WATERVLIET ARSENAL, N.Y. (May 21, 2015) -- Through the more than 200 years the Arsenal has been in existence, countless transformations have taken place that have radically changed the Arsenal's product lines, processes, and more importantly, its people.
Today's Arsenal is no longer the 12-acre plot of land that once packed ammunition cartridges for the War of 1812, nor is it the manufacturing center where more than 9,000 workers once toiled to provide critical weapons to our nation's troops during World War II.
But what the Arsenal remains to be today is a place where men and women can learn or nurture a skill, provide a good middle-class living to their family, and if they make it a career, leave here one day a better person than when they arrived.
After more than 30 years of dedicated service here, Charles "Chuck" Nobles is such a man.
During Chuck's tenure here, he professes that he went from an angry boxer to a preacher. But more importantly, Chuck says that he has truly grown to love the Arsenal and his team in public works.
"I served in the U.S. Marine Corps in the early 1970s as a tool and die maker," Chuck said. "Although the Marine Corps toughened me, I took my toughness to another level as I began boxing at Camp Lejeune and then in Okinawa."
Chuck said that boxing provided a release from stress, as well as helped him to focus his life toward better outcomes. Considering that he boxed against some very tough Marines, such as Leon Spinks, the former heavy weight champion of the world, it may amaze Chuck's fellow Marines to see him today as a soft-spoken, kind and gentle person.
After his discharge from the Marines, Chuck leveraged his experience as a tool and die maker to land a job as a machine tool operator at the Arsenal. After a few years, Chuck once again leveraged his machining skills to better himself by being accepted into the Arsenal's apprenticeship program.
But once again his love for boxing called and he left the Arsenal to restart his boxing career in California. After a few years, Chuck said that it became clear to him that his love for boxing did not at the end of the day put food on the table. And so, as a much more humble person, Chuck reapplied for work at the Arsenal.
"I thought the Arsenal would hold it against me for leaving," Chuck said. "But what I found was a very forgiving Arsenal in that I was allowed to come back even though there weren't any machining jobs available."
In 1989, Chuck was rehired as an air conditioning and refrigeration mechanic for public works and for the last 27 years, Chuck has made a reputation as one of the most helpful and positive influences on the Arsenal.
Despite his devotion to the Arsenal, Chuck found his true calling in 2000 when he attained a degree in Theology from the Mid-Hudson Bible Institute in Poughkeepsie, N.Y.
"Through the years, I have become a much more compassionate person who simply wants to help people more," Chuck said. "As an example, I have leveraged my education and passion in theology to support prison ministries throughout the state."
In that role, Chuck said that he ministers on behalf of the Wilborn Temple Church in Albany to prisoners who do not get visits very often. He also helps prisoners write letters to family and friends. During holidays, he said that he often brings gifts to prisoners, an expense that is not reimbursed by his church.
Given Chuck's calling in ministry, it helps explain to all who know him as to why this giant of a man is such a kind and generous person who would do anything for anyone here.
According to Karen Heiser, the Arsenal's Chief of Quality Systems and who has known Chuck for nearly 30 years, Chuck's strength of character makes him one of the strongest, as well as the most gentle men on post.
Although Chuck has no plans to leave anytime soon, suffice it say that many here would agree that Chuck is truly worthy of being the Arsenal's Face of Strength for this month.
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