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Army Sgt. Charles Wyckoff, who was buried today at Arlington National Cemetery, always managed to stay out of trouble growing up in Chula Vista, Calif.
"He was the good one," his aunt, Tina Perez, told the San Diego Union-Tribune. "All of our nephews were in prison. He never got into gangs, he never got into drugs."
Wyckoff was also the first member of his family to graduate from college. He earned a degree in aeronautical science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Arizona.
"He was a winner in our family," his aunt told the Union-Tribune.
Caption: Sgt. Charles E. Wyckoff poses before the U.S. flag in this photo courtesy of the 82nd Airborne Division.
Wyckoff joined the Army to go to flight school but ended up going to Afghanistan as an infantry sergeant. He talked to his mother less than a month ago.
"He said, 'Mom, I'm getting scared, the war is getting worse,'" his mother, Sylvia Wyckoff, told the Union-Tribune.
On May 30, Wyckoff exited a helicopter just before it lifted off and was shot down. All seven on board were killed. One week later he was fatally wounded by small arms fire while on patrol in Helmand Province in southern Afghanistan.
Hand-in-hand, his widow, Erika, and his two small stepchildren, Joshua and Alexandra, led the procession of mourners to today's graveside service.
"He was a man you could lean on, depend on, and trust," Erika said in a statement.
Wyckoff, 28, was the 335th casualty of the war in Afghanistan. Another 3,513 Americans have died in Iraq.
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had the pleasure of knowing him. his name happens to be the same hometown i grew up in back in jersey. i want to emphasize that these comments are to celebrate the life of one of the greatest of my generation and not forum for political diatribes (i.e. Amanda from Ridgewood). swing that chemlight for me when i hit the drop zone, charlie.
Michael Kennedy Imrich, Wyckoff, New Jersey (Sent Jun 24, 2007 6:19:25 PM)
My hart bleeds and I feel sad about the parents of sgt. Wyckoff .God bless.
Andy Uzunhasan, Fountain valley,Ca (Sent Jun 22, 2007 7:45:22 PM)
The family of Sgt. Wyckoff is in my prayers. Sgt. Wyckoff was doing something he believed in. He is a hero! Our brave soldiers are fighting to protect us, our country and the rights that we as Americans sometimes take for granted. Never forget the soldiers, and their families, who endure the ultimate sacrifice for our country.
Please leave politics out of these postings as this is not the time nor place. As the aunt of Pfc. Joseph Anzack, Jr., I can assure you that your political comments do nothing but cause additional pain for the fallen soldier's family.
Dawn Ayers, Redondo Beach, CA (Sent Jun 21, 2007 1:53:58 AM)
Charlie was a great guy and a great friend. We all at 1/508 will miss him greatly.
Tyler Harrell Afghanistan (Sent Jun 19, 2007 9:43:56 AM)
I have been in Iraq for two full years now, and unfortunately a lot of other great soldiers like SGT Wyckoff have also paid the ultimate price for freedom; and to protect our country from terrorists; and there will be other sacrifices to make before this is over. I will be going home in 20 days (hopefully for good). God speed to those I leave behind.
Tom, Taji, Iraq (Sent Jun 18, 2007 5:12:04 AM)
The hidden cost to losing all these good people is the time it is going to take to attract quality people to our military. These forays into places we don't need to be are going to end up leaving us in a less that ready defense posture for years.
Michael - West Haven, CT (Sent Jun 16, 2007 9:20:26 AM)
My heart goes out to his family. Sgt. Wyckoff was taken from Earth much too soon.
Stephanie Umbro, Maine (Sent Jun 15, 2007 4:32:28 PM)
As if the world couldn't get any sadder...
I will try to remember the name Army Sgt. Charles Wyckoff because honoring him is the only thing we can do for his family now, inadequate as it seems in return for his service. Thank you, John Rutherford, for sharing this story.
Joan M, St. Louis (Sent Jun 15, 2007 3:48:23 PM)
Thank you for sharing these heroes stories. It must be incredibly difficult to attend so many burials at Arlington. Americans need to know about each and every one of these heroes.
Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld --- let me guess, all too busy to attend.
Amanda - Ridgewood, Nj (Sent Jun 15, 2007 2:23:34 PM)
We just can't afford to lose any more of these wonderful citizens and soldiers. The United States needs good people like Sgt. Wyckoff, and more importantly, his family needed him and now must bury him instead. How horribly sad for them and for all of us!
(Sent Jun 15, 2007 2:07:36 PM)
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