World War II Honoree

William L. Carter

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Flora, Illinois

Honored By

Ms. Phyllis Carter

Relationship

Wife

ENTERED ACTIVE SERVICE AS A DRAFTEE ON JANUARY 30, 1943 AT CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. SELECTED FOR THE ARMY AIR CORPS, COMPLETED BASIC TRAINING AND VOLUNTEERED FOR AVIATION CADET TRAINING IN APRIL 1944. ACCEPTED AND GRADUATED FROM THE FLEXIBLE GUNNERY SCHOOL AT TYNDALL FIELD, FLORIDA ON SEPTEMBER 16, 1944 AND NAVIGATOR SCHOOL AT SAN MARCOS ARMY AIR FIELD, SAN MARCOS, TEXAS ON JANUARY 12, 1945. HONORABLY DISCHARGED THAT DATE AND ENTERED ACTIVE DUTY AS A SECOND LIEUTENANT THE NEXT DAY. ASSIGNED TO B-24 FORMED CREW #65 AS NAVIGATOR AT THE OPERATIONAL TRAINING UNIT, CHARLESTON ARMY AIR BASE, CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA. DEPARTED THE CONTINENTAL U.S. ON JULY 18, 1945 BOUND FOR THE PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS. SERVED AS A B-24 LIBERATOR NAVIGATOR-BOMBARDIER THROUGH THE CLOSING DAYS OF THE WAR, SEEING ACTION IN THE WESTERN PACIFIC, BORNEO, AIR OFFENSIVE CHINA, AND AIR OFFENSIVE JAPAN CAMPAIGNS. EARNED THE AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 4 BRONZE BATTLE STARS, WWII VICTORY MEDAL AND THE PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL. HONORABLY SEPARATED FROM THE 208TH BOMB WING AND ACTIVE SERVICE AS A FIRST LIEUTENANT ON JUNE 26, 1946 AT THE SEPARATION CENTER, JEFFERSON BARRACKS, MISSOURI.