Operation Purple Pride Headlines
- Operation Purple Pride welcomes personal diaries or journals, photos, quick news updates about you and other classmates serving in Afghanistan or Iraq.
- Nursing soldiers and cheerleading Rachel Engler ('05) took on the challenges of the U.S. Navy, nursing and the Washington Redskins
- Supporting U.S. troops from the air Jeffrey Cretz ('03) serves second deployment in Middle East
- Second tour in Iraq feels right U.S. Army officer and ROTC program graduate Jeffrey Farmer ('88) takes major changes in stride
- Helping make Baghdad a safer place JMU ROTC graduate Capt. Dan Hodermarsky ('03) keeps HQ vehicles in top shape
- No clowning around for this Navy 'bozo' Aviator David Hunter "Bozo" Bankart ('99) takes pride in giving back
- Hobby turns into career Brennan Sweeney ('97) enjoys the art of aviation
- Baghdad, family crisis and intercultural cooperation Eric Johnson ('95) reports on the first days of Operation Iraqi Freedom with Task Force Tarawa Marines
- Different perspectives Will Schiek ('87) leads more than 500 U.S. soldiers providing logistics, security and communications for their Iraqi counterparts
- A service-oriented life Joe Clem ('89) provides medical support in Baghdad
- Rebuilding Iraq Civil Affairs officer Maj. Patrick Creed ('93) works with Iraqis to rebuild a nation
- Serving with JAG Corps in Iraq Lt. Col. Michael McWright ('85) with the Army's Judge Advocate General's Corps
- Bringing democracy to the Afghani people and airwaves Maj. Patrick Kerr ('90) with Task Force Lightning
- Securing Baghdad's west side Capt. Shawn Harper ('97) reports on duty in Iraq
- Learning to fly Black Hawks Former JMU recruiter Lt. Kenny Ward ('03) now in 82nd Aviation Brigade
- A brief hello to fellow Dukes Lt. Col. Don Mosman ('85) reports from Iraq
- JMU's award-winning ROTC program Program repeatedly ranked in the top five percent in the nation.
- Maj. Mitchell Bell ('88) rescues injured Marines Marine reservist serves in Al Taqaddum, Iraq
- 1st Lt. James Sheasley ('02) cheers on the Dukes Purple, gold and green for this Marine
- Supporting the global war on terrorism Charles May ('83) is serving in Naval Criminal Investigative Service
- Coming home Iraqi war veteran returns to JMU ROTC
- Warhorn History: Lt. Col. Laurie Moe Buckhout's ('84) Operation Iraqi Freedom diary
- MREs for 200,000? Army food service director Lt. Col. Don Vtipil ('84) serves three tours in Iraq and Afghanistan
- A Blackhawk pilot's view of Operation Iraqi Freedom A journal entry by Major Donald R. Nitti ('88)
Supporting the global war on terrorism
Charles T. May Jr. ('83) is serving in Naval Criminal Investigative Service
Charles T. May Jr. ('83) came to JMU with one concrete goal in mind -- to become a civilian special agent with a law enforcement agency.
Charles May ('83) at left is assistant special agent in charge at the Naval Criminal Investigative Service.
After completing JMU's ROTC program and graduating with degrees in communication arts and political science, May went on to officers' basic training in Augusta, Ga., and was commissioned as a second lieutenant. In November 1983, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service offered him a job, and he has been an agent with them ever since.
May is currently assistant special agent in charge for the Criminal Investigation Task Force. The CITF, a division of the U.S. Department of Defense, conducts criminal investigations in support of the global war on terrorism. As ASAC, May "manages supervisors who manage the investigative work of 10 to 15 special agents in six different units regarding the individuals in the 9/11 terrorist attacks."
Conducting criminal investigations overseas
While May currently works at the CITF headquarters in Fort Belvoir, Va., he did spend some time overseas conducting criminal investigations. In the mid-80s to early-90s, May was stationed in Guam, Papua New Guinea, Hawaii and mainland Japan. "Being assigned with other criminal investigators allowed us to be close and engage in different cultures and broaden our horizons," he says. "My overseas experiences were favorable because of the personal and professional contacts established and the fact that my family got to experience something new and different."
As a criminal investigator, May has supervised and worked thousands of criminal investigations in every major criminal category over the last twenty years. He says he truly enjoys his job. "The number one aspect of my job is the professionals that I work with," he says. "The best experience is being able to work with so many individuals who bring their skills to the job all for the common goal of trying to bring the terrorists to justice."
Charles May ('83) with his family
A proud member of the Duke Club
Although May leads quite a busy life, he still finds time to support the university as a proud member of the Duke Club. May has a soft spot for JMU athletics -- he was a varsity athlete for four years. As a freshman, May was offered a full scholarship to play football for the university and served as team captain for two of his four years on the team. In 1982, he received the "Motivator" award for making the most significant plays that season. In his senior year, he received the Bob Yetzer award as the most valuable senior player and leader.
May looks back fondly on his education and experiences at JMU. "Madison allowed me to make some of my dreams come true both personally and professionally," he says.