Hero Spotlight: Edward A. Carter
This month’s Hero Spotlight takes a look back at a World War II hero who sadly did not get the credit he deserved during his time of service. Today we honor the service of Edward A. Carter.
Carter lived an unusual life from the beginning, but his upbringing helped him to develop skills and knowledge which would serve him well in life. He was raised in India and China and his time overseas allowed him to learn multiple languages. He was fluent in Hindi, Mandarin, and German. This would give him extremely valuable tools for serving in the military.
Unfortunately, his skills and dedication were not respected at the time because he was an African-American serving during segregation. In 1932 he fought against the Japanese during their invasion of China. Next, he went to Spain to fight against the fascists as a part of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade. In 1941, he joined the U.S Military.
Despite his language skills and combat experience abroad, the U.S. Army made him a cook in a quartermaster truck company. This was a common practice at the time to assign black Americans to roles that did not match their skill set. However, after heavy losses during the Battle of The Bulge, the U.S backed off on its policy of blocking African-Americans from combat roles.
Carter volunteered for combat and served in the 12th Armored Division. He displayed great bravery and put himself at risk while fighting in Germany which earned him a Medal of Honor. Unfortunately, the medal was not officially awarded until 1997 more than 30 years after his death. Learn more about Edward A. Carter and his impressive story here.
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