Above: Charlie Cothren; Below left: Iraq.

Cothren discusses tour in Iraq

At the age of 21, Alleghany native Charlie Cothren has served our country for two years in the Army, including a recent tour in Iraq.

According to Cothren, several others in the county have taken a like journey. Cothren, the elder son of Steve Cothren and Denise Kimrey, signed the contract to serve Nov. 25, 2006 and left for basic training in Fort Jackson on Jan. 25, 2007.

A 2006 graduate of Alleghany High School, Charlie credits his participation in the local high school wrestling program for helping mold him into the man he is today. He noted with a smile that he was a part of the 2003 state runner-up wrestling team and the 2006 state championship team.

"It's really helped my military stuff too, helped me out in Iraq. I just like physical activities," noted Cothren.

Of his military enlistment, he candidly remarked, "I was looking for a way out of Alleghany. I was stuck working factory work, which isn't a bad thing, but I got stuck doing

This photo of Iraq is among the collection on Charlie Cothren's Myspace.com page on the Internet. Cothren has served in the Army for two years, including a tour of Iraq that he recently completed.