Major General Charles W. Fernald began his military career as a Private in the California National Guard 13 August 1934, in Company B, 160th Infantry. He rose to First Sergeant in that unit by 1940, and entered on active duty with the unit 3 March 1941. He was commissioned via the World War II OCS program at Fort Benning, Georgia, 16 July 1942, and was assigned to the newly activated 104th Infantry Division at Camp Adair, Oregon. His initial assignment was S-3 of an Infantry Battalion. When the Division arrived on the European continent in 1944, He was Regimental S-3. The 104th Division campaigned initially in Holland with the First Canadian Army and moved to Aachen, Germany, to relieve the 1st Infantry Division. While the Division fought from Aachen to Duren, Germany, General Fernald received two battlefield promotions to the grade of Lieutenant Colonel and took command of an Infantry Battalion. His battalion was recommended for a Presidential Unit Citation for its night attack on Morschenich, Germany, 23-24 February 1945. He served as Executive Officer and Commanding Officer, 158th Infantry, with promotion to the grade of Colonel in 1956. Upon reorganization of the Army National Guard in 1959, he assumed the duties of Executive Officer, 258th Infantry Brigade (Sep).

Following release from active duty, General Fernald was appointed Executive Officer, 160th Infantry, California National Guard, when that regiment was reactivated in 1946. He joined the Arizona National Guard in June of 1948, as an Infantry Battalion Commander, following his transfer to Arizona by Safeway Stores, Inc. He was Employee Relations and Public Relations Manager for the firm in Arizona. General Fernald received recognition as a Brigadier General on 11 April 1961, and was appointed Assistant Adjutant General (Army), Arizona National Guard. General Fernald retired from the Arizona National Guard in 1970. In 1972, Arizona Governor Jack Williams requested General Fernald to return to the Arizona National Guard. He received recognition as a Major General and was appointed Adjutant General of the Arizona National Guard. He served in this position from 1972 to 1975. General Fernald attended the University of Southern California in 1946, and was a graduate of the U. S. Army Command and General Staff College. General Fernald’s awards and decorations include: