Charlie: An unlikely legend EDIT TO 1 paragraph for the beer

Published Dec. 18, 2016 By Master Sgt. Eric Burks

His tenure dates back to just before the Vietnam conflict, when “Para Jumpers” became known simply as PJs.

Originally from Fiji, he’s served with nearly every Air Force pararescue unit, deploying to Southeast Asia, Libya, Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan during times of conflict spanning six decades.

While small in stature, he wears jump wings, diving fins, and a medallion presented by none other than the Dalai Lama.

Standing tall at 18 inches and displaying a wild — yet wooden — gaze, Charlie wasn’t always famous.

Sometime between 1960 and 1964, according to the Pararescue Association website, PJ Tony Willis discovered a carved wooden South Sea demi-god “of unbelievable proportions and ugliness” in the tropical island group of Fiji.

He was then christened “Charlie” and would soon receive an initial pararescue qualification check-ride, earning jump wings, a parachute, diving mask, and fins from the 48th Air Rescue and Recovery Squadron at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.

Word of his uniqueness began to spread throughout the career field, and his presence was demanded at numerous postings.

Late in 1964, “an unknown assailant—or assailants—within the Pararescue Brotherhood, infiltrated Charlie’s quarters and whisked him away to the scenic location of the 55th ARRS, then located on the Atlantic isle of Bermuda.”

This was the first of a long line of stealthy abductions of Charlie.

Not just anyone could attempt to take Charlie, however, and a list of “rules of acquisition and possession” began to evolve.

The first two rules establish that Charlie will be absconded only by fully and currently qualified or retired PJs, and that “any effort by non-pararescue personnel to abscond Charlie will be met with the full, unified force of the career field.”

Charlie spent the next decade moving from unit to unit, spending time with PJs in action across the globe until he was “retired” by Willis in 1975.

However, by career field-wide demand, he was returned to Fort Walton Beach, Fla. in 1984, according to the website. His “reenlistment” was conducted by then-Maj. Gen. William Mall, Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Service commander.

Since then, Charlie’s appearance has changed little. He’s been wearing his PJ beret for more than a decade now, and only the medal from the Dalai Lama is a more recent addition.

In 2013, then-Senior Master Sgt. Robert Disney, a Wounded Warrior and PJ, journeyed to the Mt. Everest base camp in the Himalayas, where he met the famous Buddhist monk and was presented with a medallion.

Disney later decided it should be worn by Charlie, as a tribute to the entire PJ community,

Brief History of PJ’s.  – EDIT TO 1 paragraph for the beer

In 1943, some 21 soldiers were forced to bail out of the disabled C-46 transport aircraft that they were traveling in.

The area where these troops bailed out was in a super-remote jungle near the China-Burmese border.

There was no way for the Army to get to these men and help the injured in a timely manner because of that extremely remote location.

This meant the only way to get these men the attention they badly needed was by parachute drop. Army Lieutenant Colonel Don Fleckinger and two Army Corpsman volunteered for the task.

Once they dropped into the crash area, they tended to the needs of the sick and wounded until a rescue team finally arrived almost a month later.

This event made those in charge of the Army Air Force keenly aware of the immediate need to create a highly specialized rescue force.

The new rescue force would be tasked to quickly get to downed airmen and soldiers in situations like this one.

This laid the foundation for what is known today as an Air Force Pararescueman (PJ).

This Air Force job was officially born as part of the Army Air Corps back in March of 1946.

That makes it older than the Air Force itself (established 1947).

Since that time, “PJs,” “Maroon Berets,” or “Rescue Rangers” as they have been affectionately been called over the years, have been responsible for saving thousands of downed aircrew and soldiers’ lives.

PJ’s are also by far the most decorated enlisted airman of all time.