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Monday, March 18, 2024 - 11:30 PM

INDEPENDENT CONSERVATIVE VOICE OF UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA

First Published in 1994

INDEPENDENT CONSERVATIVE VOICE OF
UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA

Adventures of salt and pepper

Charlie-Porter-in-Prison-at-Publix

Previously, Porter’s love for police work and the pain from the hazards of the career were introduced. The final dangerous moment of Porter’s police career was explained to show how good decisions can lead to bad consequences. For Porter, knowing it is all God’s plan, helps keep back the burden of guilt that can weigh a man down. In this segment we’ll delve into his career battling against drug dealers in Easley as we lead up to where his “wonderful” police career and his love for veterans has taken him today.

Charlie Smith Porter and Charlie Perry Austin were partnered in Easley and they quickly started making a name for themselves through scores of drug cases through hard work. They developed a reputation and a nickname, Salt and Pepper. They would work their regular shifts and then they would put in extra hours staking out known drug spots.

Salt and Pepper were known to the children because of all their involvement in the schools. Numerous schools would invite the officers out to talk to the classes. A lot of children became cops because of their involvement. Their reputation was so famous that their very presence brought fear into trouble-making kids minds.

One day while at a traffic light they saw one of their school kids driving a car that didn’t have working brake lights. When they passed through the intersection they pulled the car over to tell the driver to get the problem fixed before the highway patrol stopped him and gave him a ticket.

When the officers approached the car the young driver immediately recognized them. He told them that he knew that they had been watching him and it was only a matter of time before they were going to get him.

Porter said, “And you want to tell me more?”

Then the driver explained to the officers that he had marijuana under his seat and that he would get it for them. Underneath the seat were two ounces of hidden marijuana. Porter never let the boy in on the real reason that he had been pulled over and only informed the young man that he was right and they had been watching him for a long time.

“That’s the way it was. It was fantastic,” said Porter.

One of the techniques that Salt and Pepper used to battle illegal drugs was to always keep the dealers guessing. The two officers were good at blending in and never revealing where they were coming from. With the help of car dealerships, Salt and Pepper were able to travel around in different cars so that no one would know which car they would be in.

An informant called Porter one day and told him that at about eleven o’clock there would be three motorcyclists with 5,000 hits of speed on them that would pass by the Glennwood Mill, coming back from Greenville. If the officers could get them stopped, they would have a case.

That night Salt and Pepper went to a dealership and got into a four door Chevrolet. They went down to the Mill and waited. Right on time the three riders came through. The officers pulled out and placed their blue light on the dash in an attempt to get the men to stop. The chase started out towards Pickens on highway 178 leading to Hendrick’s curve.

“I’ve taken that curve at 100 miles an hour in a police car on numerous occasions. We started around there and the speedometer ended up locking on 98,” said Porter.

The shocks were bad in the Chevrolet and when they entered into the curve, due to bad shocks, the rocker panel hit and the car went airborne.

“I was just like flying a plane. It went a hundred feet and hit, flew all to pieces and went another 100 feet onto another road going the other way,” said Porter. “It tore that car into a million pieces.”


The wreck broke Austin’s back and arm, but did a lot more to Porter


The wreck broke Austin’s back and arm, but did a lot more to Porter. The impact crushed Porter’s spine in three places, damaged five ribs, it ripped away his shoulder from the socket, and separated his feet from his leg bones.

“It just destroyed me. I was dying, literally. This officer who knew Austin and I real well arrived at the crash site and he wouldn’t even come to the car. He saw the car and thought we were dead, and he didn’t want to see us,” said Porter.

Porter remembers looking at his feet and thinking that they were gone. They were turned backwards, upside down, and under the seat. The pain from the accident was one of the worst kinds of pain that can exist.

Porter was taken to Easley Baptist Emergency room before being transported to Greenville. While waiting to be transported Porter remembers hearing someone say that he would never make it to Greenville.

Porter replied, under the influence of pain medication, “I will be at your funeral you old reprobate. Don’t worry about it. You just handle your part.”

The pain was so intense that while in the ambulance he went into shock and didn’t regain consciousness for two weeks. When he awoke he found himself in a revolving bed, not knowing what happened or where he was. He tried to move and blacked out from the pain. Any little thing that would set the pain off would take Porter from consciousness to escape from having to endure the agony.

They kept the two officers in different rooms in case something happened to the other they didn’t want the surviving one to lose hope. After some healing Porter was taken out of the revolving bed and put in a full body cast with his left arm screwed down. Porter remembers the anxiety of feeling claustrophobic as he would breathe and the cast would stop his lungs from reaching full expansion.

“I got panicked. I remember lying there crying. Just sobbing. I cried all day and all night. I never stopped. They couldn’t get me to calm down. They had me on morphine. I stayed on morphine for about two or three months. I stayed in the hospital forever, it seemed. It took me about a year to learn how to walk,” said Porter.

After his release from the hospital Porter did the one thing that he wanted to do. He went back to work.

