They call it “The Greatest Generation”.  Characterized by sturdy young men and women who manned the ramparts of the free world in WWII, one of its proud members was Charlie Sturz, who captained the Cherokee basketball team during  the 1937-38 season.  A starting tackle on the football team and a track letter winner, he moved on to four noteworthy years of basketball at San Jose State for legendary coach Walt McPherson. A 6-1guard, Charlie was voted “Most Dependable” as a freshman   A senior starter, he helped the Spartans end San Francisco State’s nine-game winning streak in 1942.  His seminal moment, however, came on Oct. 6, 1943, when Ensign Sturz ignored a bleeding head wound to help save several shipmates on his badly-damaged destroyer in the Solomon Islands.  He was honored with the Navy and Marine Corps Medal, one of Sequoia’s revered war heroes.