Chuck Sacavage has an easy time recalling his most memorable experience as a Marine, “I was leading a convoy from Kuwait into Iraq during the initial invasion of Iraq in 2003. I was a 22-year old 2nd Lt responsible for over 100 Marines in the convoy. While we weren’t the lead element of the Battalion, there was no one in front of us – it became very real, very quick.”Chuck first joined the Marines as an engineering student at Villanova University. Growing up, I remember reading about the actions our forefathers took to establish this country and those that fought to protect it. I can recall seeing veterans within the community and being impressed by what they had accomplished in their lives and how they carried themselves. I wanted to be a part of that.”
After his service in the Marines, he went into civilian life as a civil engineer. However, he missed the camaraderie of the military. So when he moved to Hampden Township, he joined the Pennsylvania Air National Guard. He is now a major in the Guard’s 201st RED HORSE Squadron, a highly mobile civil engineer response force.
Sacavage at the entrance of the RH compound in Kandahar. The unit in Afghanistan is known as the 809 RHS, while collective, this unit and the unit in Iraq all fall under the 1st Expeditionary RED HORSE group.
Chuck acknowledges that his time in the service was not without its challenges. The long separations from his wife Krystle, the missed weddings, holidays and other life events, the stress of combat. However, he knows it was worth the sacrifice. He also hopes to partner with the Hampden Township Veterans Recognition Committee to ensure his comrades past, present and future are honored for their service.
“My desire to work with the HTVRC stems from my gratitude to those who have come before me and may not have had the same support I’ve been blessed have had throughout my military career,” he explains.