Page 50 - Amarillo Senior Link Magazine Fall 2021 - Online Magazine
P. 50
Charles SoRelle
A Life Full of Stories
by Jelaine Workman
There were assignment. He volunteered in
education tests, response to a notice requesting
aptitude tests, someone with driving experience
physical tests, and and a driver’s license. He was
endurance tests to assigned to a bar close by as
screen and cull for Shore Patrol, which is the Navy’s
the next phase of Military Police. He was to drive
training. the drunk sailors back to base.
After being told He was soon assigned the aircraft
that the flight mechanic and flight duty that
training program he had signed up for when he
was full, Charles arrived at Patuxent River NAS.
settled for He was assigned to the Service
aircraft mechanic Test area to keep the airplanes
school. To obtain flying, every hour possible, day
his training to or night, seven days a week.
maintain aircraft, After several months, Charles
he went to the was informed that he was being
Naval Aircraft transferred to the Bainbridge
Technical Training U.S. Naval Separation Center
Center at Norman, for Discharge to Inactive Naval
OK for 21 weeks. Reserve Status. After gathering
Flight crew status his meager belongings, he drove
required aircraft to Bainbridge, MD to receive his
ith military service mechanics to be honorable discharge on July 27,
in mind, Charles aerial gunners also, manning a 1946.
Wapplied for the U.S. twin 50 cal. machine gun turret. In the winter of 1949, Charles
Navy Flight School. He passed After his training in Norman, he and his father were flying over
the necessary tests in Dallas went to Aerial Gunnery School Pierre, SD to check on cattle in a
and, at 17 and with his parents’ in Purcell, OK to learn to shoot snow blizzard. The flight ended
permission, volunteered into the at moving targets. He was next in a horrible accident, landing
Navy and was promptly sent to assigned for operational training both Charles and his father in
Millington, TN to the Memphis in Corpus Christi, TX aboard a the hospital with life threatening
Naval Air Station for boot camp PBM twin engine flying boat, injuries. He remembers nothing
in November of 1944. a Martin Mariner, which was a
large and tall sea plane. Training of the wreck. Charles was in
Boot camp was not what came to a halt after atomic bombs a coma for several days, and
Charles expected, with its detonated over Hiroshima and when he awoke, he was told
disciplined physical training, Nagasaki, bringing Japan to its that his mother and brother, Bill,
marching maneuvers, surprise knees and forcing a surrender. had taken his father’s body to
night assemblies and lots of The War was over. Amarillo for his funeral.
underwater survival training Charles later learned that he
and lifesaving exercises, but After several adventures, Charles had walked to a farmhouse, and
Charles found it challenging headed to his new assignment at the residents there called for
and fun. Time was filled with Patuxent River Naval Air Station. emergency responders. Charles
physical stress by no-nonsense, On base, there were more than had numerous injuries, including
drill instructor military trainers. 100 men waiting for a job or duty
loss of teeth, a crushed cheek
50 Amarillo Senior Link
