This hardcore charger is SSgt. Edward A. Carter Jr. Born in Los Angeles, CA in 1916, Carter was exposed to war at a very young age. Being a son of missionaries, he lived most of his childhood abroad, to include India and China.
At the age of 15, while in Shanghai, Carter ran away from home to join the Chinese Nationalist Army fighting against invading Japanese during the Shanghai Incident. He was forced to leave because of his age, but that didn't stop him. Carter eventually made his way to Europe and joined the Abraham Lincoln Brigade, which was an American volunteer unit supporting the Spanish Loyalists fighting against General Francisco Franco's regime during the Spanish Civil War.
Carter enlisted the U.S. Army on September 26, 1941. As a result of his previous combat experience, he stood out among the other recruits. In less than a year, he had achieved the rank of staff sergeant and was attached to the 7th AIC, 56th Armored Infantry Battalion, 12th Armored Division.
On March 23, 1945, near Speyer, Germany, SSgt. Carter was riding on a tank when it was hit by a German rocket. While staying zero, he dismounted and led three soldiers across an open field under heavy enemy fire in order to hunt the down the ambushing Germans. In the process, two of the men were killed and the other seriously wounded. Carter continued alone and was wounded five times before being forced to take cover.
Eight German soldiers tried to capture him, but he killed six and captured the remaining two. He used the two captured Germans as a shield from enemy fire as he recrossed the field. His prisoners provided valuable information on enemy-troop disposition for his unit.
For his actions, SSgt. Carter was initially awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, until it was upgraded to the Medal of Honor in 1997.
Carter passed away in 1963 and he's buried in Arlington National Cemetery. #ww2 #stayzero #zerofoxtrot