Charles F. Ard, 85 of Cantonment went to be with his Lord and Saviour on December 18, 2008 after an extended illness.
Charles was born November 8, 1923 in Bay Springs, Fl to the late Jesse Frank Ard and Mary Indiana and has been a life long resident of Cantonment.
He took gracious pride in being a veteran and was proud that he served as a U. S. Marine in WWII, serving his country in all of the ways that was required of him.
To all that knew him he leaves behind an abundance of memories especially to his sister Dollie who was his rock during his years of illness and to his brother who shared his love of farm animals and the sale pen on Saturdays.
He was preceded in death by his first wife of 43 yrs. Margie and granddaughter, Janet Lee Henderson and his second wife of 8 yrs. Gladys Ard.
He is survived by his daughters, Brenda (Skeeter) Henderson of Alabama, Kathy Crawley,Delores Hagler of Shreveport, La.; 6 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren and 4 great great grandchildren; brothers, Benjamin (Francis) Ard, Walter (Edna) Ard, Edward Ard,Willie (Bonnie) Ard; sisters, Rose Capps of Floral City, Fl., Laura Ard, Dollie (Gerald) Byrd, and a host of nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be 3pm Sunday at Faith Chapel North-Cantonment. Interment will follow at Cottage Hill Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home one hour prior to the time of service.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North in charge of arrangements.
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Navy Cross CitationThe President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Corporal Charles F. Ard (MCSN: 457124), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty while serving as a Tank-Dozer Commander of the First Tank Battalion, FIRST Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands, 14 June 1945.
Wounded by an enemy sniper while constructing a tank by-pass over a stream with a tank-bulldozer in hostile territory, Corporal Ard refused to be evacuated and ordered one of the crew to bandage his wound and administer morphine.
Disregarding continued hostile mortar and machine-gun fire, he supervised the completion of the by-pass, which gave combat tanks entrance to strongly-fortified Japanese positions, and later, as friendly troops attacked these positions, covered them by fire from his tank-bulldozer.
After completing his mission, Corporal Ard dismounted from his vehicle while under heavy hostile mortar and small-arms fire to evacuate six wounded infantrymen from the field and then carried them in his bulldozer to the safety of an aid station. Only then did he allow himself to be treated and evacuated.
By his outstanding courage and determination under fire, Corporal Ard contributed materially to the successful completion of the attack, and his devotion to duty was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Charles was born November 8, 1923 in Bay Springs, Fl to the late Jesse Frank Ard and Mary Indiana and has been a life long resident of Cantonment.
He took gracious pride in being a veteran and was proud that he served as a U. S. Marine in WWII, serving his country in all of the ways that was required of him.
To all that knew him he leaves behind an abundance of memories especially to his sister Dollie who was his rock during his years of illness and to his brother who shared his love of farm animals and the sale pen on Saturdays.
He was preceded in death by his first wife of 43 yrs. Margie and granddaughter, Janet Lee Henderson and his second wife of 8 yrs. Gladys Ard.
He is survived by his daughters, Brenda (Skeeter) Henderson of Alabama, Kathy Crawley,Delores Hagler of Shreveport, La.; 6 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren and 4 great great grandchildren; brothers, Benjamin (Francis) Ard, Walter (Edna) Ard, Edward Ard,Willie (Bonnie) Ard; sisters, Rose Capps of Floral City, Fl., Laura Ard, Dollie (Gerald) Byrd, and a host of nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be 3pm Sunday at Faith Chapel North-Cantonment. Interment will follow at Cottage Hill Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home one hour prior to the time of service.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North in charge of arrangements.
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Navy Cross CitationThe President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Corporal Charles F. Ard (MCSN: 457124), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty while serving as a Tank-Dozer Commander of the First Tank Battalion, FIRST Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands, 14 June 1945.
Wounded by an enemy sniper while constructing a tank by-pass over a stream with a tank-bulldozer in hostile territory, Corporal Ard refused to be evacuated and ordered one of the crew to bandage his wound and administer morphine.
Disregarding continued hostile mortar and machine-gun fire, he supervised the completion of the by-pass, which gave combat tanks entrance to strongly-fortified Japanese positions, and later, as friendly troops attacked these positions, covered them by fire from his tank-bulldozer.
After completing his mission, Corporal Ard dismounted from his vehicle while under heavy hostile mortar and small-arms fire to evacuate six wounded infantrymen from the field and then carried them in his bulldozer to the safety of an aid station. Only then did he allow himself to be treated and evacuated.
By his outstanding courage and determination under fire, Corporal Ard contributed materially to the successful completion of the attack, and his devotion to duty was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Charles F. Ard, 85 of Cantonment went to be with his Lord and Saviour on December 18, 2008 after an extended illness.
