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Charles Henry Horner Jr. was a highly regarded United States Navy SEAL & Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician NEC 5327 (a rarity) making the rank of Master Chief Petty Officer while dedicating 32 years of his life to protecting our nation at the highest level. He is survived by his partner Sheila Connor of Ponte Vedra Beach, FL; his three children Dr. Kacey (Bill) Appel, Dr. Angela (Norman) Ellard, and Charles Horner III (all of Cincinnati, OH and from Coronado, CA); his grandchildren, Liam Appel, Kate Appel, Veronica Ellard and Violet Ellard (expected 4/24); siblings Jonelle Kettler, Tim (Billie Jo) Horner, Suzanne (Joe) Davidoski, and Steve Horner; and many nieces, nephews, and friends. Chuck was preceded in death by his parents, Charles “Chuck” Sr. and Joan Horner, his first wife and mother of his children Katherine “Kitty” (Hanline) Horner, his brother-in-law Rich Kettler, and his closest uncle, James “Jim” Holle.
Chuck joined the US Navy in March 1975 and attended boot camp in Orlando, FL. He was first assigned to the USS O’Callahan in San Diego, CA while awaiting orders to Nuclear Power School in Vallejo, CA. During this time, Chuck tried out for the Navy’s wrestling team and competed in the Naval District competition. While serving on the USS Silversides SSN-672, a sturgeon class attack submarine, he expressed an interest in becoming a US Navy SEAL and shortly thereafter was transferred to the Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, where he attended Basic Underwater Demolition SEAL Training in August 1977. Chuck successfully graduated from BUD/S class 96 in March of 1978 followed by Army Airborne School at Ft. Benning Georgia, before taking his first command assignment at SEAL Team One. Shortly after arriving at SEAL Team One, he participated in a workup with Bravo platoon and made his first SEAL deployment to Subic Bay, Philippines in 1979.
Upon returning to the United States, Chuck continued to professionalize his skills and attended numerous schools including SERE School, 2nd Class Dive School, Chemical Warfare School, and EOD School (Explosive Ordnance Disposal School) considered one of the most difficult academic curriculums in the US Military. He then returned to NAB Coronado, where he completed subsequent tours at Underwater Demolition Team Twelve (UDT-12) Swimmer Delivery Vehicle Team One (SDV-1), the Naval Special Warfare Center (in 1985) and SEAL Team Five (ST-5) before taking his most difficult assignment as the Officer in Charge of Camp Billy Machen, the covertly hidden Naval Special Warfare Desert Training Facility in Niland, California from April 1995 to October 2000. While stationed at Niland, California, Chuck made E9 Master Chief and took a follow-up assignment as the Officer-in-Charge of the Maritime Training Facility at San Clemente Island, CA. In 2002 Chuck became the Operations Department Senior Enlisted Advisor until his retirement in 2005.
With 32 years of service under his belt, Chuck served for 3 ½ more years as the Safety and Occupational Health (SOH) Explosive Safety Manager for NAVSPECWARCOM before disengaging from the Naval Special Warfare Program altogether. In 2015, Chuck moved to Ponte Vedra Beach, Fl., where he attended Florida State College and received a Bachelor of Science in Public Safety Management in 2018. He was employed by the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville as a radiology safety officer until 2020. In addition to his post-Navy retirement education and career at the Mayo Clinic, Chuck attended Bible Study Fellowship International for 20 years (2003 - 2023). Chuck had a heart for the Lord and serving others. He regularly attended men's bible study groups where he developed many close friendships. In his final months, he found 1 John 4:19-20 to be of particular importance to share with others: “We love because he first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.”
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