[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 6055]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           CHARLES A. HELTON

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. SHELLEY MOORE CAPITO

                            of west virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 21, 2010

  Mrs. CAPITO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Senior Chief 
Hospital Corpsman, Charles A. Helton, as he retires from the Navy.
  On November 28, 1983, at the age of 18, Charles enlisted in the Navy. 
He became among the first in the country to enlist in the Sea-Air 
Mariner (SAM) Program, which is geared towards high-school, vocational-
tech, and college students and allows young men and women to join the 
Navy without serving extended periods of active duty. Based out of 
Great Lakes, IL, Charles reported for basic training and on February 
24, 1984, graduated. He would report directly to Hospital Corpsman 
``A'' school, where he was taught principles and techniques of patient 
care and first aid procedures. Upon graduating from ``A'' school on 
June 4, 1984, Charles returned to Naval Reserve Center Huntington 
(NRCHUNT) where he served along side his step father, Norris Troney, 
and long time friend throughout his Navy career, John Clay.
  It was October of 1998 when Charles was called to active duty for 
Operation Desert Shield/Storm. He would serve at Naval Hospital 
Portsmouth, VA, working at Manpower Management Personnel Office 
assisting members with Reserve issues during deployment until June 4, 
1999. He returned to Naval Reserve Center Huntington where he would 
serve until it was decommissioned on February 12, 2006. Charles has 
spent the last four years at the Navy Operational Support Center in 
Eleanor, WV.
  Charles A. Helton, son of John R. Helton and Pamela Troney, plans on 
retiring to Hurricane, WV, with his wife, Carla S. Helton, and their 
two daughters, Kelly and Christy. He is currently employed with the 
Federal Highway Administration in Charleston, WV as an Information 
Technology Specialist. I would like to thank Charles for his dedication 
and service to our country from such an early age. Although a native of 
Chicago, IL, Charles has spent the majority of his career in West 
Virginia and has represented our state so well. I wish you the best of 
luck.

                          ____________________