Charles flew and was killed in a B-17 bomber during World War II. He was killed while shooting the tail gun turret of the plane one month before his 19th birthday.

Charles had a movie star aura and personality that made him a favorite of so many.

Charles has always been the hero of his entire family. As a Jewish man, he understood that he was fighting for more than his country. He was also fighting for his family and his faith. Members of his family, including his own mother, were able to escape Lithuania before the Nazi regime took control. His faith was important to him. One of the pilots who was in the plane when he was killed found his mother and told her how he was reciting a prayer after being shot. This prayer, The Shema, is the watchword of the Jewish faith and is supposed to be said as you are about to die.