05/25/2020
On this Memorial Day, Army Optometry remembers and honors Major Charles “Rob” Soltes. MAJ Soltes is the only doctor of optometry in recent U.S. military conflicts to die on active duty. He was assigned to the 426th Civil Affairs Battalion in Iraq as a Public Health Officer to help restore the public health infrastructure in Mosul. While returning from a hospital visit with Iraqi health officials, MAJ Soltes was apart of an American convoy struck by an explosive device. He died that day, October 13, 2004 at age 36, from injuries sustained in the blast.
Through the hard work and dedication of his wife Dr. Sally Dang, who is also an optometrist, in 2010 Congress passed a bill naming the Long Beach VA rehabilitation center the Major Charles R. Soltes Jr., O.D. Department of Veterans Affairs Blind Rehabilitation Center.
A native of Irvine, CA, MAJ Soltes graduated from Norwich University in Northfield, VT with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1990 and received his doctorate in optometry from the New England College of Optometry in 1994. MAJ Soltes joined the Army Reserve in 1990 and served on active duty as an optometrist from July 1994 to September 1999. His assignments during that time included Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, TX; the 168th Medical Battalion, Camp Walker, Korea; and Keller Army Community Hospital, West Point, NY.
He was later assigned to the 7214th Medical Support Unit, Garden Grove, CA while serving in the Army Reserve.
MAJ Soltes’ awards and decorations include the Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon and the Army Service Ribbon.
All gave some.....some gave all!