Flags to fly at half-staff Nov. 6-12 to honor Malden soldier

Gov. Jay Nixon has ordered that the U.S. and Missouri flags on all state buildings in Dunklin County be flown at half-staff from Nov. 6 to Nov. 12 to honor the bravery and sacrifice of Specialist Robert K. Charlton, age 22, of Malden. Specialist Charlton was a soldier in the United States Army who died on Oct. 27 in Landstuhl, Germany, from injuries sustained while serving his country in Wardak, Afghanistan.

In addition, Gov. Nixon has ordered that the U.S. and Missouri flags at state buildings in all 114 counties and the city of St. Louis be flown at half-staff for one full day on Friday, Nov. 6, the day of Specialist Charlton's funeral.

Little is known at this time regarding the Oct. 23 incident that claimed the life of Charlton, who was deployed to Afghanistan less than a year ago.

In a press release issued by the Fort Drum, N.Y., Public Affairs Office, the Department of Defense announced on Friday that Spc. Robert K. Charlton, 22, died Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009, at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Landstuhl, Germany, of injuries sustained from a "non-combat related incident" that occurred on Oct. 23 in Wardak, Afghanistan.

According to Charlton's uncle, Jim McMillian of Malden, an Army sergeant contacted Charlton's mother on Friday. The soldier's body was flown directly into the Malden airport since the landing area there is large enough to handle an Army transport plane, said McMillian.

Landess Funeral Home in Malden is in charge of arrangements for Charlton. Visitation is scheduled to take place tonight and a service is planned for Friday.

Charlton was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (light infantry) out of Fort Drum. He deployed in January of this year in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. This was Charlton's first deployment.

Spc. Charlton joined the Army in July, 2007, and arrived at Fort Drum in November of the same year.

According to the report from Fort Drum, the young soldier had already earned several decorations and awards, including the Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon and NATO Medal.

The circumstances surrounding the non-combat related incident remain under investigation, according to authorities.

Spc. Charlton is survived by his mother and step-father, Joseph and Denise Tadlock of Malden and his father, Keith Charlton, of Perryville, Ark.

Further details will be published as they become available.

Noreen Hyslop of The Daily Statesman also contributed to this story.