Chuck Holton
Encyclopedia
Chuck Holton is an American war correspondent
for the Christian Broadcasting Network
, published author, and motivational speaker. He has also been a freelance cameraman for Fox news, following Oliver North
on his travels.
. At age 17 Holton joined the United States Army
, shipping off to basic training at Fort Benning
, Georgia. Holton is a graduate of both Airborne School
and Ranger School
, graduating Ranger class 3-89. Holton went on to attend Jumpmaster School, Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Warfare School and Assault Climber school, and was later an instructor at the United States Military Academy
at Camp Buckner. Holton was deployed to Panama for Operation Just Cause, where he served as a team leader. He served four years with the 75th Ranger Regiment.
After four years of active duty, Holton joined the Wisconsin Army National guard, where he received training as a helicopter mechanic and eventually became trained as an Aeroscout Observer, flying the Bell OH-58 Kiowa Helicopter. His awards and decorations include the Army Service Ribbon
, Good Conduct Medal
, National Defense Service Medal
, Army Commendation Medal, Senior Parachutist Badge, Ranger tab
, Expert Infantryman Badge
,and Combat Infantryman Badge
.
since 2003. His dispatches and articles appear on CBN's site, and he also maintains a blog entitled "Boots on the Ground", where he discusses issues related to the wars in the Middle East and troop morale.
with his wife and five children.
War correspondent
A war correspondent is a journalist who covers stories firsthand from a war zone. In the 19th century they were also called Special Correspondents.-Methods:...
for the Christian Broadcasting Network
Christian Broadcasting Network
The Christian Broadcasting Network, or CBN, is a fundamentalist Christian television broadcasting network in the United States. Its headquarters and main studios are in Virginia Beach, Virginia.-Background:...
, published author, and motivational speaker. He has also been a freelance cameraman for Fox news, following Oliver North
Oliver North
Oliver Laurence North is a retired U.S. Marine Corps officer, political commentator, host of War Stories with Oliver North on Fox News Channel, a military historian, and a New York Times best-selling author....
on his travels.
Early life and military career
Holton was born in 1969 in Carson City, NevadaNevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
. At age 17 Holton joined the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
, shipping off to basic training at Fort Benning
Fort Benning
Fort Benning is a United States Army post located southeast of the city of Columbus in Muscogee and Chattahoochee counties in Georgia and Russell County, Alabama...
, Georgia. Holton is a graduate of both Airborne School
United States Army Airborne School
The United States Army Airborne School — widely known as Jump School — conducts the basic paratrooper training for the United States armed forces. It is operated by the 1st Battalion , 507th Infantry, United States Army Infantry School, Fort Benning, Georgia...
and Ranger School
Ranger School
The United States Army Ranger School is an intense 61-day combat leadership course oriented towards small-unit tactics. It has been called the "toughest combat course in the world" and "is the most physically and mentally demanding leadership school the Army has to offer". The course is conducted...
, graduating Ranger class 3-89. Holton went on to attend Jumpmaster School, Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Warfare School and Assault Climber school, and was later an instructor at the United States Military Academy
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
at Camp Buckner. Holton was deployed to Panama for Operation Just Cause, where he served as a team leader. He served four years with the 75th Ranger Regiment.
After four years of active duty, Holton joined the Wisconsin Army National guard, where he received training as a helicopter mechanic and eventually became trained as an Aeroscout Observer, flying the Bell OH-58 Kiowa Helicopter. His awards and decorations include the Army Service Ribbon
Army Service Ribbon
The Army Service Ribbon is a military decoration of the United States Army that was established by the Secretary of the Army on 10 April 1981 as announced in Department of the Army General Order 15, dated 10 October 1990....
, Good Conduct Medal
Good Conduct Medal
The Good Conduct Medal is one of the oldest military awards of the United States military. The Navy Good Conduct Medal was first issued in 1869, followed by a Marine version in 1896. The Coast Guard Good Conduct Medal was issued in 1923 and the Army Good Conduct Medal in 1941. The Air Force was...
, National Defense Service Medal
National Defense Service Medal
The National Defense Service Medal is a military service medal of the United States military originally commissioned by President Dwight D. Eisenhower...
, Army Commendation Medal, Senior Parachutist Badge, Ranger tab
Ranger Tab
The Ranger Tab is a service school military decoration of the United States Army signifying completion of the 61-day long Ranger School course in small-unit infantry combat tactics in woodland, mountain, and swamp operations. In December 2009 a British NCO earned the Ranger tab...
, Expert Infantryman Badge
Expert Infantryman Badge
The Expert Infantryman Badge, or EIB, is a military badge of the United States Army. Although similar in name and appearance to the Combat Infantryman Badge , it is a completely different award: while the CIB is awarded for participation in ground combat, the EIB is presented for completion of a...
,and Combat Infantryman Badge
Combat Infantryman Badge
The Combat Infantryman Badge is the U.S. Army combat service recognition decoration awarded to soldiers—enlisted men and officers holding colonel rank or below, who personally fought in active ground combat while an assigned member of either an infantry or a Special Forces unit, of brigade size...
.
Published Works
Holton is the author of seven books:- Stories From a Soldier's Heart: For the Patriotic Soul, 2003, ISBN 1590523075
- A More Elite Soldier: Pursuing a Life of Purpose, 2003, ISBN 159052215X
- Bulletproof, the Making of an Invincible Mind, 2005, ISBN 1590523989
- Allah's Fire (Task Force Valor Series #1), 2006, ISBN 1590524055
- Island Inferno (Task Force Valor Series #2), 2007, ISBN 1590525035
- Meltdown (Task Force Valor Series #3), 2009, ISBN 1590525609
- Making Men - Five Steps to Growing Up, 2011, ISBN 100615544398
Book collaborations
He has also collaborated with Oliver North on two books:- American Heroes: In the Fight Against Radical Islam (War Stories), 2008, ISBN 978-0-8054-4953-2
- American Heroes in Special Operations, 2010, ISBN 978-08054-4712-5
War Correspondent
Holton has also been a war correspondent for the Christian Broadcasting NetworkChristian Broadcasting Network
The Christian Broadcasting Network, or CBN, is a fundamentalist Christian television broadcasting network in the United States. Its headquarters and main studios are in Virginia Beach, Virginia.-Background:...
since 2003. His dispatches and articles appear on CBN's site, and he also maintains a blog entitled "Boots on the Ground", where he discusses issues related to the wars in the Middle East and troop morale.
Personal life
Holton speaks Spanish, and resides on a farm in AppalachiaAppalachia
Appalachia is a term used to describe a cultural region in the eastern United States that stretches from the Southern Tier of New York state to northern Alabama, Mississippi, and Georgia. While the Appalachian Mountains stretch from Belle Isle in Canada to Cheaha Mountain in the U.S...
with his wife and five children.