tached to the 24th Mechanized Cavalry. He was an expert marksman. His combat weapons included 50 caliber and 30 caliber machine guns, a 45 caliber Thompson sub-machine gun, and a 45 caliber side arm. His particular role was to scout ahead of enemy lines to locate and assess German military forces and assets. He was wounded in action in August 1944. Among other awards, he was given the Bronze Star and Purple Heart for his service in Europe. After returning to Kentucky where his family still resided, including Phillip, his son from an earlier relationship, he met Audrey Wolford, who was a missionary teacher at the Jack's Creek School of Redbird Mission. They began a friendship and courtship, and eventually married on June 11, 1947. Interestingly, Charlie had hauled rocks to build the Jack's Creek School long before meeting Audrey. Shortly after exchanging vows, they moved to Lexington, Kentucky where Charlie took advantage of his G.I. Bill opportunities by enrolling in a cabinetmaking program at Lafayette Vocational School, where he later graduated at the top of his class, and launched his career as a professional cabinetmaker and highly respected furniture builder. His appreciation of nature was evident in his craftsmanship. His work typically featured classic styles and traditional joinery, intricate handmade inlay, and finishes that exposed the intrinsic beauty of native hardwoods. While in Lexington Charlie and Audrey bore their first child, Donald Charles Fee, who unfortunately died of pneumonia at the age of one month. While admirers touted Charlie's building skills, the lure of farming the black soils of Iowa proved too great, and when Charlie was invited to work with Audrey's father and brother (Harry and Vernon Wolford) at the family farm in Northeast Story County, Iowa, he took the offer. It was at the "hired man house" on the Wolford farm that Charlie and Audrey raised four more children, Joel, Donna, David and Daniel. It was also during this time that Charlie worked as a local veterinarian's helper, and later launched his additional career as a building and grounds employee at the National Animal Disease Laboratory, just outside Ames, Iowa, until his retirement after twenty years of federal service. Charlie continued to farm for about a decade after retirement. When not at work, in addition to woodworking, Charlie enjoyed activities such as raising and riding horses, shooting sports, storytelling, spending time with his friends, children, grandchildren. After 57 years of marriage, his wife Audrey passed away. He was a steadfast caregiver for her throughout the years of her illness. He cherished his family members, both in Iowa and Kentucky. He passed away peacefully at 89 years of age.