The helmets of the Campobello-Gramling Wildcat football team will have a different look this season as players take the field. The Wildcats will be wearing sergeant first class stripes on their helmets this year in honor of CGS and Landrum High School alum, Sgt. 1st Class Charles Judge, Jr.

Sgt. 1st Class Judge was killed in July while attempting to help a stranger in trouble.  In addition to his military service, Charles was a co-founder and coordinator for “Upstate Stand Down” for homeless and at-risk veterans. Judge’s mother, Barbara Briant, is a beloved staff member at Campobello-Gramling School.

“We are a small, close knit family at Campobello-Gramling School, so we decided it would be fitting to honor Sgt. 1st Class Judge’s life and service, as well as our love for Mrs. Barbara in this way. The first sergeant stripes on our helmets are just a visible reminder to our players of the great sacrifice Sergeant Judge gave not only to his country, but also to the lives of others. These are qualities that we try to instill in our players now and for the future,” says Sam Cole, CGS athletic director and head football coach for the CGS Wildcats.

Sgt. 1st Class Judge was an Iraq war veteran with 21 years of service in the South Carolina Army National Guard.

– article submitted by Sandra Williams