Charles Band, commander of American Legion Post CR-12, Department of Mexico, died May 28 in the hospital in Golfito, in Costa Rica’s Southern Zone.
“Charly” was a life member of Post CR-12, Forty and Eight Local 1560, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He was the last commander of the Department of Panama Canal.
The Department of Panama led all departments in membership percentage in 1994, and Charly was named Commander of the Year. He led the parade in 1994 in the U.S. city of Minneapolis.
Charly was a World War II navy veteran who served the entire war in the Pacific on a TBM-3 Avenger. He retired in Costa Rica in 1989.
Charly’s body was cremated, and the ashes will be spread on the Pacific Ocean by his fellow Legionnaires.
–Patrick J. O’Connell
Post CR-12 adjutant
