East Texas

By ASHLIE OSBURN
Staff Writer

CANTON — U.S. Navy Corpsman HM1 Charlie Lee Farmer will deploy in July to serve his fourth tour of duty in Iraq, and his service has not gone unnoticed.

Returning home to his family in Van Zandt County this week, Farmer was welcomed as a hero.

The Van Zandt County Veteran’s Memorial Foundation honored the soldier Monday night for his service to the nation with a police escort from Ben Wheeler, an honor guard salute and a complimentary dinner.

“It’s good to know people are supporting us when we’re over there doing what we need to do,” Farmer said.

He returned from his third tour in October 2007 and is stationed in Yuma, Ariz., where he lives with his wife and three children. With 15 years of service fulfilled, only five years remain until he is eligible for retirement.

When asked how he feels about his fourth deployment to Iraq, he said it was hard but, “That’s my job, so I have to do it.”

Equivalent to a registered nurse as a civilian, Farmer is stationed on the field with Marines and works as a Marine medic, he said.

“When they get hurt, we patch them up,” Farmer said.

Farmer’s family said that, as with past deployments, anxiousness for an e-mail or phone call to reassure them of his safety remains strong for his upcoming tour.

During his career he has earned multiple awards, including Combat Action Iraqi Campaign medals, Global War of Terrorism Expeditionary and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.

Dozens of supporters greeted Farmer with cheering and a sea of waving American flags at Ranchero restaurant in Canton on Monday.

“It’s for my son and for all the boys and young ladies that come through here,” said Robert Farmer, Charlie’s father and Vietnam Veteran, of Ben Wheeler. “We don’t want them to be forgotten, not like I was.”

Following the outdoor welcoming, supporters attended a program dedicated to Farmer’s service, where the city of Canton and Van Zandt County proclaimed June 23 as Charlie Lee Farmer Day. The Daughters of the American Revolution also presented him with an official document stating gratitude for freedom preserved through his act of military service.

“We started this program so we could make heroes out of heroes,” said Van Zandt County Memorial Chairman — Red Montgomery.

After the program, individual supporters tearfully voiced their appreciation of Farmer’s contribution to the ongoing war on terrorism.

Speaking humbly, Farmer thanked supporters and gave words of encouragement to other soldiers facing foreign enemies and lengthy deployments.

“You have to keep going, you joined for a reason, so you do what you have to do and keep going,” Farmer said.

Charlie Lee Farmer, a U.S. Navy Corpsman, and his son, Mark, 4, attend a welcome home party held in his honor on Monday in Canton. Van Zandt County Judge Rhita Koches (right) spoke at the event and presented Farmer with a plaque.
(Staff Photo By Mark Roberts)