Col Charles A. Bonasera: Age 64

Col Charles A. Bonasera served 37 years in the AL Army National Guard. His Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) included: (1) Military Police Officer, (2) Quartermaster Officer, (3) Infantry Officer and (3) Aviation Officer. He received the following medals, decorations, badges, commendations, citations and campaign ribbons: Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with one Bronze Oak Leaf, Army Commendation Ribbon with One Oak Leaf, Army Achievement Ribbon, National Guard Achievement Ribbon with one Oak Leaf Cluster, National Defense Service Ribbon with one Bronze Star, Afghanistan Campaign Ribbon, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Ribbon, Global War on Terrorism Service Ribbon, the Humanitarian Service Ribbon, the Army Armed Forces Reserve Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Army Overseas Service Ribbon, Army Reserve Component Overseas Training Ribbon, the NATO Ribbon, the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, the Veterans Service Medal of AL, the National Emergency Service of AL with the 911 Clasp, the Faithful Service Medal of AL with one Saint Andrews Cross, the Active Duty Basic Training Medal, the Senior Army Aviator Badge and the Combat Infantryman Badge.

Col Bonasera was born September 13, 1960 to his parents, Louis and Ann Bonasera, in Birmingham, AL, and he was reared there and in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he graduated from Garinger High School in May 1978. He attended Central Piedmont Community College for one year, and he graduated from the University of Alabama in 1994 with a B.S Degree in Business Administration in May 1994.

His military service began when he volunteered and enlisted in the AL National Guard on September 15, 1980 at Birmingham, AL. He completed eight weeks of Basic Training at the Army base at Ft McClellan, AL. He served as an Army MP there for two years. He then served with the 167th Com Support Command (COSCOM) in Birmingham, AL, in 1982. He served as an enlisted person for over three years. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant at the Alabama Military Academy at the Officer School at Ft. McClellan, AL, June 12, 1983. He then began his 34 years and three months serving as an officer. First, during June 1983 to December 1983, he served with the 167th Support Command as the Executive Officer in Birmingham. During December 1983 to January 1986, he served as the Training, Advising and Counseling Officer (TAC) Officer at the Alabama Military Academy. During 1984-1985, he attended the Rotary Wing Flight School at Ft. Rucker, AL, becoming a helicopter pilot. He returned to Birmingham to serve with the AL National Guard. His service began with Company E 131st Aviation (AVIM). Then he served in the following positions: 1. The Executive Officer of Headquarters and Headquarters Command (HW HHC) 167th Combat Service Support Command ( 2. Tactical Officer of the AL Military Academy, 3. Plt Leader of Company E 131st Aviation (AVIM), 4. Commander 445th Aviation Company, 5. Commander 1133rd Aerial Medical Evacuation Company, 6. S3/ Operations Officer, 1-131rd Assault Aviation Battalion, 7. Battalion Commander, 1-131st Assault Aviation Battalion during September 2001-March 2004. 8. Chief, Combat Tactical Advisor, Ghazni, Afghanistan, 9. Brigade Commander, 131st Aviation Regiment, 10. State Army Aviation Officer, Joint Forces Headquarters—AL, and 11. Team Chief, Senior Combat Logistics Advisor to the Afghan National Army (ANA), Helmand, Afghanistan. His military career included service at Ft. McClellan, AL, USAR School in Birmingham, AL, Ft. Rucker, Montgomery, AL, Mobile, AL, Ft. Eustis, VA, Cullman, AL, USAR, Hattisburg, MS, Carlisle Barracks, PA, Colorada Springs, CO and Ft. Polk, LA. While serving in the military, he received a Masters Degree in Strategic Studies from the US Army War College at Carlisle Barracks, PA, in 2004. Col Bonasera retired from military service March 30, 2018. His military career encompassed leadership, crisis action planning, budgeting, training, management, process improvement, scheduling, critical thinking, team building, problem solving, mentoring and negotiation.

After his military retirement, Col Bonasera worked for one year for DynCorp, a private military contractor specializing in aviation, logistics, training and intelligence solutions. He then worked as the JROTC instructor at Stanhope High School, AL, for five years retiring in June 2024.

Col Bonasera and his wife, Jimette, have been married 21 years, and they have eight children and seven grandchildren. He has held membership in the Army National Guard Officer Association, National Youth Sports Coaches Association and the Army Aviation Association of America. He is a member of the New Home Baptist Church at Titus, AL, where he teaches Sunday School for grades one through six.

Col Bonasera’s conclusion about what his military service means to him are: “It gave me a life that I could not have had. It was a great equalizer. My service in the Alabama Army National Guard and to my nation as I now look back has provided my family and me great opportunity, I wouldn’t change a thing. I believe there is no greater endeavor than service to one's nation" He states. “I would like to be remembered as a good person who loves the Lord, was a good husband and was a good father to his kids. I would do it all over again.”