Maryland Marine Killed In Afghanistan

UNION BRIDGE, Md. - WBALTV.com

A local Marine who was one month shy of his first wedding anniversary died after a battle in Afghanistan.

The Department of Defense announced that Sgt. Charles Cartwright, 26, of Union Bridge, was killed Saturday in Farah province, Afghanistan. The announcement was made the day before Veterans Day.

Cartwright was assigned to the 1st Marine Special Operations Battalion and based out of Camp Pendleton, Calif.

In Union Bridge on Wednesday, the community grieved for one of its fallen sons.

"In a small community like this, the whole town grieves. It pulls everybody closer together. It gives a little more meaning to Veterans Day, because they realize that people do die keeping our country free," said Cartwright's post commander, Larry Danner.

Flags were flying at half staff at VFW Post 8806, where Cartwright was a member, and they lined the entrance of Walkersville High School, where he graduated from in 2001. He was honored during a moment of silent at the school.

"I just remember him. Charlie would walk in the room and the whole place would stop and say, ' Hey, Chuck's here!' He just had that charisma about him," remembered former teacher Beth Slagle.

Cartwright enlisted after his high school graduation on the day before 9/11. He had been deployed overseas at least four times -- twice to Iraq and twice to Afghanistan -- and earned two Purple Hearts for his service.

"He loved what he was doing. It's just too bad that so many of our boys have to die over there," said Wanda Grimes, a member of VFW Post 8806.

"He gave his life for his country, and you can't give more than that," said World War II veteran Joe Noll.

The DOD did not say if any funeral arrangements have been made.

Cartwright is currently one of 836 military deaths in Afghanistan.

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