Audrey Casari
Guest Writer Ray Olson
Lt. Col. Jack D. Carpenter, WWII, Korea, Silver Star and Purple Heart
Jack Carpenter was born on June 19, 1924 in Jamestown, New York. He grew up in Indian River, Michigan. His parents, Floyde and Una May [Constable] resided in Koehler township.
Jack joined the army in 1934, and by July of 1943 he was company commander of Company A. 99th Infantry Division, 393rd Infantry Regiment at Camp Van Dorn, Mississippi. This was a training company. Jack wrote, “I have had quite some trouble with my company in getting them to dig foxholes and slit trenches because it is hard work to dig the trenches in the fact that it is hard to dig in the type of soil that we have here.”
When WWII arrived, Jack’s company was sent to Italy. They were in combat with our 10th Mountain Division for 151 days. He was Rst, Company Commander of Company E, 86th Infantry Regiment. This infantry captured hill 868 at Rocca D. Rolfena. On May 1, 1944 he moved his companies into Riva, where the regimental camp post was located.
The Germans surrendered in North Italy on May 2, 1945. The Italians celebrated with great joy. Jack’s men wondered where they would next be sent. The men were relieved that the war was over in Europe, but they dreaded the thought of being sent to fight the Japanese.
The casualties in Jack’s company had been very high. The total number of men who fought in Italy in the 86th Mountain Infantry was 4,785. Of these, 1,770 (37%) were replacements who joined the regiment in Italy.
From January 6 to May 2, 1945, there were 246 men who were killed in action or who died of wounds. Of those who were wounded in action, 1,128. There were six prisoners of war.
In WWII, 20,000 men saw combat serving in the 10th Mountain Division in Italy. The division sustained 5,000 casualties, including those killed in action, missing in action, wounded in action, and prisoners of war.
Lieutenant Colonel Jack Carpenter also fought in Korea with the Second Infantry Division. He retired in 1969 with 34 years in the service. He was awarded a Purple Heart and a Silver Star.
Jack married twice, first to Aleda Yaeger, who died young. Later, he married Nell King.
Jack became an active member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, the Tenth Mountain Division Association, the Military Order of the Purple Heart, the Retired Officers Association, the Kiwanis Club, and the Sportsmans Club of Indian River.
Lieutenant Colonel Jack Donald Carpenter passed away on April 21, 1986, and he was interred in the Ohioville cemetery, Cheboygan County, MI.
The people of Cheboygan County can be proud of all who served in World War II, and Jack Carpenter gave all that he could give, to serve and to save our country, so that we can live in peace today. We honor him and we are filled with gratitude that he was ours!