Charlie Reavis Lewellen, age 82, of Temple, Texas passed away on Wednesday, at a local hospital. He was born on February 24, 1939, in Temple, Texas, the son of Charlie H. and Odie Presley Lewellen. A graveside service, with military honors, will take place on Monday, July 19th, 2021, at 10:00am at Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery. He graduated from Temple High School in 1957 and attended Temple Jr. College and North Texas State University.
Captain Charlie R. Lewellen served a total of 42 years and 20 days combined Reserve and Active duty in the United States Army. 2LT Charlie R. Lewellen was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant, Infantry on 20 June 1964. Following his commission, he deployed to Viet Nam where he served as a Rifle Platoon and Weapons Platoon Leader in the 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry, and Intelligence Officer in Company A, 1st Aviation Battalion, 1st Infantry Division. Upon his return to the US, he served as Battalion S1, Company Commander, Battalion Executive Officer, S3 Air, Battalion Operations Officer and Brigade Staff Officer.
He deployed for a second tour to Viet Nam with the 198th Light Infantry Brigade as S3 Air, Company Commander, Assistant S3 Task Force Barker, and Brigade S4. His military education includes the Infantry Officer Basic Course, Armor Officer Advance Course, USAF Air Ground Operations Course, Command and General Staff College. Captain Lewellen’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Air Medal with 3 OLC, Army Commendation Medal, National Guard Achievement Medal, and the Viet Nam Cross of Gallantry with Palm. He was also awarded the Combat Infantry Badge, Army Valorous Unit Citation, Army Meritorious Unit Citation, Viet Nam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation, and the Viet Nam Civic Action Honor Medal Unit Citation. Charlie lived by the motto “Duty First!”
He was employed by the Department of Defense at Fort Hood, Texas for 12 years and retired in 2015. He was a member of the Belton United Methodist Church, and was a member of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, Society of the First Infantry Division, Officers of the Big Red One who have served with the Division in combat, and a member of the Belton Marching One Hundred Booster Club for four years.
He is survived by his wife, Cheryl A. Hinckley of Temple, TX; daughters, Lisa Anderson and husband Vaughn of Atlanta, GA, Gina Meyers and husband Ken of Bemidji, MN, Cynthia Elmore of Fort Worth, TX, and Megan Flores of Temple, TX; grandchildren, Kellie Dagg and her son, Reagan Dagg of Thief River Falls, MN, Amy Dagg of Bemidji, MN, Edward Casas of Corpus Christi, TX, Lisa Wilson of Venus, TX, Emily Hinckley of North Richland Hills, TX, James Hinckley of Dublin, TX and John Hinckley of California;11 great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Beth Schmidt of Olpe, KS, Yvonne Mattingly of Houston, TX, Roberta Byers and husband Dale of South Haven, KS, Crystal Mattingly of Wellington, KS, Priscilla Rinehart and husband Greg of Derby, KS and Pam Mattingly of San Antonio, TX; cousins, Cherry and Billie Luker of Belton, TX; many nieces and nephews and extended family members; his brother-in-arms, Lieutenant Colonel James C. Touchet, United States Army,(Ret.) of North Richland Hills, TX; his adopted family, General Mark Simerly and wife Cynthia, and children Alison and Luke Simerly of Fort Lee, VA. Charlie was preceded in death by a son, Coby Lewellen, and his parents.
Charlie loved to travel and during his life visited 25 countries. His last overseas trip was to Singapore, China, and Vietnam in 2009 with his wife Cheryl. He loved football and attended Belton High School games for four years to watch his daughter Megan perform in the band. When called upon, he assisted in sewing fabric on the band uniforms.
In 2015 Charlie worked for many months to get the Belton New Tech High School at Waskow recognized as Purple Heart school in memory of Capt. Henry T. Waskow. The ceremony was very emotional for Lewellen when he presented the display of medals that Capt. Henry T. Waskow received during WWII and would be placed in the school.
On November 6, 1984, Charlie was a passenger on SAUDIA Flight 040 from London to Riyadh Saudi Arabi that was hijacked by a man on the flight deck with a gun and another in the passenger cabin wearing an explosive vest. The hijackers’ demands were not met, so the passengers were held hostage in the aircraft after it landed in Iran. Charlie put together a plan to free the hostages, which included Charlie and the First Officer apprehending the hijackers while the passengers were sent down the emergency chutes. Thanks to these brave heroics, both hijackers were killed, and all 113 hostages were rescued safely.
Charlie was a history buff and believed in preserving history. In 2014 - 2015 he donated a large collection of artifacts from his service with the 1st ID in Vietnam. The artifacts were added to the Permanent Collection of the Robert R. McCormick Research Center and the First Division Museum at Cantigny in Wheaton, Illinois. According to the Museum, Charlie’s donations will be a wonderful resource to researchers for years to come.
Charlie was interested in genealogy and researched relatives in Bell County, TX, Tennessee, Virginia, and England. He even had the opportunity to visit the church in Chelmsford, Essex, England where one of his relatives who died in the 1600’s was buried beneath the altar.
Charlie Lewellen was interviewed in December of 2020 for the Atlanta History Museum’s Veterans History Project when he and his wife, Cheryl Hinckley, were in Atlanta, GA visiting their daughter, Lisa Anderson and her husband, Vaughn. The museum will eventually post the interview on their website, but due to the backlog created by COVID it has been delayed. Please continue to check their website for updates. https://album.atlantahistorycenter.com/digital/collection/VHPohr
Charlie read the Temple Daily Telegram every day, and often contributed his opinions on various subjects in the editorial page of the paper.
Charlie loved to watch Lone Star Law, a T.V. show which follows game wardens of the Texas Park & Wildlife Department in regions in the State of Texas. He always wanted a Texas Flag that had flown over the Capitol. His favorite musical group was the Texas Tenors. In 2019, he was recognized for his military service by the Texas Tenors during a show in Branson, Texas. For his 82nd birthday, his wife Cheryl surprised him with a lunch with two Bell County Texas Game Wardens, and he received his beloved Texas Flag along with a certificate that certified the Texas Flag presented to him in celebration of his birthday was flown at the Capitol of the Sovereign State of Texas and was signed by District 55 State Representative Hugh D. Shine. On June 26th, 2021, he was presented a Quilt of Valor that was made by the Sew It Seams Bee Quilters and presented to Charlie by Stacy Clady. The Quilts of Valor are quilted to honor and comfort those touched by war. Just a few days before he passed away, he told several people that his wife Cheryl always seemed to amaze and surprise him with unique and thoughtful gifts.
II Timothy 4:7-8
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Purple Heart Foundation, to The Contemporaries of the Cultural Activities Center, the Moffat Community Center or to the Quilt of Valor Association would be appreciated.
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