though vague, this will give us some idea of the number of folks back home who will mourn these 646 dead, 3,161 wounded in very personal ways. But in addition, we, as nation, mourn to see the youth of our nation leave this world far too soon. America is in still a pretty young nation as compared to those many centuries old; but with the increased loss of life of the pre-born and the loss of life in war, and the loss of life due to drugs and alcohol abuse as well as the huge numbers of young people who die each year in traffic and other accidents – the toll is far too much. Even suicide of the young has increased.
If ever a nation stood in the need of God, it is ours. Each life created by God is individual, unique, and special – and while millions sat around their TV sets and lined the streets to honor an American pop icon – can we but wonder at the difference in this and those who gave their lives for us? While we are attracted and honor celebrities for their accomplishments in their various venues, let us not forget that the lives of these precious fallen heroes deserve our attention, prayers, and honor as well.
Charles Seth Sharp was awarded the Navy Unit Commendation, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and Sea Service Deployment ribbon. But those are earthly awards treasured for this lifetime – but we all are encouraged to lay up treasures not on this earth; but in heaven – I am sure many are waiting for Charles.
Among the many mourners are these parents – father Rick and Step-Mom, Tiffany; and especially his childhood sweetheart and fiancée, Katie McMahon of Dalton. It was reported that they were pushed around in baby strollers together. Read more details and see pictures at
I don’t know where your tear ducts are right now, but mine are working overtime.
Funeral arrangements will be handled by R. Dudley Barton & Son Funeral Home in Adairsville, Georgia. (770-773-3711) The family will receive family and friends at the church on Friday from 5PM – 9PM. The funeral will be Saturday, July 11, 2009 at Northpointe Church at 2 PM.
Let’s put “Operation Send A Card” into motion and let this family know of our great sorrow for their personal loss and our profound pride in their loved one who gave so much to America and to us. You may send cards and notes to Mr. and Mrs. Rick Sharp % of R. Dudley Barton & Son Funeral Home, P. O. box 265, Adairsville, Georgia 30103. Let’s make these wars personal and may no soldier merely become a statistic. And borrowing from the Soldiers’ Angels slogan regarding those still deployed, “May no soldier go unloved.” http://www.soldiersangels.org/ (Be sure to scroll waaay down to the bottom to see all the programs they present and see if there isn’t some way you can help them help our deployed and wounded soldiers.
May freedom ring!
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