Charlie Wilson, the Texas Congressman who joined with the Reagan Administration to fund anti-Soviet action in Afghanistan, has passed away after suffering cardio pulmonary arrest. He was 76.

Wilson, a southern Democrat, was best known for pushing Congress into funding Operation Cyclone — the largest CIA operation in history. Cyclone was the code name for the agency’s effort to arm the Afghan mujahideen in its fight against the Soviet Union.

While many are under the impression that the CIA armed Osama Bin Laden, records show that the agency never came into contact or directly funded the future al Qaeda leader. Bin Laden, fighting under Abdullah Yusuf Azzam, actually used his own inherited fortune and front group to provide funds and services for jihadist fighters.

Wilson had a controversial lifestyle and has received perhaps more credit than is deserved for his work on Afghanistan. But he served in the Navy and did what he believed was best for his country. By his own admission, he was in love with America from an early age. If only all politicians could honestly say the same.

May he rest in peace.