University of Oklahoma Athletics
Deployed OU Doc Speaks to SoonerSports.tv
November 11, 2014 | Athletics
Mention Veteran's Day to many folks and, unless they have had a family member or friend serve in one of the United States military branches, the response might be related to the things that are closed in observance of the federal holiday. Mention it to student-athletes and coaches of several University of Oklahoma athletics teams, department staff and administrators and it's likely the first thing that will come to their mind is our own veteran, Dr. Charles Pasque.
Dr. Pasque, who would normally be teaching at the OU Health Sciences Center where he is an associate professor in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Rehabilitation and providing orthopedic coverage for the Sooners who compete in volleyball, tennis, track and field, baseball, softball and gymnastics, left in August for Kandahar, Afghanistan. He will be deployed for eight months.
Dr. Pasque has served with the U.S. Navy for 21 years, four years of active duty and 17 years as a reservist. His current deployment is his third overseas, his first in Afghanistan. He has previously served in Haiti and in Germany.
The deployment to Germany occurred in 2006 when he was stationed at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany. He served in Germany for one year, working as the orthopedic surgeon for soldiers who had been injured in Iraq as well as providing orthopedic coverage for the 20,000 military families in Germany. His current deployment has him stationed at a large NATO hospital as a combat orthopedic surgeon.
In addition to being missed by the Sooners, Dr. Pasque's wife, Tammy, and their six children are anxious to see the good doctor return home. Their oldest son, Cooper (26), is married to Hailey and they live in Lynchburg, Va., and he is currently completing applications to dental school. Following his father into the military, Kyle (23) is a U.S. Marine stationed at Camp Lejeune, N.C. Colin (20) is a student-athlete as a pole vaulter at Southern Nazarene University and is a pre-med major. Kurt (17) is a senior and Amy (16) is a junior at Norman High School and both participate in cross country. Hannah (8) is a second grader at Monroe Elementary School.
According to his wife, the sacrifice is a challenge but it is one that she makes with help from friends and family. “Charlie has always admired people in the military and what they stand for in our country. He loves taking care of them. We both strongly believe that our home base needs to be a strong and secure environment. My children and our extended family motivate me to stay focused when Charlie is gone and my relationship with God empowers me.”
A competitive sort in certain situations, Dr. Pasque, as a Navy officer, is one of the recipients of the U.S. Army's prestigious expert field medical badge, an honor he received seven years ago.
Sooner Sports TV caught up with Dr. Pasque between shifts in Kandahar. As a coalition NATO base, the Veteran's Day observances also include Armistice Day observances for the British and Australian troops and military staff.
From the Sooner family to Dr. Pasque and his family, we are proud to salute you as our veteran on this Veteran's Day and we look forward to your return to our sidelines and training rooms.
