A Morgantown native and the founder of Operation Activet, a nonprofit that focuses on helping veterans, died in a motorcycle crash on Saturday.
Charles James Ghuste, 30, was pronounced dead at the scene of a motorcycle accident on Green Bag Road on Saturday night, according to Monongalia County Sheriff Perry Palmer. The accident is still under investigation.
“God got a new angel and I lost mine,” his mother, Laura, said.
CJ, as his family knew him, spent six years in the U.S. Army, joining right after he graduated from Morgantown High School, his father, Chuck, said. While at MHS, CJ — who was a “sports junkie” — played football, baseball and basketball.
He also loved everything outdoors, from riding his motorcycle to hunting and fishing, Chuck said.
CJ spent four years as an infantryman stationed at Fort Richardson, Alaska, with Dog Company, 3rd Battalion, 509th Airborne Infantry Regiment, according to his sister, Trisha. He also spent two years with the 363rd Military Police unit in Grafton.
While stationed in Alaska, CJ spent 18 months in Afghanistan, an experience that changed him, his family said.
Of the 48 men CJ deployed with, only 10 are left, Chuck said. Losing so many of his friends — from accidents like his own death, losses while on deployment and suicides — made CJ want to help veterans, his dad said.
Many veterans are reluctant to talk to those who aren’t also veterans and CJ wanted to provide a place where they could gather and talk to each other, Laura said. He loved everyone and didn’t want to see anyone else die, she said.
Activet’s stated mission is helping veterans return to civilian life and giving veterans, especially those with PTSD, things to do outside of work and home. It provides activities and events to encourage veterans and their families to find hobbies, set goals and maintain a healthy, happy lifestyle after military life.
“It’s really important for everyone to know as he grew into a man, I think he started realizing the importance of life and wanted to help others a lot,” Trisha said.
He had some troubles after he came back from Afghanistan, but founding Activet and helping others gave him a purpose and saved him, Laura said.
CJ quit his job to focus on Activet full time and Chuck said he will not let the organization fade — instead he will work to grow his son’s legacy for the rest of his life.
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