Corporal Charles was a member of the 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. He was seriously wounded by the enemy in North Korea on 6 March 1953 and returned to duty on 21 March 1953. He was Killed in Action while fighting the enemy in North Korea on 23 March 1953.

Charles was awarded the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.