The Borough Flags are lowered at this time in honor of former President Jimmy Carter – and now they are also lowered to honor a Swedesboro hero, First Sergeant Charles Wells.

It is with great sadness that we must report that we have lost First Sergeant Charles Wells this week. Charlie and his wife Patricia are residents of Swedesboro and have two children, Stephen and Kimberly, and five grandchildren. Charles most recently has given back to our community as a member of the Swedesboro/Woolwich Joint Environmental Commission.

It seems as though we often forget about the extraordinary men and women who live in our town of Swedesboro. We see them and interact with them on a regular basis without really thinking about the contributions and sacrifices they have made to our Country, State and Town. Charlie Wells is one of those extraordinary people and we appreciate his service and will miss him tremendously.

First Sergeant Charles Wells led an amazing life serving our country around the world and finishing his career with the State of NJ.

Charles joined the United States Army in February 1965 as a Communication Specialist with the Army Security Agency (ASA). During his service with ASA, Charles was stationed at Clark AFB, Philippines and Tan Son Nhut AFB, Vietnam. Charles left the Army in January 1968 and re-enlisted in the Army Reserves in September 1977.

From 1977 to 1992, Charles served with the 304th Civil Affairs Group located in Northeast Philadelphia. During that period, he served as the Communications NCOIC, Law and Public Safety NCOIC, and the HHD First Sergeant. In 1990, the unit was activated and served in Desert Shield and Desert Storm. During Desert Storm, Charles served as the NCOIC of Khobar Towers, a housing complex near Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, and King Abdulaziz Air Base; that housed approximately 44,000 US Troops.

From September 1992 to August of 1998, Charles served with the 404th Civil Affairs BN (FID/UW) (ABN) located first in Trenton, New Jersey, and then Fort Dix, New Jersey. While with the 404th, he served as the Detachment Sergeant of “Charlie and Alpha” Detachments. During this time frame, he was deployed to Germany, Albania, and Italy with members of 10th Special Force Group (ABN) and the Air Forces’ 52nd Medical Group (MDSS), Spangdahlem Air Force Base, Germany.

From August of 1998 thru July of 2001, Charles was assigned to a 3rd Bn CA/5th Bde, 98th Division (IT) a Civil Affairs Training Unit (John F. Kennedy Special Warfare School, Fort Bragg, NC) in Edison, New Jersey, as a Senior Instructor Course Writer. In July, 2001, he was promoted to First Sergeant and assigned to 2/309th TSB at Fort Dix. Charles retired from the Army in October, 2005.

Charles’ Military awards, include, among others, the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service medal, the Army Commendation Medal with 2 OL, the Army Achievement Medal, w/11 OL, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, w/ 2 bronze stars, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Southwest Asia Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal, and the Kuwait Medal for the liberation of Kuwait.

Charles was employed by the State of New Jersey from 1984 to 2011. He was assigned to the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement as an Agent/Investigator (1984/1993) and the Division of Criminal Justice as a Police Detective (1993/2011). Charles retired from the State of New Jersey with 27 years of service in November 2011.

Charles Wells has been a member of the VFW since 1991. He became a “Life Member-At-Large” in 2004, and a member of Harrison/Woolwich VFW Post 10886, District 13, Gloucester County, New Jersey, in April of 2014. Charles became the Commander of Post 10886 in April of 2015. He was the current NJ District 13 Chaplain (2019 to present) and served as the VFW Department of New Jersey State Chaplain (2021 – 2023).

The Borough of Swedesboro expresses our sincere condolences to the Wells family and to Charlie’s extended family at VFW Post 10886. God Bless you First Sergeant Wells.