FORT CAVAZOS, Texas - Charles Henderson, medical evaluation board officer, CRDAMC, and retired Sgt. 1st Class, was awarded a certificate for 35 years of government service in a ceremony at the Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center 1 Feb.
Henderson retired from the Army after serving 22 years of service as a track vehicle mechanic, worked as a security specialist for the hospital for one year, and has served as a medical evaluations board officer for the past 15 years.
He enjoys helping fellow Soldiers receive support from the many different programs offered to them to make a successful transition out of the military and into a civilian life.
Henderson chose to be a mechanic because it would be a good civilian job to transition into but wasn’t aware of the tough lifestyle ahead.
“As a track vehicle mechanic, I was in the field for the first 12 years of my military career, but being from Alabama that didn’t bother me, because I’m an outdoors person,” Henderson said.
Throughout his career he had his share of assignments with many combat units on military posts in the U.S. and Europe, and deployed for Desert Storm and to Afghanistan twice.
He met his wife Dawn in Hinesville Georgia, who is also a veteran, and they were dual military until his retirement.
 
The day of the awards ceremony marked a special day for them both.
“This is amazing, I got this award today on our son’s Christian’s 27th birthday,’’ said Henderson. “There is nothing that I could have done without Christ. Everywhere I went through, he was there and has taken me through these 35 years.”
Henderson added that he enjoys still getting the chance to take care of Soldiers and helping them transition successfully out of the military to a civilian life is a joy. 
He recommends all Soldiers take advantage of going through the Soldier for Life – Transition Assistance Program and all of the other workshops offered, because it will allow them to see what options are available to them and to choose what they want to do in the civilian sector.