The two stories revealed just the tip of the iceberg from Porter’s police career. They reveal the pain emotionally and physically that Porter has experienced. On a daily basis the pain he carries reminds him of the times that he would never change because they remind him of who he is and what he was.

Devotion to those who served

Charlie rarely mentions the fact that he served a tour in the United States Air Force and that he, more than anyone else has worked harder and done more for veterans in the past two decades than anyone in Upstate, South Carolina.

The Times Examiner founder and publisher, Bob Dill, recalls that he met Porter at a meeting of the American Legion during the 1990’s. They eventually discussed the fact that the city and county of Greenville had no events to recognize and honor those who had served and died for their country in uniform.

“Charlie had a passionate burden for veterans of the area who had given so much and were ignored by their elected officials and other city and community leaders,” Dill recalled. “There were former Prisoners of War, men who experienced Pearl Harbor and landed on the beach on D-Day, and literally hundreds who earned a Purple Heart or Silver or Bronze Star and Air Medals living among us. There were also those who simply did their patriotic duty and gave two or more years of their lives to serving their country. Charley thought they should be recognized. If no one else would take a leadership role, he would,” Dill said.

There were several active veteran organizations in the area, but the greatest thing they did together was gather at County Square on Memorial Day for a ceremony. Frequently, only one member or a hand-full of members represented an organization at the county event, although the public was invited.

The city had no Veterans Day parade, no Memorial Day parade or any other events to recognize and honor veterans. Porter was passionate about the need.

Dill recalls that, “one Saturday, about a dozen veterans met at the home of Nancy Ferro, a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II, and formed The Veteran Service Corps of South Carolina. It was chartered by the state of South Carolina.  and approved as a non-profit organization by the IRS. The Charter Members elected Charlie as Commander and me as Executive Officer.

“The sole purpose of the organization was to serve and honor veterans. The organization grew in numbers, but more importantly, Charley formed alliances with numerous patriotic businesses, organizations, law enforcement agencies and active duty, reserve and National Guard units, as well as the ROTC unit at Furman University and several JROTC units at local schools.

“As VSC Commander, Porter almost singlehandedly organized the first Armed Forces Day Parade in Greenville,” Dill explained. It was well-publicized, well-attended and supported by the public. He organized Memorial Day programs at Woodlawn Memorial Park that were attended by hundreds. Porter traveled near and far with a bugler, bagpiper, rifle squad and other VSC members to conduct military funerals and flag raising ceremonies. He rarely said “no” to any request to honor veterans,” Dill said.

Porter discovered that The Plaques dedicating Greenville Memorial Auditorium were stashed away out of sight. Under his leadership, the Veteran Service Corps raised funds, worked with the BI-LO Center Administration and incorporated the plaques in a veterans memorial on the grounds of the BI-LO Center. For several years Annual ceremonies were held at the veterans memorial. Guest Speakers included Senators Jim DeMint and Lindsey Graham. Hundreds attended.


Never before or since have I seen hundreds of old men cry with joy


The most elaborate program was held inside the BI-LO Center. It was the brainchild of then Congressman Jim DeMint, and would not have been possible without him; however, Charley Porter organized the program. Every living Korean War Veteran in the Fourth Congressional District was invited and was presented with a commemorative medal by a Congressman or General officer. The stage was full of dignitaries from the Pentagon, Korean Embassy, Ft. Jackson and state government.

“It was a historical event,” Dill recalled. “Never before or since have I seen hundreds of old men cry with joy. It was the only time many of them had been thanked for their service since they stacked arms and hung up their uniform. It was all due to the leadership of Jim DeMint and Charlie Porter.”

The Veteran Service Corps donated and raised several thousand dollars to purchase flags, flag poles and holders to decorate Greenville’s Main Street on patriotic holidays. Mayor Knox White attended the dedication ceremony but was never enthusiastic about the flags. After a couple of years, so many flags had been stolen or taken down by business owners, and none recovered by city police, that the few remaining flags were collected and the program abandoned due to lack of support.

Congressman Bob Inglis and Greenville County Superintendent of Schools LTC Bill Harner USA (Ret) took over the parades and Porter and his organization were no longer involved.

More recently, Porter became active in Sons of the American Revolution and rose to state president of that organization.

 

Every morning Porter wakes up to constant pain.


In Part One we looked at the life of Charlie Porter, the events that have left him a man in pain and were a small part of a great career. The wreck and stabbing that eventually forced him into retirement was discussed as well as a near fatal crash that almost took away his ability to walk. No matter what Porter has been through it hasn’t stopped his will to keep on fighting. Every morning Porter wakes up to constant pain that follows him throughout the day, but it doesn’t stop him from greeting the world with a smile and a joke.

By now, after crushing his spine and having it fused together, the fuse has broken loose on the inside. After a Neurosurgeon examination Porter was told that no one would be able to operate on him and fix his spine or neck and if they told him they could, it would be a lie. Any altering of his state now would leave him a quadriplegic. The suggestions recommended for Porter going forward were to take his epidurals three times a year like he’s been doing and to try to live with it.

