Chuck Haeflinger
August 31, 1947 to February 3, 2025
Updated information for Memorial Services:
Chuck Haeflinger’s service will be held Thursday, March 6, 2025, at St. Paul The Apostle Catholic Church at 10:30 a.m. The address is 14085 Peyton Drive, Chino Hills, CA 91709. The service will also include a memorial for Chuck’s wife, Sharon Haeflinger, who passed away in 2021. There is an opportunity to meet the family from 9:30 to 10:30 at St. Paul. Military memorial service and burial ceremony begins at 1:00 p.m. at Riverside National Cemetery.
February 11, 2025, city council meeting was adjourned in honor of Chuck.
From Mayor Art Bennett:
“Tonight, we adjourn in memory of Charles Haeflinger, or “Chuck,” who passed away on February 3rd at the age of 77.
Chuck was a true patriot, mentor, and beloved member of our Chino Hills Community. He had a distinguished 32-year career in the Army and served honorably, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel. His service earned him numerous accolades, including the Bronze Star Medal and five Meritorious Service Medals.
Following his retirement, Chuck continued his legacy of service by becoming a mentor emeritus for the Reaching New Heights Foundation, where he dedicated himself to helping Veterans transition back to civilian life.
Here in Chino Hills, Chuck was a member of the Chino Hills 55 Plus Club Veterans Group. He played a significant role in helping to raise funds for the military service monument at the Community Center through his leadership in selling commemorative bricks.
Chuck and his late wife Sharon were charter members of St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church and led the Married Couples Club together.
On behalf of the City Council and our community, we extend our heartfelt condolences to Chuck’s family and friends.”
Chuck was a proud member of our Veterans Group
March 2024:
Reaching New Heights Foundation Board Member
CHARLES S. HAEFLINGER
Mentor Emeritus
Chuck Haeflinger began his US Army career two weeks after his 18th birthday, enlisting in the Army ROTC program at Loyola University in his hometown of Chicago, Illinois. During his senior year, the ROTC Department cadre designated Chuck a Distinguished Military Student. After earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science, he graduated from the Army’s Infantry Officer Basic Course, before attending flight school. Haef‘s assignments as a helicopter pilot took him overseas to Viet Nam and Honduras.
The majority of his Army assignments were in the realms of operations and training, always focused on increasing readiness posture. During the early-1980‘s, Haef established a Drill Sergeant Academy; the first class graduated nine Drill Sergeants. While the Operations Officer of a newly-activated aviation battalion, his proactivity and innovation sparked progressive training programs that accelerated this new command of 69 helicopters and their crews to a Fully-Mission Capable (FMC) status within 24 months, even though the Army’s standard combat readiness plan allowed 36 months. During Operation Desert Shield, he organized 13 “Quick Fix” MOS qualification courses, graduating 159 graduates for Quick Reaction Force (QRF) units despite rapidly-shifting priorities. Haef and his staff managed an education budget of $2.1 million dollars annually, and impressively increased the Duty MOS Qualification (DMOSQ) Rate by 3.9% within twelve months. Haef’s Brigade S-3 staff conceived and conducted the first collective Combat Service Support (CSS) lane training scenarios for Observer/Controller Qualification Course curriculum within the 13 states of the US Sixth Army.
After graduating from the Army’s Command & General Staff College, Chuck completed the prestigious DOD Battle Staff Course in residency. Haef also finished the Federal Emergency Management Agency [FEMA] Civil Disturbance Course, and earned a Observer/Controller certification for Lanes Training Exercises (LTX).
Lieutenant Colonel Haeflinger proudly retired in 1998. During his 32-year career, Haef was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, five Meritorious Service Medals, the Air Medal, three Army Commendation Medals, three Army Achievement Medals, and the Republic of Viet Nam Cross of Gallantry with Palm.
Haef graduated from the Veterans For Justice Boot Camp, sponsored the National Association of Drug Court Professionals. Haef was since served as the Senior Veteran Mentor for both Veteran Treatment Courts within California’s Inland Empire. Haef enjoys collaborating in ”serving those who served.”
“Serving Those Who Served”
CHARLES S. HAEFLINGER