Charles Dean
Encyclopedia
Charles "Charlie" Dean was the brother of Democratic National Committee
Chairman Howard Dean
, Democracy for America
Chairman Jim Dean
and political activist Bill Dean. In 1974, Charlie, who had been traveling through southeast Asia
at the time, was captured and killed by Pathet Lao
guerrillas. His death and the subsequent repatriation of his remains to the United States have been the subject of speculation and controversy.
Charlie attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
where he was active in student government and the anti-war movement. In 1972, he went on to work as the Orange County, NC coordinator for Democrat
George S. McGovern's 1972 presidential campaign.
In 1974, he traveled to Laos
to visit a friend who worked for USAID. Together with an Australian friend named Neal Sharman, Charlie stayed in a bungalow on the Mekong River, planning to meet up with another friend who was serving in the Peace Corps
in Nepal
. Charlie’s parents have speculated that he was in fact working for the CIA, although Howard Dean has stated that he does not think this to be the case.
In early September, 1974, Charlie and Neal took a raft down the Mekong River to Thailand
. They were stopped at a checkpoint near a small village called Pak Him Boun, two miles southeast of the capital of Laos, Vientiane
, by Pathet Lao communist guerrillas who imprisoned the two, apparently because they were carrying cameras. The U.S. Government learned of the capture, and Charlie was classified as a POW
-MIA
despite the fact that he was a civilian. Charlie and Neal were executed by the Pathet Lao on or about December 14, 1974.
In 2000, through accounts given by people who had seen the two young men killed, the site where Charlie and Neal were believed to have been buried was located. On November 11, 2003. Howard Dean confirmed that a joint U.S.-Laotian task force had likely discovered the remains of his younger brother, and DNA
analysis subsequently confirmed that the remains were Charles Dean’s.
In December, 2003, Charles Dean’s remains were buried with full military honors. This caused some controversy, as Charlie was a civilian, and Howard Dean was criticized for publicly referring to his deceased brother as a POW-MIA.
Charlie's death has been widely reported by Howard Dean as having had an enormous influence on his life; such that he wore his brother's belt every day of his presidential campaign.
Democratic National Committee
The Democratic National Committee is the principal organization governing the United States Democratic Party on a day to day basis. While it is responsible for overseeing the process of writing a platform every four years, the DNC's central focus is on campaign and political activity in support...
Chairman Howard Dean
Howard Dean
Howard Brush Dean III is an American politician and physician from Vermont. He served six terms as the 79th Governor of Vermont and ran unsuccessfully for the 2004 Democratic presidential nomination. He was chairman of the Democratic National Committee from 2005 to 2009. Although his U.S...
, Democracy for America
Democracy for America
Democracy for America is a progressive, people-powered political action committee, headquartered in South Burlington, Vermont. Founded by former Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean in 2004, DFA leads public awareness campaigns on a variety of public policy issues, trains activists,...
Chairman Jim Dean
Jim Dean (DFA)
James H. "Jim" Dean is chair of Democracy for America , the nation's largest political action committee based in Burlington, Vermont.DFA was founded in 2004 after the presidential campaign of Dean's brother, former Vermont Governor Howard Dean. Jim Dean has raised money, given speeches, and...
and political activist Bill Dean. In 1974, Charlie, who had been traveling through southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
at the time, was captured and killed by Pathet Lao
Pathet Lao
The Pathet Lao was a communist political movement and organization in Laos, formed in the mid-20th century. The group was ultimately successful in assuming political power after the Laotian Civil War. The Pathet Lao were always closely associated with Vietnamese communists...
guerrillas. His death and the subsequent repatriation of his remains to the United States have been the subject of speculation and controversy.
Charlie attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
where he was active in student government and the anti-war movement. In 1972, he went on to work as the Orange County, NC coordinator for Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
George S. McGovern's 1972 presidential campaign.
In 1974, he traveled to Laos
Laos
Laos Lao: ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia, bordered by Burma and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south and Thailand to the west...
to visit a friend who worked for USAID. Together with an Australian friend named Neal Sharman, Charlie stayed in a bungalow on the Mekong River, planning to meet up with another friend who was serving in the Peace Corps
Peace Corps
The Peace Corps is an American volunteer program run by the United States Government, as well as a government agency of the same name. The mission of the Peace Corps includes three goals: providing technical assistance, helping people outside the United States to understand US culture, and helping...
in Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
. Charlie’s parents have speculated that he was in fact working for the CIA, although Howard Dean has stated that he does not think this to be the case.
In early September, 1974, Charlie and Neal took a raft down the Mekong River to Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
. They were stopped at a checkpoint near a small village called Pak Him Boun, two miles southeast of the capital of Laos, Vientiane
Vientiane
-Geography:Vientiane is situated on a bend of the Mekong river, which forms the border with Thailand at this point.-Climate:Vientiane features a tropical wet and dry climate with a distinct monsoon season and a dry season. Vientiane’s dry season spans from November through March. April marks the...
, by Pathet Lao communist guerrillas who imprisoned the two, apparently because they were carrying cameras. The U.S. Government learned of the capture, and Charlie was classified as a POW
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
-MIA
Missing in action
Missing in action is a casualty Category assigned under the Status of Missing to armed services personnel who are reported missing during active service. They may have been killed, wounded, become a prisoner of war, or deserted. If deceased, neither their remains nor grave can be positively...
despite the fact that he was a civilian. Charlie and Neal were executed by the Pathet Lao on or about December 14, 1974.
In 2000, through accounts given by people who had seen the two young men killed, the site where Charlie and Neal were believed to have been buried was located. On November 11, 2003. Howard Dean confirmed that a joint U.S.-Laotian task force had likely discovered the remains of his younger brother, and DNA
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in...
analysis subsequently confirmed that the remains were Charles Dean’s.
In December, 2003, Charles Dean’s remains were buried with full military honors. This caused some controversy, as Charlie was a civilian, and Howard Dean was criticized for publicly referring to his deceased brother as a POW-MIA.
Charlie's death has been widely reported by Howard Dean as having had an enormous influence on his life; such that he wore his brother's belt every day of his presidential campaign.