Laura Young
ECB Publishing, Inc.
World War II Navy Veteran Charlie Reichert celebrated his 101st birthday this summer and, while mindful of the heat, is enjoying an active life on the same family farm where he grew up with five siblings.
Born to Samuel A. and Mary E. Davis Reichert on July 11, 1925, he recalls a mostly uneventful boyhood “same as everybody else” – a time when travel took place by mule-drawn wagon and he peddled boiled peanuts on the street corner (in friendly competition with the Fulford brothers) to earn pocket change. When he was around 10 years old, his father quit farming corn, watermelons and peanuts to work as a barber instead.
At the local high school, Reichert played the sousaphone, a brass musical instrument in the tuba family. The United States had entered World War II in 1941, and a few weeks after Reichert graduated with his Class of 1943, he enlisted in the Navy.
He trained to be a fire controlman, who “took care of the aiming the big guns on ships” as he describes it. Instead of taking on that role, however, Reichert was assigned to the repair shop that keeps electrical systems on ships in good working order. For 18 months he served aboard the USS Dobbin in the Pacific Theater of World War II – from New Guinea to the Philippines.
After honorable discharge, he worked at a service station on East Washington Street then used some back leave pay from the Navy to move to Jacksonville. There he worked for most of the next 40 years at various jobs but primarily as a clerk in the Jacksonville Post Office. He married twice and had two sons and two daughters. He retired at age 56, and in 1987 moved back to Monticello.
Reichert has filled his many years with many interests. For example, he enjoyed woodworking for twenty years, making finely crafted furniture for his country home and for other people.
“The secret to my long life? Stay active!” he says.
Although he's not as busy as he once was, he still is involved in maintaining his acreage.
“I can still run a chain saw,” he points out, “and I can still run that tractor out there.”
He's attends the First Methodist Church, has been active with American Legion Post 49 for 43 years and holds membership in Sons of the Confederate Veterans. The Florida Sheriffs Association recently honored him as a five-star member for more than 50 years of support for the organization and their Youth Ranches.
Several years ago, Reichert was honored with a Dream Flight in the WWII-era Boeing Stearman biplane “Yellow Peril.” He annually shows his support when Florida Run for the Fallen comes through town, and he is always an honored guest at commemoration ceremonies held at the Boots Thomas Memorial in Monticello.
Monticello is privileged to have Reichert as an esteemed member of the community!
IN THE FEATURED PHOTO: Monticello resident Charlie Reichert turned 101 on July 11. ECB Publishing, Inc. Photo by Laura Young, July 29. 2026