In Memoriam: Navy Cmdr. Charles Keith Springle
Navy Cmdr. Charles Keith Springle. Photo courtesy of MSNBC.
The JDNews in North Carolina ran this item on the posthumous memorial service for Navy Cmdr. Charles Keith Springle. Springle was one of the first Navy social workers deployed to the coalition battle zone and was awarded Uniformed Services Social Worker of the Year in November. He died in May in a shooting incident at Camp Liberty in Baghdad.
UPDATE 12/16/2009: Camp Lejeune opens mental health training center named in honor of Springle. To learn more, check out an Eyewitness News 9 news article and video clip by clicking here.
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As we approach the giving season, please keep in mind that Keith’s family and friends have established the Charles Keith Springle, Ph.D. Memorial Scholarship Fund to support military-dependent students in the Masters of Social Work program at the University of North Carolina School of Social Work, who are committed to work with military families, or who have an interest in providing mental health care for veterans and their families.
Contributions may be made to the UNC School of Social Work (payee), c/o UNC School of Social Work Development Office, 325 Pittsboro St., Campus Box 3550, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3550.
Contact: Mary Beth Hernandez, 919-962-6469, marybeth@email.unc.edu
And thank you for remembering Keith and his work.
I worked down the hall from Keith while he was working at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany. He was a dedicated professional and a gifted social worker. I have to say that it was an honor to have known him. He is truly missed.
Cmdr. Springle had been the Director of the Community Counseling Center at Camp Lejeune. My own opportunity to get to know him was rather limited. Yet, when the Deployment Health Center went to a 3 day training together with the Community Counseling Center, I got a chance to know Cmdr. Springle a bit. He was was warm and personable. He was well spoken, intelligent and a leader. He was a tribute to our profession.
When Retired Navy Capt Vince Arnold came to my office to let me know the tragic news about his loss, I felt like I had been kicked in the gut. I was shocked and saddened by the loss of a man
I barely knew.
So glad Navy Cmdr. Charles Keith Springle is being remembered. He leaves a loving family and friends as well as Social Workers who feel the loss of a fellow caring professional.
On 15 Dec 2009, The Charles K Springle Counseling Services Training Center opened aboard Camp Lejeune. This is a most befitting tribute to Cmdr Springle’s knowledge, compassion, courage and sacrifice. His memory will continue as a source of inspirtation and pride to all mental health providers.
E. A. Wahrburg, MSW, LCSW (NC, NY)