So, that’s what Porter does, lives with it. His balance is bad because of the brain injury and if he tried to pick something up in front of him he would continue the descent forward and land on his forehead. His back is ruined and his ankles swell, and like a pin cushion he gets shots in his ankles, hands, shoulder, and back.

After everything that Porter has been through, he still wouldn’t change a thing. The smallest change in history and he might not be blessed with the family that he has now.  Porter takes every moment with his kids and grandkids as a blessing and treasures them.

There are times when Porter’s old life as a law enforcement officer catches up with him, but as time goes on those occurrences happen less and less.  Some of those past criminals are just now getting out of prison.

One night several years ago while eating out with a friend, an old acquaintance fresh out of prison spotted Porter. After finishing a beer and grabbing the neck of the bottle, in a way to use it as a weapon, the man approached Porter. The man informed Porter that he had waited five years to work him over.

Porter said, “Before you get started pal, underneath this table is a Smith and Wesson .357 aimed at you, and I want to help you qualify for the women’s choir. If you pull that bottle up I’m going to neuter you.”

The man looked at Porter’s female friend and asked, “Is he serious about that?”

She looked under the table and said, “Yeah, and what scares me is that he’s got that little thing on the top pulled back.”

The man sat the bottle down and informed Porter that he’d never see him again.

Run-ins with old acquaintances now happen while Porter works at Publix part-time. There are those that have taken a ride in the back of Porter’s police car and hold no grudges. Those times are now a joke to be laughed at with others. Police work was rewarding and Porter finds that even working at Publix can be rewarding. Customers have brought Porter a little bit of everything. From cane aides to fresh pies, Porter continues to receive the blessings of others.

“Physically [working at Publix] has been a killer, but it has been one of the most enjoyable experiences of my life. I have had fun. Publix is a unique store. It is a unique customer oriented business. It’s all about the customer. My customers are just like my family,” said Porter.

Porter doesn’t know how much longer he will last, but he will keep going as long as he can go. Porter’s presence is a good reminder for his younger co-workers to stop any complaining that they might want to do. Porter is a great reminder of what true pain really is and how to push through it. If he can do it, they can do it. Some days every step he takes is agony.

If Porter isn’t working you might find him in a cemetery. As a hobby, Porter has been involved with Find-a-grave. Find-a-grave is an organization that locates and photographs patriot’s graves to give relatives the opportunity to see the grave site that might not otherwise have the ability. The photographs are also used in case the grave site is damaged or destroyed. The photos serve as proof that someone went in there and ruined it.


I can’t hunt anymore. I can’t kill anything, I just can’t do it


“It’s a great part of my life. We do it all over the world. If you’ve lived across the country and you’ve never seen your granddaddy’s grave, you go on Find-a-Grave and do a photo request. If it’s in my area they’ll request a picture and I’ll go take a picture and send it back to Find-a-Grave and they’ll send it out free of charge,” said Porter.

Charlie still fishes for relaxation, but will not go hunting anymore.

“I can’t hunt anymore. I can’t kill anything. I just can’t do it. I can’t justify it. If I was starving and had no money, yep, I could take care of something. I stopped hunting about a year after policing. I think it was a combination of things,” said Porter.

Past experiences affect Porter in many different ways. Many of those experiences, whether good or bad, they change the way he looks at life. Another recent experience has changed his outlook for the better. Receiving an award from the Governor’s office was a humbling experience for Porter.

A friend of Porter’s felt that he deserved the Order Of The Silver Crescent. He never felt that he would get it and made his opinion known but that didn’t stop his friend from going through the steps. With a stack of references, Porter’s name was submitted for the award.

He received a telephone call one day and was informed that on Armed Forces Day at Furman University, during half-time, he would be receiving an award. Along with his sons and family, Porter stepped out on the field and received the award from Rep. Gary Smith who was there to represent the Governor.

“I was just overwhelmed. They said it was the first time they had ever seen me without anything to say. I just stood there. It humbled me. It truly humbled me. I just didn’t know what to do. To this day I still can’t get over it,” said Porter.

Charlie Porter currently works part-time at Publix at University Square near Furman University.

Other than working at Publix and committing time to his hobbies, Porter is still involved with the Sons of the American Revolution. His work as State’s President has made him very proud.

For a man that has seen it all and been to trouble and back, Porter remains optimistic and continues to battle on. Throughout the pain and misery in his life over the years Porter has come out the back end with a smile on his face and a joke on his lips. Porter is always willing and able to tell someone a great story and pass on his humor to others. Do you want to know where a modern day Upstate hero is now? He’s carrying the experiences of his life, whether they are burdens or joys, on his shoulders and carrying on. He is a father, and a brother to many. He is the light that shows that no matter what life throws at you, you pick yourself up and keep marching on until God’s plan is through with you.

Porter is right where he wants to be.

 

 

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