African American, H&S Company, Alaska Highway. B: 1919, Savannah, GA. D: unknown. Enlisted into the Army on 14 Oct 1941, Baltimore, MD. Education: one year of college. Civil Occupation: porter.
He was raised as an orphan, but with one year of college under his belt he was equipped to learn a technical skill. He happened to be doing free hand sketching and the operations officer saw his talent. He was assigned to the 93rd H&S Company as a draftsman.
While stationed at Camp Livingston, LA., General Davis after an inspection, encouraged Charles to apply to OCS. He and George Owens had difficulty getting an application to OCS. He was accepted and eventually promoted to Captain.
Gardner shipped out with the 93rd to Skagway, Alaska in 1942 and he and Owens spent six months working on the highway before shipped back to the states to attend OCS.
Charles and his friends in the 93rd went fishing for salmon in the shallows of the Teslin River in Alaska using their rifles- no fishing pole needed.
Serial # 33068376