Lucky Bag Yearbook

From the 1963 Lucky Bag:

CHARLES WELDON MARIK

Hailing from St. Louis, Chuck entered Missouri University on a Naval R.O.T.C. scholarship upon graduation from Coyle High. Forced to drop out of that program because of health, Chuck joined the Navy in May of ‘58. Shortly thereafter, he won an appointment to NAPS and the Naval Academy. Once here, Chuck’s likable personality and enthusiasm quickly marked him as a leader. Although never an academic “slash,” Chuck worked hard and managed to keep a very respectable average as well as participating in such extracurricular activities as WRNV, the German Club, and various hop committees. In athletics, his main interest was gymnastics and he soon became a stalwart member of the varsity squad. In addition, he was a valuable asset to the company sport squads he managed to find time for. All in all, his many and varied attributes mark him as a man bound to succeed in his chosen career in the Marine Corps.

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He was also a member of the 1st Battalion staff (fall).

Loss

Charles was killed in action on June 25, 1966 when his A-6A Intruder was shot down by anti-aircraft fire during an attack on the Hoi Thuong Barracks in coastal North Vietnam. He and the pilot ejected, but while the pilot was rescued from the South China Sea no trace of Charles was ever found. He was at LT(jg) at the time; he was promoted to LCDR while in a missing status. He was a member of Attack Squadron (VA) 65, flying from USS Constellation (CV 64). (Information from the now-defunct usna63.org)

Other Information

From the October 1973 issue of Shipmate:

LCdr. Charles Weldon Marik, USN, was presumed killed in action 15 May 1973, after having been missing in action since 24 June 1966. A memorial fund in his name has been set up at St. Bruno’s Catholic Church in Dousman, Wisconsin and a memorial marker has been set up in Arlington National Cemetery.

Upon graduation from the Naval Academy in 1963, LCdr. Marik was assigned to the ship’s company in the Roosevelt. He then reported to pre-flight school in Pensacola, Fla., and because of his eyes, went into the NAO Program which led him from Pensacola to Navigation School at Sanford, Fla. Upon completion of school there, he reported to VA 42, the A6-A training squadron at Oceana, Va. He was assigned to VA 65 which was in the process of transitioning to A6’s.

In April 1966, VA 65 was deployed in the Constellation to WestPac. On 24 June 1966 LCdr. Marik’s A6 was hit by ground fire while on a bombing mission near Vihn. They managed to get the plane over water before ejection, both with good chutes. The pilot, LCdr. Richard Weber, was rescued, but there was no sign of LCdr. Marik. He was not among the returning POW’s.

LCdr. Marik is survived by his widow, Margaret, Box 175, Dousman, WI 53118; and a son, Steven Scott.

Charles has a memory marker in Arlington National Cemetery.

Photographs

From the October 1973 issue of _Shipmate_.

Remembrances

From Wall of Faces:

Charles was my mother’s cousin and I have been looking for information for him. This is the first time I have seen a picture of him. I have always thought of him, especially after I joined the Air Force.

Charles your family misses you and loves you very much.

Your ever loving cousin, MAURA MARIK WANE, 1/29/03

Charlie and I worked together for three years during HS, at Greenbriar Hills CC, here in Kirkwood. He was the caddymaster and I ran the refreshment stand. We had many good times together after work. We went to different high schools (he to Eugene Coyle here in Kirkwood and I to Christian Brothers College HS in Clayton) and he was a year older - but we “doubled” a number of times. We lost track after he graduated - it was only in 2014 that I found him via a Google search. Sad. TOM MAHER - KIRKWOOD, MO, 5/27/15

From Steve Coester ‘63 via email on December 15, 2019:

Chuck Marik was another guy from the St. Louis suburbs, but he attended Catholic high school so I didn’t know him either. At USNA he was a great guy. Very easy going and I liked him a lot. Didn’t know him well but what I saw was impressive.