Charles (Charlie) Edward O’Donnell

Charles (Charlie) Edward O’Donnell, age 76, passed away on November 7, 2025, from complications related to exposure to Agent Orange, the deadly defoliant used by the U.S. government during the Vietnam War.

Despite his small frame—Charlie weighed just 115 pounds—he was chosen from his company for one of the most grueling, dangerous, and thankless assignments in the military. Armed only with a small-caliber handgun, he was sent into the narrow tunnels used by the Viet Cong to conceal and transport troops and supplies. His mission was to locate the enemy and capture or eliminate them—a task that would leave lasting effects on his health for the rest of his life.

Though small in stature, Charlie possessed one of the biggest hearts imaginable, a quality that defined his life both in and out of uniform.

After his honorable discharge in 1972, Charlie’s service to others never stopped. He dedicated himself to helping his fellow veterans, working as a Veterans Affairs Disability Claims Processor for 35 years until his retirement in 2004.