This Military Service Page was created/owned by
SSgt Anthony Milanes
to remember
Marine Maj Henry Carter (Hank).
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Contact Info
Last Address Gillespie
Date of Passing Dec 13, 2007
Location of Interment Riverview Cemetery District - Brawley, California
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Unofficial Badges
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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/First UN Counteroffensive (1951)/Operation Killer
From Month/Year
February / 1951
To Month/Year
March / 1951
Description The 2nd Division jumped-off on "Operation Killer" on 22 February. The initial advance was slow, not so much due to resistance as to terrain. The sector assigned to the 2nd Division presented enormous problems. However, by 1700 hours both the 9th and 38th Infantry Regiments had reached the Chuchon River where swift waters and a lack of bridges delayed crossing. The engineers constructed a foot bridge for immediate use of the 9th Infantry and, in the 23rd Infantry Regiment's zone of advance, tanks of the regimental tank company were used to ferry people to the north bank. The 9th Infantry ran into moderate resistance on 23 February but with all three battalions teaming up, an enemy force of 2,000 was routed, dispersed to the north, leaving their dead and wounded behind. The Second Battalion of the 23rd Infantry, with the 37th Infantry FA Bn attached, moved east into the 7th Division zone on 26 February in preparation for an attack on the following day on Ungyo-ri, an important town on the Hoengsong-Pangnimni road. The 9th Infantry, after securing Haanhung-ni, west of Ungyo-ri, sent a battalion eastward along the road in anticipation of an enemy withdrawal from Ungyo-ri when the Second Battalion of the 23rd Infantry launched its assault. The evening of this last day of February found the 2nd Division in positions astride the Hoengsong-Pangnimni road in its sector and preparing to continue its advance to Phase Line Arizona which paralleled the road roughly 7,000 meters to the north. Ahead of the Division were strong elements of the 17th and 18th CCF Divisions and lesser elements of the III and V North Korean Corps which were retreating slowly to the north in the face of the grinding X Corps offensive. Intelligence reports indicated the foe intended to delay the advance as much as possible while he prepared fixed defenses north of the 38th parallel. "Operation Ripper," was designed to carry UN forces to the 38th Parallel. Similar to "Operation Killer" it aimed at maximum destruction of enemy personnel and equipment with minimal friendly casualties. It wasn't the character of the opposition so much, although at times throughout the month it was fanatic and as strong as any ever faced. It was the terrain, coupled with alternate spring thaws, rains and days of sub-zero freezes which hampered every activity and wrought unprecedented burdens on every unit and operation. The operation concluded by the end of March.
