Lt. Col. Charles D. McNerney II, USA, Ret., 75, of Midland, Texas, passed away Sunday, April 24, 2011. A Memorial ceremony will be held at 3:00 p.m., Monday, May 2, 2011, at St. Stephen’s Catholic Church in Midland. Final internment ceremonies with full military honors, will be conducted at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA, under the direction of the 3rd Infantry Division, America’s “Old Guard.” “Charlie” served in the United States Army for twenty-two years, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1979, in Washington, D.C. He began his military career in the Minnesota National Guard in St. Paul, Minnesota, and graduated from the Citadel, the Military College of South Carolina, in 1957. His military service included assignments in Kansas, Oklahoma, New Jersey, Virginia, South Carolina, and Rhode Island-where he attended the Naval War College-and overseas assignments in Germany from 1959-1962, Iran from 1973-1975, Vietnam in 1965, and Laos from 1970-1971. In Laos, he was known affectionately as the “Mayor of Vientiane,” the Lao provincial capital, and when visiting his favorite local haunt, the establishment band would respectfully break out in “O Danny Boy,” a favorite tune of Charlie’s. His decorations included the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star with oak leaf cluster, the Air Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, and Army Commendation Medal. He was awarded U.S. Army Europe Master Gunner as an M-60 main battle tank commander. He was additionally the recipient of the Royal Laos Commendation Medal. A consummate patriot, Charlie continued to honor his country and fellow veterans as an active regular at American Legion Post #19 in Midland. He also particularly treasured his regular visits with the Friday crowd at Murray’s Pub in Midland, a group with whom he faithfully gathered for friendship and conversation. Charlie repeatedly and enthusiastically shared his love of his adopted home in West Texas, which he extolled as the best place he had ever lived. Charlie was preceded in death by his first wife of 37 years, Mary Elizabeth (Attwater) McNerney, who is interred at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA. Charlie moved to Midland in 1996 after marrying Nancy Brown McNerney, who survives him and remains in Midland. He is also survived by three sons, Charles Dutton, III and spouse, Paula, and grandson, Charles D. McNerney, IV of Derry, PA, Nathan Stewart McNerney and wife, Susan of Poynette, WI, and son, Brian Cole McNerney and wife, Sarah, of Austin, TX. Additionally, grandson Derek McNerney, Stewart’s son, is a Sergeant in the U.S. Army awaiting (his second) deployment to Iraq and is stationed at Fort Hood, TX; Brian and Sarah’s daughters Angela and Megan both reside and work in Austin, TX, and son Brendan attends Texas State University in San Marcos, TX. Additionally, Charlie is survived by wife Nancy’s son, Robert White, of Arlington, TX, and daughter, Robyn Winslett, of Midland, TX. Robyn’s daughter, Callie, currently attending North Texas State University in Denton, TX, is embraced as Charlie and Nancy’s granddaughter. In July 2010, the entire family convened in Midland to celebrate Charlie’s 75th birthday. To celebrate, Charlie, grandson Derek, and son Stewart, all participated in throwing the first pitch at the July 4th Midland Rockhounds baseball game. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Lone Star Sanctuary for Animals, 4200 N. Fairgrounds Rd., Midland, TX 79705, or the Disabled American Veterans. Donations may be made by mail to Disabled American Veterans, P. O. Box 14301, Cincinnati, OH 45250; online: www.dav.org or by phone at 1-877-426-2838. Memorial Services are under the direction of Lewallen-Garcia-Pipkin Funeral Home. Family messages and condolences may be emailed to [email protected]. TAGS: 1957
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