File photo of former Congressman Charlie Wilson Charles Nesbitt Wilson , a former United States naval officer and twelve-term Democratic Representative from the 2nd congressional district in Texas, died on Wednesday in Lufkin, Texas. He was 76 with a history of heart ailments, receiving a transplant in 2007. Memorial Medical Center, Lufkin said the preliminary cause of death was cardiopulmonary arrest . Jack Gorden Jr., the mayor of Lufkin, confirmed the death. He was best known for initiating Operation Cyclone , the largest CIA covert operation , which supplied military equipment, anti-aircraft missiles, and paramilitary officers to the Afghan Mujahideen during the Soviet war in Afghanistan . His campaign was the subject of the non-fiction book Charlie Wilson's War and the film 'Charlie Wilson's War' . U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Wilson's "efforts and exploits helped repel an invader, liberate a people, and bring the Cold War to a close. [...] After the Soviets left, Charlie kept fighting for the Afghan people and warned against abandoning that traumatized country to its fate — a warning we should have heeded then, and should remember today". Born in Trinity , Texas, Wilson graduated from Trinity High School in 1951. While a student at Sam Houston State University , he was appointed to the United States Naval Academy . Between 1956 and 1960, Wilson served in the Navy , attaining the rank of lieutenant. After four years as a surface fleet officer, he was assigned to the Pentagon as part of an intelligence unit that evaluated the Soviet Union 's nuclear capabilities.
File photo of former Congressman Charlie Wilson , a former United States naval officer and twelve-term Representative from the in Texas, died on Wednesday in Lufkin, Texas. He was 76 with a history of heart ailments, receiving a transplant in 2007. Memorial Medical Center, Lufkin said the preliminary cause of death was . Jack Gorden Jr., the mayor of Lufkin, confirmed the death. He was best known for initiating , the largest CIA , which supplied military equipment, anti-aircraft missiles, and paramilitary officers to the during the . His campaign was the subject of the non-fiction book Charlie Wilson's War and the film '' . U.S. Defense Secretary said Wilson's "efforts and exploits helped repel an invader, liberate a people, and bring the Cold War to a close. [...] After the Soviets left, Charlie kept fighting for the Afghan people and warned against abandoning that traumatized country to its fate — a warning we should have heeded then, and should remember today". Born in , Texas, Wilson graduated from Trinity High School in 1951. While a student at , he was appointed to the . Between 1956 and 1960, Wilson served in the , attaining the rank of lieutenant. After four years as a surface fleet officer, he was assigned to as part of an intelligence unit that evaluated the 's nuclear capabilities.
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Charles Nesbitt Wilson
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Democratic
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2nd congressional district
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cardiopulmonary arrest
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Operation Cyclone
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covert operation
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Afghan Mujahideen during the Soviet war in Afghanistan
during the
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'Charlie Wilson's War'
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Robert Gates
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Trinity
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Sam Houston State University
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United States Naval Academy
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Navy
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the Pentagon
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Soviet Union