Killed in Iraq, Local Sailor Charles O. Sare, Remembered

Caption for first photo: Charles Sare's mother, Vikki Carver, clutches the flag from her son's casket at San Jacinto Valley Cemetery. Frank Bellino / The Press-Enterprise

Through tears, friends, family remember smiles

FUNERAL: They focus on the happiness Charles "Otter" Sare spread as much as his Iraq service.

10:23 PM PST on Thursday, November 2, 2006

By JAMIE AYALA
The Press-Enterprise

HEMET - It was a tearful goodbye Thursday for Navy Corpsman Charles Otto Sare, 23, a young man who generated countless smiles during his lifetime.

Family, friends, colleagues and supporters recalled Sare's infectious smile, compassion and friendliness during funeral services at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Hemet. Sare died Oct. 23 in Iraq when an explosive device struck his vehicle. He is the fourth Hemet High School alumnus killed in Iraq.

A procession, led by Sare's modified Toyota, traveled to the San Jacinto Valley Cemetery, where his family received his Purple Heart medal. Dignitaries including Rep. Mary Bono, R-Palm Springs, joined the mourners, as did law-enforcement representatives from Temecula to Ontario.

"He was known by many and loved by all," LeeAnn Jones said, looking past Sare's casket draped by an American flag into a group of about 500 people.

Known by the nickname "Otter," the Hemet native strived to make others happy. He once took a dozen roses to a friend who was upset, but he would not give them to her until she had promised to smile.

Though broken-hearted, Sare's mother, Vikki Carver, of Nibley, Utah, said she wanted to talk about her son.

"I hope that through my eyes, you will fall in love again with a remarkable man," she said before sharing several memories.

Some of her stories prompted chuckles, including one about a trip to Sea World, where the family visited the sea otter tank. Otter said, "Look, Mom, my cousins."

He once locked his brother, Matt Sare, in the rabbit cage and told his mother with a smile that he didn't know how Matt could have gotten there.

Otter lived life to the fullest, taking others on his adventures as often as he could, friends and family said.

He taught his mother how to snowboard. When he fixed up his truck, he let others help.

Friend Brad St. James, 22, said there was never a dull moment. Sometimes the two would get stuck while driving in the riverbed or would drive without having a destination.

Bishop Wayne Minor, who officiated, said Otter must be saying in heaven, "Wow, what a ride."

"His willingness to get the most out of life is an example for all of us," Minor said.

Sare enlisted in the Navy in 2004. He was attached to a U.S. Marine Corps division and ultimately wanted to become a paramedic firefighter. Debbie Young Sorbello, Sare's godmother, said he never had any doubts about entering the service. In September, he was deployed from his station in Port Hueneme to Iraq.

Carver said the quote "A hero is someone who could have taken the easier road, but chose not to" fits her son best.

© 2006, The Press-Enterprise Company