Staff Sgt. Charles Isaac Cartwright

Staff Sgt. Charles Isaac Cartwright, 26, of Oceanside, Calif., and formerly of Union Bridge, died Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009, in the Farah province of Afghanistan.

Born March 23, 1983, in Westminster, he was the son of H. Michael and Carol Ann Cartwright of Union Bridge. He was the husband of Marissa Cartwright, his wife of 11 months.

He was a 2001 graduate of Walkersville High School and joined the U.S. Marine Corps on Sept. 9, 2001, and graduated from Parris Island on Dec. 7, 2001, and the School of Infantry in January 2002.

Staff Sgt. Cartwright was assigned as a member of Marine Special Operations Company A, serving his fifth tour, three previously in Iraq and one in Afghanistan. On Labor Day weekend this year he was wounded in Afghanistan and received his second Purple Heart. He also received the Valor Award during his third tour in Iraq. Other decorations awarded to him were Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, two Combat Action Ribbons, Navy Presidential Unit Citation, Navy Unit Commendation, two Marine Corps Good Conduct Medals, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, two Iraqi Campaign Medals, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, four Sea Service Deployment Ribbons, NATO Medal and two Certificates of Commendation.

He was a member of Johnsville United Methodist Church, Maryland Demolay, Frederick Chapter, where he had achieved the Chevalier status, and the VFW Post 8806, Union Bridge. Charlie enjoyed running, having run the Orange County marathon, as well as having competed in a triathlon. He also enjoyed wrestling, surfing, walking with his wife and their blue tick coon dog, Waylon, on the beach, cooking and having friends over for dinner parties.

Surviving, in addition to his wife and parents, are sister, Rebecca Ann Cartwright of Russell Spring, Ky.; maternal grandmother, Mrs. Ralph G. Eyler Sr., of Prince Frederick; uncles, Ralph G. Eyler Jr. and wife, Judy, of Salida, Colo., and Philip P. Cartwright and wife, Cyndy, of Lexington Park; and four cousins, Catherine Moir and husband, Kenneth, and children Samantha and Luke, Kenneth Eyler and wife, Maria, and children Anthony and Olivia, Suzanne Cartwright-Fiol and husband, Frank, and son Sebastian and Lauren M. Cartwright.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 16, at the Union Bridge Fireman's Building, 8 W. Locust St., Union Bridge. The Rev. Ernest Thayle, his pastor, and the Rev. Richard Michael, pastor of St. James Lutheran Church, Union Bridge, will officiate. The family will receive friends from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 15, at Johnsville United Methodist Church, 11106 Green Valley Road, Union Bridge.

Memorial donations may be made to Wounded Warriors Project, 7020 AC Skinner Parkway, Suite 100, Jacksonville, FL 32256, or Surf Rider Foundation, San Diego Chapter, P.O. Box 1511, Solana Beach, CA 92075. Arrangements are by Hartzler Funeral Home, Union Bridge.

Expressions of sympathy may be made to the family at HartzlerFuneralHome.com.