This Military Service Page was created/owned by
CW2 Phillip M. Kemp (Mike)
to remember
Carter, Paul Dean, CPT.
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Casualty Info
Home Town Louisville, KY
Last Address Louisville, KY
Casualty Date May 27, 1971
Cause KIA-Killed in Action
Reason Air Loss, Crash - Land
Location Quang Tri (Vietnam)
Conflict Vietnam War
Location of Interment Louisville Memorial Gardens - Louisville, Kentucky
Wall/Plot Coordinates 03W 056/ Old Rugged Cross, Lot 394, Space 3
I considered CPT Paul Carter, who we called George, a good friend. George was very well liked and was a very good pilot. I can't remember his call sign other than it being Charlie Horse. I recall that the official story was that they hit a snag while making gunruns in support of a ground unit. The unofficial version was that George had been saying that he was going to show WO1 Foy a thing or two, or make a point for some reason. He had been making his dives steeper than usual and pulling out lower than usual. According to most versions, they were not supporting any ground unit; George just flew it into the ground. It was a tragedy for everyone that knew him. I don't know what was on his mind or what happened but if the unofficial version is true George was acting very much out of character.
Comments/Citation:
Captain Paul Dean Carter was a casualty of the Vietnam War. As a member of the US Army Reserve, CPT Carter served our country until May 27th, 1971 in Quang Tri, South Vietnam. He was 28 years old and was married. It was reported that Paul died when his plane was shot down and crashed. His body was recovered. Paul was born on January 16th, 1943 in Louisville,Ky. CPT Carter is on panel 03W, line 056 of the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington D.C. He served our country for 1 year.
He was the handsome high school football hero of every girl's dreams at Butler High School in Louisville, Ky. He held the state high school shotput and discus records for many years. He left us too soon. This remembrance has put me in contact with Paul's nephew Chris, who lives in Indiana. We now correspond by email, not only about Paul but about Chris and his son who has served in Irag but came home safely, by the grace of God. Peg.
He was the husband of Janice L. Carter of Louisville and the son of William C. Sr. and Mary G. Dodds Carter in Louisville on January 16, 1943. Cpt Paul Dean Carter served as a Captain with Delta Troop, 3rd Squadron, 4th Cavalry, 5th Infantry Division, USARV.
He was awarded The Purple Heart Medal for his combat wounds, The Air Medal with Devices, The National Defense Service Medal, The Vietnam Service Medal, The Vietnam Campaign Medal and The Vietnamese Gallantry Cross Unit Citation.
Vietnam War/Counteroffensive Phase VII Campaign (1970-71)
From Month/Year
July / 1970
To Month/Year
June / 1971
Description This campaign was from 1 Jul 1970 to 30 June 1971. Fighting continued in Cambodia during early February before and after South Vietnam began its U.S.-aided drive in Laos, Lam Son 719, the most significant operation during this campaign.
Lam Son 719 was conducted out of I Corps by Vietnamese troops with US fire and air support. Their object was to cut the Ho Chi Minh Trail and to destroy enemy bases at Techepone, Laos. The operation consisted of four phases. In Phases I, called Operation DEWEY CANYON II, the 1st Brigade, US 5th Infantry Division (Mechanized) occupied the Khe Sanh area and cleared Route No. 9 up to the Laotian border. In the meantime, the US 101st Airborne Division conducted diversionary operations in the A Shau Valley. The US 45th Engineer Group had the mission of repairing Route No. 9 up to the Laotian border. This lasted from 30 January to 7 February 1971. During Phase II US forces continued to provide fire support, helilift, and tactical and strategic air support for ARVN units. This phase was 8 February to March 1971. Phase III ran from March to 16 March 1971; Phase IV was the withdrawal phase.
Faced with mounting losses, Lt. Gen. Hoang Xuan Lam, the commander of the invasion forces, decided to cut short the operation and ordered a withdrawal.
Lam Son 719, though it was less than a signal success, forestalled a Communist offensive in the spring of 1971. Enemy units and replacements enroute south were diverted to the scene of the action.
