– as family, friends, army colleagues bid final farewell

DEFINED as an ordinary man who did extraordinary things, Lieutenant Colonel Michael Charles was on Wednesday remembered as a humble patriot who lived to serve and loved his people and country.
Charles, 61, tragically lost his life in a devastating accident when the Bell 412 helicopter he was operating crashed last week in the jungle of Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), resulting in severe burns to his body.

At his residence in Hyde Park, Timehri, hundreds gathered to pay their final respects to the aviation and military mogul.
Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, President Dr. Irfaan Ali; Brigadier (Ret’d), Mark Phillips and Guyana Defence Force Chief of Staff Omar Khan, joined family members at the emotional ceremony.

Lieutenant Colonel Michael Charles, best known to many as Mike Charles and Uncle Mike, died tragically last Wednesday along with four other senior servicemen.
Charles, the pilot, was flying a high-level team to the country’s western borders to visit troops stationed there.

During the past few weeks, military presence had been multiplied at that location due to Venezuela’s escalated aggression in the ongoing border controversy with Guyana.
“Things that feel difficult and challenging there was always a solution. When we deployed our Air Corps, Lieutenant Colonel Charles was always there, with a solution,” Army Chief, Omar Khan said.

“He was always willing to go on any mission… I recall his common term, chief, not a problem,” Khan added, while sharing fonder memories of his colleague.
Charles, he said, had an adventurous spirit and shared many memories of his flights across Guyana through his photography and videography.

His love for the country was displayed through this.
Mike Charles served as an officer for 29 years before retiring in 2010.
“He was a part of a senior team, he was a part of the major decision-making of the force. He was full of life, he lived to serve this nation.”

HE FLEW SERVICE IN MIND
Meanwhile in a heartfelt tribute, President Ali, said: “Mike Charles is a legend …Mike Charles is no ordinary Guyanese, Mike Charles is a legend of a Guyanese.”
Charles returned to service in 2011 and dedicated his years of service to the air corps.
During many flights across Guyana’s hinterland, forests and mountainous terrains, Charles shared many of his adventures with Guyanese through his lens

“Mike did not just fly, he flew for country…I had a report on the conservancy, I had a report on the conservancy dam, I had a report on every sea defence structure that [he] would pass, I had a report on the water levels, wherever it was, I would have a report on the savannahs, every time he flew, he flew with service in mind.”

The President noted that he considered Mike Charles a brother and admired his valour for people and humility.
“He did ordinary things in extraordinary ways, due to his commitment to duty and his great love for people and his country. I knew Michael Charles personally, I consider him as a brother.I admired his commitment to duty, but most of all I was touched by his great love for humanity and country for which both he and I were born.”

“Michael possessed an extraordinary ability to engage [in] effortless conversations with total strangers making everyone feel as though they were long-time acquaintances. Upon first meeting Mike you could have been deceived that you have met him before…he approached people without preconceived judgements, never attempting to evaluate them before initiation [of] dialogue,” he added.

“The sounds and colours of the rainforest,” a piece recently produced by Charles, was said to be one of the best works in which he captured Guyana’s vast, unexplored forest.
To celebrate both Mike and his work, President Ali said a tribute will be mounted on the walls of the National Museum.

“My cherished friend. I will carry you in my heart always Mike. May your spirit soar like an eagle and look down on us…thank you Mike for your service,” the Commander in Chief said in final farewell to his friend.
In one final flight, Charles’ remains were flown to the Promenade Gardens, Georgetown, following a church service at the Timehri Nazarene Church.

His casket was draped in the Golden Arrowhead, Guyana’s national flag, in a show of respect and gratitude for his selfless service and sacrifice.
A military parade later chaperoned Charles to the memorial gardens where he was cremated.

Mike Charles joined the military back in 1981 at the age of 18.
In the earlier days of his career, he served in the Firstst Infantry Battalion as a Platoon Commander. He later ventured into aviation in 1984, joining the air corps.

His training in aviation included commercial pilot Certification in China, Bell 412 Helicopter refresher course in Barbados, Helicopter instrument in Aruba, Bell 412 Pilot training, and Bell 206 helicopter ground and flight training in the United States of America.
Charles was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in 2021.