This Military Service Page was created/owned by
MAJ Mark E Cooper
to remember
Carter, Sherwood, Sr. (Nick), LTC.
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Contact Info
Last Address San Diego, CA
Date of Passing Dec 24, 2011
Location of Interment Miramar National Cemetery (VA) - San Diego, California
Sherwood "Nick" Carter, Sr. was born on 16 March 1921 in Texas. He attended college at New Mexico A&M in Las Cruces, NM. In WWII, he served in the 517th Parachute Infantry under COL Lou Walsh. In August 1944, Sherwood made a combat jump into Southern France. The unit was awarded six campaign battle stars and the French Croix de Guerre with Silver Gilt Star. He also served in the 13th Airborne Division, 11th Airborne Division in Japan (Occupation Force) and the 82nd Airborne Division. He was also a charter member of the 187th Parachute Infantry Regiment and made the two Korean War combat jumps into Sunchon Ni and Munsan Ni. He was later reassigned to the 503rd Regiment , 11th Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, KY.Sherwood also served in West Germany with the 109th Infantry Division and the 10th Infantry Division.
In 1953, Sherwood began his Special Forces career. He subsequently served in the 77th , 10th, 1st, 5th and Special Forces Groups. In 1957, Sherwood was part of a Mobile Training Team that trained General Chang Kai-Sheck's 50 man cadre on Taiwan.
During his military career, he received 3 awards of the Combat Infantryman's Badge (WWII, Korea and Vietnam), Broze Star Medal, numerous other awards and campaign ribbons with bronze battle stars and bronze arrowhead devices, Master Parachutist badge with 3 combat jump stars, Glider Badge, and both Chinese and Vietnamese Jump Wings. In 1967, Sherwood retired as a Lieutenant Colonel.
Five days after retiring, he was sworn in to the US State Department as a Foreign Service Officcer. He attended the Foreign Service Instiutute and the International Police Academy in Washington DC. While he was attending the academy, his classmates nicknamed him "Nick Carter, Private Eye", and the name stuck. Upon graduation, he was assigned to South Vietnam, from August 1967 to 1974. He was present during the 1968 Tet Offensive, 1969 Tet Offensive, and the 1972 Spring Offensive. In Saigon, Sherwood met Bernita Dykeman, who was working as a foreign service secretary. Sherwood and Bea were married by the village chief of the Bien True, Bien Hoa Province. In 1970, they had another marriage ceremony by the Lutheran Chaplain at Bien Hoa Airbase. Sherwood, Jr served with the 7th SFG and as a Lieutenant with the 5th SFG. His youngest son Richard also served with the US Army in Vietnam.
Sherwood was a charter member of SFA Chapter LXXV (75) when it was formed in 1997. Many of the chapter meeting ended with "Nick" telling a classic and humerous SF story from long ago.
On 24 December 2011, Sherwood "Nick" Cater passwed away in his sleep at his home in San Diego, CA. This American Soldier will be cremated with an intenment at Miramar National Cemetery. He will be greatly missed by his family, friends, the Special Forces community, and a country that he served so well.
WWII - European Theater of Operations/Southern France Campaign (1944)/Operation Dragoon
From Month/Year
August / 1944
To Month/Year
September / 1944
Description Operation Dragoon (initially Operation Anvil) was the code name for the landing operation of the Allied invasion of Provence (Southern France) on 15 August 1944. The operation was initially planned to be executed in conjunction with Operation Overlord, the Allied landing in Normandy, but the lack of available resources led to a cancellation of the second landing. By July 1944 the landing was reconsidered, as the clogged-up ports in Normandy did not have the capacity to adequately supply the Allied forces. Concurrently, the French High Command pushed for a revival of the operation that would include large numbers of French troops. As a result, the operation was finally approved in July to be executed in August.
The goal of the invasion was to secure the vital ports on the French Mediterranean coast and increase pressure on the German forces by opening another front. After some preliminary commando operations, the US VI Corps landed on the beaches of the Côte d'Azur under the shield of a large naval task force, followed by several divisions of the French Army B. They were opposed by the scattered forces of the German Army Group G, which had been weakened by the relocation of its divisions to other fronts and the replacement of its soldiers with third-rate Ostlegionen outfitted with obsolete equipment.
Hindered by Allied air supremacy and a large-scale uprising by the French Resistance, the weak German forces were swiftly defeated. The Germans withdrew to the north through the Rhône valley, to establish a stable defense line at Dijon. Allied mobile units were able to overtake the Germans and partially block their route at the town of Montélimar. The ensuing battle led to a stalemate, with neither side able to achieve a decisive breakthrough, until the Germans were finally able to complete their withdrawal and retreat from the town. While the Germans were retreating, the French managed to capture the important ports of Marseille and Toulon, soon putting them into operation.
The Germans were not able to hold Dijon and ordered a complete withdrawal from Southern France. Army Group G retreated further north, pursued by Allied forces. The fighting ultimately came to a stop at the Vosges mountains, where Army Group G was finally able to establish a stable defense line. After meeting with the Allied units from Operation Overlord, the Allied forces were in need of reorganizing and, facing stiffened German resistance, the offensive was halted on 14 September. Operation Dragoon was considered a success by the Allies. It enabled them to liberate most of Southern France in just four weeks while inflicting heavy casualties on the German forces, although a substantial part of the best German units were able to escape. The captured French ports were put into operation, allowing the Allies to solve their supply problems quickly.
