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Charlie was born and raised in Newark, New Jersey. He enlisted in the Navy at the age of 17, four plus months before his 18th birthday and four months prior to the landing operations and associated airborne operations on June 6, 1944 of the Allied invasion of Normandy in Operation Overlord during World War II. This was codenamed Operation Neptune and often referred to as D-Day. It was the largest seaborne invasion in history. 

Without his mother’s knowledge, he joined the Navy February 8, 1944 and served honorably through April 22, 1946. He stated throughout his life that he joined the Navy instead of any other branch of service so that he would always have a bed to sleep in.

Charlie served during D-day at Normandy, as a coxswain on a troop landing craft, vehicle, personnel (LCVP) # 389. He shuttled soldiers to and casualties from the beach and returned to the ship for more, back and forth. During one of the trips the landing craft pilot was injured, and Charlie took over as coxswain, piloting the LCVP as a seventeen-year-old serviceman. He received a letter from France during their celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the invasion of Normandy to thank him for his service.

Throughout life he spoke little of this period until later with the grandchildren and great grandchildren, when he opened up a little more and spoke of his experiences. Also, he spoke more when he was 91 years old and he used the services of a Veteran Facility in Florida. He held his head a bit higher when he would walk through that facility and he was one of the oldest veterans there that had served in Normandy. He took great pride in serving his country.

Returning to the States after his active duty, he became the manager for fleet maintenance at Public Service Electric & Gas Co. and worked there his whole career, until retirement at age 62. He then enjoyed 30 years of retirement on the beaches of New Jersey and Florida, his happy places.

Charlie married Ruby Evelyn Standard and they were married for 68 years. They raised 5 children and had 13 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren.  His brother Archie Rossman also served in the military in the Army, as a Sergeant during the Korean War.