Soldier aims to pack in fun time with family

Editor’s note: Operation Vacation is a nonprofit, all-volunteer organization based in Glenwood Springs whose purpose is to reunite deserving soldiers with their families on free vacations in Colorado.

Name: Chuck Cavanaugh
Age: 36
Place of birth: Cleveland, Ohio
Branch of the military: 43rd Area Support Group (ASG), Army

When did you join the Army? August of 1990.

Family: Wife Shawnte, daughter Cylee (11 months), son Caden (2 years old), daughter Cierra (10 years old).

Where have you been deployed? All over the place. I have tours to Panama, Cuba, twice to Bosnia, and twice to Iraq. And I just got back from a tour in Afghanistan with the 43rd.

What was your favorite place you’ve been stationed? I would have to say Germany. I did another in Korea, but I would have to say Germany because the country, the people, the food, the way the whole culture and way of life is, is just great there.
What experience in your travels overseas most surprised you? Everywhere I go is something different. Trying to learn the language and the culture is always a great experience. It’s great learning something new.

What do you like to do in your free time? I like to go out and do things outdoors. I love fishing, that is a favorite of mine. But I’m also a volunteer fire fighter for the Fountain Fire Department (Colorado Springs area). That eats up a lot of my free time.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? Anything with flashing lights on it. From a police officer to a tow-truck driver, anything with flashing lights on it and I wanted to do it.

Best piece of advice you’ve ever received: That’s a tough question. I don’t know right now but I’m sure there’s something that my mom drilled into my head.

If you could invite any three individuals in history to dinner, who would you invite, what would you serve, and what would you talk about?
I’d probably choose George Washington because he was a General for the Continental Army and was the first President of the United States. That would be interesting.
I would also have to invite my grandfather, Paul Bruney, who passed away around 1994. But interestingly enough, he joined the Army during World War II, and he was the same ASG as me. He didn’t talk much about it, but now I understand what it was like for him. He was my inspiration for me when I was young. I looked up to him.
I’m not sure who else. Maybe somebody funny like Chris Farley because he was the best comedian around when he was alive. I’ve got to have someone funny.

What’s your most memorable military experience? Every time I deploy is a memorable experience. You’re not with the same group of people all the time. When you deploy with someone you get to know them like a brother or sister. Each deployment is like getting to know a new family. So, the experience and the companionship of friends you meet when deployed is always a memorable experience.

What are you looking forward to doing while in Glenwood Springs? There’s so much to do I don’t know if we’ll get to it all. But we are going to try to go skiing on Saturday. Then my daughter and I are going for an airplane ride tomorrow. And we want to try and hit the Hot Springs Pool and the Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park.