Thomas C. Carter, Jr.

Submitted by: Ward Calhoun {friend of family & researcher}

Thomas C Carter Jr. was born around 1889. Thomas Carter served in World War 1 with the United States Army. The enlistment was in 1917 and the service was completed in 1918.

Story of Service

 

Thomas Carter's education began in 1906 at the Marion Military Institute, graduating in 1908. He applied for OCS in 1917 and was accepted for training at Ft Ogelthorpe, Tn. He was commissioned in December 1917 as a 1st Lt and moved to Ft Gordon, Ga. His unit, the 320 Machine Gun Battalion, was part of the 82nd Division.

In April 1918, Lt Carter was on his way to England and France. He wrote letters to his family from training camp until just before his death in October 1918. Tom was all for the war because of the atrocities he saw and knew the Allies would prevail.

On October 13, 1918, Lt Carter & Lt Godshall volunteered for a recon mission to locate machine gun positions around Marg, France. They came under heavy artillery fire with gas shells. Lt Godshall was wounded and Lt Carter was killed . Godshall was unable to return with Lt Carter's body. Several parties were sent out that night but they came under heavy shell fire and had to return without Lt Carter.

After the Muse-Argonne offensive ended, Lt Carter's body was retrieved and buried at a cemetery at Fleville, France. In 1919, he was moved to the Muse-Argonne Cemetery.

In 1921, Lt Carter came home and laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery. plot 4000 WH. His father, a veteran of the War Between the States, had a stroke upon hearing his son was dead. Sadness visited the Carter family, friends, and local officials.

Lt Carter was considered an All American Boy, all who knew or worked with him had the highest regard for him. This is evident by all the letters written to his family from enlisted soldiers and officers.

The American Legion Post 21, in Meridian, Miss. is named for Lt Carter. After learning his son was dead, Mr Carter, a veteran of the War Between the States, had a deliberating stroke. Tom wrote one letter to his father expressing his desire "to have as good a record as his father had during the War Between the States."

The Lauderdale County Archives, in Meridian, Miss. has the burial flag used at Arlington as well as the letters written home by Lt Carter as well as the letters of condolence written to the family from friends, family, and state officials.