Sober 4 years since 1965 or so, Chuck is married to Nancy L (AFG) who spoke earlier at the same event.
(Link to Nancy's talk at the same event)
He did not start drinking until he was 20 and it wasn't pretty.
He was stationed in the Aleutians during WWII in the Army. There was not much action or legal booze.
He went to Infantry OCS toward the end of the war at Ft. Benning in Columbus, GA.
He got out of the Army married Nancy and began to work in sales, worked hard and did well.
He wound up in the hospital from stress and alcohol and was diagnosed alcoholic. He decided his job was causing all his problems and walked away from a great stock option.
He got arrested for DUI on the way to his father's funeral.
He got a great job where he was still working at the time of this talk.
He began planning his days around drinking. He knew something had to be done. A doctor put him in the hospital, told him not to take the first drink.
Chuck by fear alone stayed sober nine months. He drank again even knowing the consequences. None of the local doctors would help him.
He went to Smyrna, GA to treatment where he met fellow alcoholic patients - one a doctor and one a priest. He stayed sober eight months.
He admitted he could not stop on his own. His doctor suggested he go to AA but he feared his reputation as a stock broker would be threatened.
He tried a psychiatrist and went to him half loaded.
Then he called AA and a man named Bill came to his house. He suggested Chuck go to AA with an open mind and for Nancy to go to Al-Anon.
He had to drink to make it to his first meeting He was touched by the altruism of the Program. They gave him a Big Book. He read most of it the first night. He did not understand the spiritual part but the rest of it made sense. He stopped drinking on his own for the first time. It took five days.
It took months for his head to clear.
"Sobriety is why I came and sobriety is what I got." He also got new attitudes, motivation and direction.
His alcoholism is not a secret in the community. He talks to civic groups and churches staying within the Traditions.
He works the Steps regularly, recently re-read the Big Book and continues to find new ways to grow.
The family regularly meets to discuss situations and feelings honestly. He has friends today that give him honest answers.
He finishes with a quote from Bill W (Twelve and Twelve pp 124-125 and As Bill Sees It p. 46):
"True ambition is the profound desire to live usefully and walk humbly under the grace of God."
NOTE: This recording is from a reel-to-reel housed at the GSSA Archives in Macon, GA. The sound quality is excellent. The full session is included in the BURN version.
(48 min) (11.2 MB) (id#1176)