Kalas Funeral Home & Crematory

St. Paul United Methodist Church

Arlington National Cemetery

COL (Ret.) Charles Edward “Charlie” Fields was born on January 29, 1930 to the late Thomas E. Fields Sr., and Emma Jennings Fields.  He departed this life on January 22, 2019.  Born in Hampton, South Carolina, Colonel Fields was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Chemical Corps in 1952 upon graduation from City College of New York with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemistry.  A graduate of the Army Command and General Staff College, he held a Master of Science Degree in Contract and Acquisition Management from the Florida Institute of Technology.

Charles held a variety of increasingly advanced positions in nuclear, biological, and chemical defense, technical intelligence, material acquisition management, advanced weapons, and education and training during his career.  Stateside, he served as Clinical Lab Officer and Biochemist at the Army Chemical Center; Commander of the 17th Chemical Detachment; instructor at the Command and General Staff College; Project Management Officer at Headquarters, Army Material Command; Chief of Staff and Director of Training Development at the Army Ordnance and Chemical Center and School; and Dean of Systems Acquisitions Management Education at the Defense Systems Management College.  His Overseas assignments in Germany, Korea and Vietnam include tours as Commander of the 275th Chemical Detachment, Chemical Officer of the 3rd Infantry Division, and Chief of the NBC Defense element of the 7th Army Training Center in Germany.  Chemical Officer, II Field Forces in Vietnam.  The Bronze Star Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, The Defense and Army Meritorious Service Medals, the Air Medal and the Army Commendation Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters are among the decorations that he received. Colonel Fields retired from the United States Army as Chief of the US Army Armament Research and Development Command (ARRADCOM) Chemical Program and Nuclear/Chemical Surety Office with more than 30 years of dedicated service to his country. Charles was also a gifted athletes and was inducted into the City College of NY Hall of Fame for holding a 55-year high-jump record. He was a master craftsman and loved gardening.

Charles is predeceased by his parents. Siblings, Thomas Fields II, William H. Fields, Nella Morgan, James Fields, and Phillip Fields. 

He leaves to cherish his memory his wife of 64 years Irene Wright Fields of Charleston, South Carolina.  Children, Charles E. Fields II, Thomas E. Fields III, Karen E. Fields, Alan E. Fields, and Kirk E. Fields.  Siblings, Julius Fields, and Myrna D. Youmans. Grandchildren, Lateef Brier, Antilla Zulkifl, April Fields, Janice Fields, Angelique Defilipo, Charles E. Fields III, Rad Zulkifl, Uriel Zulkifl, Kalyn Zulkifl, and Elena Zulkifl. Great-Grandchildren, Ava Mitchell and Alaina Manning.  A host loving nieces, nephews, and cousins.

A viewing will take place at St. Paul United Methodist Church in Oxon Hill, MD on Friday, February 1, 2019 from 11 am until the time of Funeral Service at 12 noon.

Interment at Arlington National Cemetery on Monday, June 3, 2019 at 1 p.m. Please meet at the Administration Building at 12:15 p.m. that afternoon.  

COL (Ret.) Charles Edward Fields

COL (Ret.) Charles Edward Fields

COL (Ret.) Charles Fields Services

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