My name is Darryl “Chuck” Charles II. I was born June 13, 1990 in Springfield, Massachusetts. My father, Darryl Charles Sr., served in the Marine Corps for 24 years and my mother, Minda Bowers, worked in a Casino in Las Vegas. Due to my father being in the military, I was raised by my grandmother in Massachusetts until the age of eight. From there, I lived with my mother in Las Vegas, Nevada until I was 14. Then I lived with my father in San Diego, California until I was 18, when I joined the military.
I joined the Marine Corps in December 2008. I served 5 years in the military. After the completion of boot camp and the School of Infantry, I was assigned to 3rd Battalion 7th Marines Kilo Company Weapons Platoon in Twenty-nine Palms, California. During the length of my enlistment I served two tours in Sangin, Afghanistan.
In October, 2011, during my second deployment, I was involved in an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast in Sangin, Afghanistan resulting in the loss of my right leg above the knee. My experiences in combat and becoming a casualty of war have brought about many obstacles in my life. Even though my physical injuries are the most noticeable, those obstacles were easier to overcome compared to the mental and non-visible injuries I have sustained. Even with these obstacles dealt with on a daily basis, I don’t let them interfere with my quality of life. If anything, I feel that scars are the marks that push us to greatness and I work to not only better myself, but help those around me to grow and succeed in any goals that they pursue. I spent two years recovering at the Naval Medical Center San Diego Balboa. Upon completing a majority of my recovery at the Naval Medical Center, I was Honorably Discharged from the Marine Corps in 2013. Currently, I am a student at Southwestern Community College working to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Sciences.
If I had to choose any trait that I admire about myself, I would have to say my sense of humor. Laughter and making others laugh has helped me get through some of the most difficult times in my life and continues to help me get through day to day life.
If I could choose any superpower I would want to be able to run at supersonic speed. With this superpower I would be able to go anywhere and back in no time at all.