Charles was born November 8, 1923 in Bay Springs, Fl to the late Jesse Frank Ard and Mary Indiana and has been a life long resident of Cantonment.
He took gracious pride in being a veteran and was proud that he served as a U. S. Marine in WWII, serving his country in all of the ways that was required of him.
To all that knew him he leaves behind an abundance of memories especially to his sister Dollie who was his rock during his years of illness and to his brother who shared his love of farm animals and the sale pen on Saturdays.
He was preceded in death by his first wife of 43 yrs. Margie and granddaughter, Janet Lee Henderson and his second wife of 8 yrs. Gladys Ard.
He is survived by his daughters, Brenda (Skeeter) Henderson of Alabama, Kathy Crawley,Delores Hagler of Shreveport, La.; 6 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren and 4 great great grandchildren; brothers, Benjamin (Francis) Ard, Walter (Edna) Ard, Edward Ard,Willie (Bonnie) Ard; sisters, Rose Capps of Floral City, Fl., Laura Ard, Dollie (Gerald) Byrd, and a host of nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be 3pm Sunday at Faith Chapel North-Cantonment. Interment will follow at Cottage Hill Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home one hour prior to the time of service.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North in charge of arrangements.
----------
Navy Cross CitationThe President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Corporal Charles F. Ard (MCSN: 457124), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty while serving as a Tank-Dozer Commander of the First Tank Battalion, FIRST Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands, 14 June 1945.
Wounded by an enemy sniper while constructing a tank by-pass over a stream with a tank-bulldozer in hostile territory, Corporal Ard refused to be evacuated and ordered one of the crew to bandage his wound and administer morphine.
Disregarding continued hostile mortar and machine-gun fire, he supervised the completion of the by-pass, which gave combat tanks entrance to strongly-fortified Japanese positions, and later, as friendly troops attacked these positions, covered them by fire from his tank-bulldozer.
After completing his mission, Corporal Ard dismounted from his vehicle while under heavy hostile mortar and small-arms fire to evacuate six wounded infantrymen from the field and then carried them in his bulldozer to the safety of an aid station. Only then did he allow himself to be treated and evacuated.
By his outstanding courage and determination under fire, Corporal Ard contributed materially to the successful completion of the attack, and his devotion to duty was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Charles was born November 8, 1923 in Bay Springs, Fl to the late Jesse Frank Ard and Mary Indiana and has been a life long resident of Cantonment.
He took gracious pride in being a veteran and was proud that he served as a U. S. Marine in WWII, serving his country in all of the ways that was required of him.
To all that knew him he leaves behind an abundance of memories especially to his sister Dollie who was his rock during his years of illness and to his brother who shared his love of farm animals and the sale pen on Saturdays.
He was preceded in death by his first wife of 43 yrs. Margie and granddaughter, Janet Lee Henderson and his second wife of 8 yrs. Gladys Ard.
He is survived by his daughters, Brenda (Skeeter) Henderson of Alabama, Kathy Crawley,Delores Hagler of Shreveport, La.; 6 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren and 4 great great grandchildren; brothers, Benjamin (Francis) Ard, Walter (Edna) Ard, Edward Ard,Willie (Bonnie) Ard; sisters, Rose Capps of Floral City, Fl., Laura Ard, Dollie (Gerald) Byrd, and a host of nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be 3pm Sunday at Faith Chapel North-Cantonment. Interment will follow at Cottage Hill Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home one hour prior to the time of service.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North in charge of arrangements.
----------
Navy Cross CitationThe President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Corporal Charles F. Ard (MCSN: 457124), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty while serving as a Tank-Dozer Commander of the First Tank Battalion, FIRST Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands, 14 June 1945.
Wounded by an enemy sniper while constructing a tank by-pass over a stream with a tank-bulldozer in hostile territory, Corporal Ard refused to be evacuated and ordered one of the crew to bandage his wound and administer morphine.
Disregarding continued hostile mortar and machine-gun fire, he supervised the completion of the by-pass, which gave combat tanks entrance to strongly-fortified Japanese positions, and later, as friendly troops attacked these positions, covered them by fire from his tank-bulldozer.
After completing his mission, Corporal Ard dismounted from his vehicle while under heavy hostile mortar and small-arms fire to evacuate six wounded infantrymen from the field and then carried them in his bulldozer to the safety of an aid station. Only then did he allow himself to be treated and evacuated.
By his outstanding courage and determination under fire, Corporal Ard contributed materially to the successful completion of the attack, and his devotion to duty was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
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