This Military Service Page was created/owned by
SSgt Anthony Milanes
to remember
Marine Maj Henry Carter (Hank).
If you knew or served with this Marine and have additional information or photos to support this Page, please leave a message for the Page Administrator(s) HERE.
Contact Info
Last Address Gillespie
Date of Passing Dec 13, 2007
Location of Interment Riverview Cemetery District - Brawley, California
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
Other Comments:
Maj Carter enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on 13 Aug 1948. He took part in the Inchon landing and is one of the Chosin Few. Enlistment involuntarily extended by ALNAV 66-51, as modified by MarCor Memo 42-52. Sometime after 1955 he received his commission.
Please bear with me as I am trying to get as much info about Maj Carter. A few yrs ago he was in a terrible accident but is physically okay...unfortunately, mentally he is not. At times he forgets current events but mostly remembers things prior to the accident.
Henry Allen "Sonny" Carter MAJOR HENRY A. CARTER
Feb. 6, 1930 - Dec. 13, 2007
Henry Allen "Sonny" Carter was born Feb. 6, 1930 in Gillespie, IL and passed away Thursday, December 13. He graduated from Gillespie High School in 1948 and enlisted in the US Marine Corps soon afterward. He complete boot camp at Parris Island, SC, and ran on the track team at Camp Lejeune, NC. He made All Marine Champion and was presented with a trophy by the then Commandant of the Marine Corps, General Clifton B. Cates in June 1950. Later that month, he was promoted to Corporal. He made the Inchon Landing as a Fireteam Leader in Charlie Co. 1 Bn 1st Mar. Later he was promoted to Squad Leader and Platoon Sergeant. He fought through Yondongpo, Seoul, Wonsan landing in North Korea, "Chosen Reservoir" and fought in ?40 degree weather while surrounded by 10 Chinese Divisions. His group maintained combat integrity and fought their way out to Hungnam, where the Navy Seabees provided hot showers and transportation. During Operation "Ripper" and "Killer", he was wounded for the second time and was evacuated aboard the hospital ship Repose to Japan and then to Great Lakes. He graduated from Eastern Illinois University, in Charleston, in 1956 with a BS in Physical Education and in 1969 with a Masters in School Education. He received a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in 1956, a Platoon Commander in Okinawa, and a Military Adviser and Training Officer to the Navy Seabees. He retired from the Marine Corps in 1978 after serving for 30 years. His personal decorations include a Bronze Star with Combat "V" ribbon, Purple Heart with "Gold Star" Ribbon, Presidential Unit Citation ribbon with two Bronze Stars, Combat Action Ribbon, Marine Corps Good Conduct Ribbon, Navy Occupation Ribbon, National Defense Ribbon, Korean Service Ribbon with Silver Star and Bronze Star, Korean Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon, United Nations Ribbon, and ROK War Service Ribbon. He married Marcia Allan in 1954 in Edwardsville, Il. They have four children, daughter, Lorlein Carter, son, Gregg, daughter, Cynthia Walker and son, Allan; grandchildren , Davis Singh, Devin Singh, Jerod Wexstten, Brett Wexstten, Dylan Walker, Edward Lopez, Sam Bruno and Alexis Bruno; great-grand- children, Delilah Correa, Alyssa Singh, Briley Wexstten, Natelie Lopez and Elijah Lopez. He was preceeded in death by daughter, Kari. "The Major" touched many lives throughout his teaching career. He taught 2 years in Williams Military Academy in Wheaton, IL, and 7 years in junior high in Nokomis, IL. In 1969 he moved to Calipatria teaching there from 1969-1985 then teaching at ICOE for 5 years returning to Calipatria in 1990 and retiring in 1998. Visitation will be held Monday, December 17 from 5 to 8 p.m. at Frye Chapel in Brawley. Church services will commence at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, December 18 at Frye Chapel in Brawley, with burial following at Riverview Cemetery.
Published in the Imperial Valley Press Online from 12/15/2007 - 12/17/2007.
Korean War/CCF Intervention (1950-51)/Battle of the Chosin Reservoir (Battle of Changjin)
From Month/Year
November / 1950
To Month/Year
December / 1950
Description The Battle of Chosin Reservoir, also known as the Chosin Reservoir Campaign or the Changjin Lake Campaign was a decisive battle in the Korean War. "Chosin" is the Japanese pronunciation of the Korean name, "Changjin". The UN forces relied on Japanese language maps dating from their occupation of Korea which had only ended five years earlier at the conclusion of World War II. Shortly after the People's Republic of China entered the conflict, the People's Volunteer Army 9th Army infiltrated the northeastern part of North Korea.
On 27 November, the Chinese 9th Army surprised the US X Corps commanded by Major General Edward Almond at the Chosin Reservoir area. A brutal 17 day battle in freezing weather soon followed. In the period between 27 November and 13 December 1950, 30,000 United Nations troops (later nicknamed "The Chosin Few") under the field command of Major General Oliver P. Smith were encircled and attacked by approximately 120,000 Chinese troops under the command of Song Shi-Lun, who had been ordered by Mao Zedong to destroy the UN forces. The UN forces were nonetheless able to make a fighting withdrawal and broke out of the encirclement while inflicting crippling losses on the Chinese. While the battle resulted in the Chinese pushing the UN out of North Korea, it was a Pyrrhic victory. The evacuation of the X Corps from the port of Hungnam marked the complete withdrawal of UN troops from North Korea.
