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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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 Ripper
From Month/Year
March / 1951
To Month/Year
April / 1951
Description Operation Ripper, also known as the Fourth Battle of Seoul, was a United Nations military operation conceived by the commander US Eighth Army, General Matthew Ridgway, during the Korean War. The operation was intended to destroy as much as possible of the Chinese communist People's Volunteer Army and North Korean military around Seoul and the towns of Hongch'on, 50 miles (80 km) east of Seoul, and Ch'unch'on, 15 miles (24 km) further south. The operation also aimed to bring UN troops to the 38th parallel. It followed upon the heels of Operation Killer, an eight-day UN offensive that concluded February 28, to push Communist forces north of the Han River. The operation was launched on March 6, 1951 with the US I Corps and IX Corps on the west near Seoul and Hoengsong and US X Corps and ROK III Corps in the east, to reach "Line Idaho", an arc with its apex just south of the 38th Parallel in South Korea.
Operation Ripper was preceded by the largest artillery bombardment of the Korean War. On the middle, the U.S. 25th Infantry Division quickly crossed the Han and established a bridgehead. Further to the east, IX Corps reached its first phase line on 11 March. Three days later the advance proceeded to the next phase line. During the night of March 14–15, elements of the South Korean 1st Infantry Division and the US 3rd Infantry Division liberated Seoul, marking the fourth and last time the capital would have changed hands since June 1950. The Communist forces were compelled to abandon it when the UN approach to the east of the city threatened them with encirclement.
Following the recapture of Seoul the communist forces retreated northward, conducting skillful delaying actions that utilized the rugged, muddy terrain to maximum advantage, particularly in the mountainous US X Corps sector. Despite such obstacles, Operation Ripper pressed on throughout March. In the mountainous central region, the US IX and US X Corps pushed forward methodically, the IX Corps against light opposition and the X Corps against staunch enemy defenses. Hongch'on was taken on the 15th and Ch'unch'on secured on the 22nd. The capture of Ch'unch'on was the last major ground objective of Operation Ripper.
UN forces had advanced north an average of 30 miles (48 km) from their start lines. However, while the US Eighth Army had occupied their principal geographic objectives, the goal of destroying Chinese forces and equipment had again proved elusive. More often than not, the communist forces withdrew before they suffered extensive damage. Ch'unch'on, a major communist supply hub, was empty by the time UN forces finally occupied it. As the U.N. troops ground forward, they were constantly descending sharp slopes or ascending steep heights to attack enemy positions that were sometimes above the clouds. By the end of March, US forces reached the 38th parallel.
