Charles W. Hinton grew up in Central Illinois, where he was the star basketball player at his high school. He then attended the University of Illinois and was pulled out of college twice. The first time, in 1945, he was drafted into the army-and the second time, he was called to serve in the Korean War as an aerial navigator.
After completing fifty combat missions in Korea, Hinton remained in the US Air Force as a transatlantic navigator. He served as an AFROTC assistant professor of air science at St. Olaf College and went on to fly in support of astronauts, catching space capsules returning from orbit.
After retiring from the military, he became a project director of nutrition programs for the elderly-Meals on Wheels and Congregate Dining.
He currently lives in a small beachside town with his wife, Lois, with whom he has four children, nine grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.