Tyler receives challenge coin

ROCKINGHAM — AMVETS Post 316 Chaplain Charlie Tyler was in physical therapy at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in 2003 when then-President George W. Bush visited to hand out presidential coins. Because of this, Tyler didn’t receive his.

On Veterans Day, however, on the front steps of the old Richmond County courthouse, he finally got it.

According to the White House gift shop website: “…[it is] a longstanding military tradition for the President of the United States as Commander in Chief to tuck away a special challenge coin via a secret handshake challenge coin exchange. A challenge coin from the U.S. President is prized among all other coins.”

The coin was presented by Chris Maples — constituent relations manager for Rep.Richard Hudson, R-Concord — during the opening ceremony of Friday’s Veterans Day parade.

“It was a long process that we went through. I went to see Hudson about it,” said Tyler. “I was looking for a presidential coin back when Bush come. So what I ended up getting was one from the congressman, which was good, but it took some time. It didn’t just happen overnight.”

Maples said once he heard Tyler’s story, he began working to make it right.

Part of his job requires working “hand-in-hand” with the Department of Defense and the National Archives to make sure veterans get the medals and other awards they deserve.

“Charlie’s a great guy and there’s a lot more like him,” Maples said. “He’s just one of many Purple Heart recipients around here.”

The first step, he said, was contacting the White House — which didn’t have any challenge coins from the Bush era, or from President Barack Obama.

Maples then got in touch with the George W. Bush Library in Dallas, Texas. He said he sent them Tyler’s story and discharge papers and other necessary documentation and just received the letter back last week.

Tyler served in the U.S. Army altogether for 21 years across three separate tours. He went into the reserves in 1987 and was called up the first time to serve in Operation Desert Storm in 1990-91. After returning home, he headed back overseas in 2000 to Egypt, and then in 2003 was called back up to go to Iraq.

It was there that he was wounded from an IED explosion in Camp Fallujah.

“We had went in for accountability and to refuel for the night, and I was out in the road,” said Tyler.

The truck he was behind took most of the blast, but fragments from the bomb still made their way into Tyler’s leg.

“Only a few fragments went out, but that’s what hit me,” he said. “We were taking fire from down the road. When it was over they asked me what was wrong with my leg, but I didn’t feel nothing. But that’s when they took me to the field hospital before they sent me to Germany.”

Tyler was medically cleared from duty at that point, but actually received a few awards from then Secretary of the Army Les Brownlee.

“Well they didn’t have the paperwork ready, but I ended up getting a coin from him,” said Tyler.

It was after that when the chaplain missed his meeting with Bush at Walter Reed, but like a military veteran, he stayed diligent.

“As far as my Purple Heart and combat badge, it took me over eight years writing this, getting people to verify different things,” Tyler said. “But I finally got it.”