Courtesy Photo Sgt. Charles Isaac Cartwright

A visitation and funeral service for Sgt. Charles Isaac Cartwright, 26, are scheduled for Sunday and Monday. The visitation will be Sunday at Johnsville United Methodist Church. The funeral will be Monday at the Union Bridge Fire Hall.

Cartwright graduated from Walkersville High School in 2001. Arrangements were being made this week for faculty to attend the funeral, said Walkersville High Latin instructor Lynne Price.

"I got the word (in an e-mail) on Monday at the high school," Price said. "I just sat at my computer and didn't know what to do. I was too shocked to cry."

On Wednesday morning the school observed a moment of silence for Cartwright, Price said. She taught Cartwright when he was a sophomore and junior.

"He wasn't a great Latin student," she said.

Still, in her 40-plus years of teaching, she seldom met a student who could brighten a room with just a smile the way he could.

"I can close my eyes and see that smile," she said. "He'd cock his head and smile. You would forgive him for being a little ornery. "

Price said she is truly heartbroken for him, his wife and his family. Cartwright was the son of H. Michael and Carol Ann Cartwright of Union Bridge. He married his wife, Marissa, 11 months ago.

After enlisting as an 18-year-old, Cartwright trained in reconnaissance. He went on to serve tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan and won a total of four service deployment ribbons, according to Capital News Service. He was promoted to sergeant on Aug. 1, 2006, and joined the 1st Marine Special Operations Battalion based at Camp Pendleton, Calif. Because of the base's location on the Pacific Ocean, he was able to take up surfing as a hobby.

Cartwright enjoyed running. He ran in the Orange County Marathon and competed in a triathlon, according to his obituary that appears on page A-9. He also enjoyed wrestling, surfing, walking on the beach with his wife and their blue tick coon dog, Waylon, cooking and having friends over for dinner parties.

In Frederick County, Cartwright is being remembered for his strong personality.

"It comes home. It hits you in the eyes when it is someone you know," Price said. "I believe Charlie is with God. I'm sure he will be waiting to give me grief. He'll cock his head like he used to do and say, 'Oh, I'll do better next time.'"

Former Babe Ruth coach Robert Renner said Cartwright was catcher for the Woodsboro team for three years. Cartwright, even at age 11, was determined, Renner said. "He wanted to make sure he did good."

He also had a stubborn streak, Renner said.

Renner remembered telling Charlie to throw the catcher's mask behind him. Charlie would grab the mask from his head and throw it straight up.

"It came down one day and hit him right in the head," Renner said.

The game stopped when Charlie cut his head, Renner said. It needed stitches.

His dad took Charlie aside after that and told him he couldn't believe what he did, Renner said.

"You know some kids, their minds wander. Charlie used to goof off," Renner said. "His dad would make him pay attention."

Cartwright, who joined the Marines on Sept. 10, 2001, died on Nov. 7 while serving with the 1st Marine Special Operations Battalion. He earned at least 22 awards during his service, including two Purple Hearts and two Combat Action Ribbons. He, along with the rest of his unit, also earned a Navy Presidential Unit Citation for extraordinary heroism while under enemy fire.

Visitation hours are from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday at the church, 11106 Green Valley Road. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the fire hall, 8 W. Locust St., both in Union Bridge.

After the service, a Marine Corps honor guard will fire a three-volley salute and present Cartwright's wife and father with folded American flags, two key parts of a traditional military funeral. Cartwright will be cremated after the funeral Monday.