Walter Aaron Carter, Jr. was born 11 February 1922 in Havana, Cuba, the son of Walter Aaron and Mary Pitz Carter. His father was a professional horse trainer and had been connected with racing his whole life. His mother was a wonderful woman. Her love for her family was the chief motivating factor in her life, which made young Walt feel like a very special person. He had a younger sister Joan, whom he thought of as a little girl, until she came up for the hop at graduation. It was then his eyes were opened. She was something to behold, and he was so proud that he almost forgot his own date.

Walt grew up near the race tracks in Queens Village, New York and graduated from Fishburne Military School with the determination to enter West Point. He received an appointment from the Secretary of War and took the oath on the Plain at West Point in July 1942.

Walt’s roommates recall his lively sense of humor and his readiness always to help others. He had the wonderful gift of being able to relax completely during his free time, getting the most out of life, yet, when it came time to work, he gave it everything he had. It was on a cold, windy day in his yearling year that Walt and his roommates went to one of those Sunday afternoon movies aimed at making cadets forget their woes. The movie was “Westward-Ho!” and its theme was overcoming a steady stream of hardships as a group of early pioneers made their way to California. Thereafter, “Westward Ho!” became the password of that Company C-2 room. It meant: “Get back to work. Keep on going. You will make it.” And they all did.

Upon graduation in June of 1945, Walt entered the Army Air Corps. After further pilot training, he shipped out to Japan in February 1946, where he served as a P-51 pilot with the 475th Fighter Group, Fifth Air Force, with station at Itami Air Base in Japan and Yong Dong Po near Seoul, Korea. The next four years were spent in and out of fighter units until his return to the United States, where he transitioned into the Strategic Air Command (SAC) and marriage. On Christmas Eve 1950, Walt married Billie Gene Beaty, of San Angelo, Texas.

Walt then entered onto a period of relative stability with the 305th Bomb Wing of SAC in Tampa, Florida for seven years, interrupted by many temporary tours of duty and two children, Janis and Walter. Following a very pleasant stay at the Royal Air Force Staff College in England, Walt returned to SAC. This time with Headquarters, Fifteenth Air Force at March Air Force Base, California, where his third child, Julie, was born in 1960.

In 1961, Walt entered George Washington University and received a Master’s Degree in Business Administration one year later. From 1963 to 1967, he served at the Pentagon in the J-3 Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, where he received career recognition for his keen insight and professionalism.

Following was a brief year at Homestead Air Force Base, as Deputy Commander for Operations with the 19th Bomb Wing and on to McCoy Air Force Base, where Walt was Vice Commander, 306th Bomb Wing. His knowledge, skill and expertise in directing air operations enabled him to contribute greatly to the command and management of all B-52 crews in the Western Pacific. He personally led 23 waves of aircraft on combat missions as airborne commander, achieving 100 percent mission effectiveness in every case. This outstanding feat only could be achieved by untiring efforts and a methodical approach, which was so characteristic of Walt’s performance.

In 1970, Walt was transferred to Headquarters SAC, Offut Air Force Base, Nebraska. Under Walt’s direction, the task force which represented SAC in the 1972 Royal Air Force Bombing and Navigation Competition accomplished an unprecedented feat in winning the “Blue Steel” trophy for the third consecutive year and the “Electronics” trophy for the first time in the history of SAC participation.

From 1972-1973, Walt experienced a short stay at Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, where he assumed the position of Senior Representative of the SAC Systems Office. In this capacity, he interfaced with the scientific community and industry contractors, providing on-site representation of such programs as the B-l Bomber, the Subsonic Cruise Armed Decoy and the Short Range Attack Missile.

In 1973, Walt was appointed commander of Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, truly the highlight of his distinguished career. Vandenberg Air Force is one of the largest bases in the Air Force and as Walt said, “the best kept secret.” Besides supporting various missile operations, Walt spearheaded several other vitally important projects. Among them were the 1974 Air Force Symposium and the 1974 SAC Missile Combat Competition. Both events, considered by all who attended as the “best ever”, were fruits of Walt’s effective executive-level planning. In addition, VAFB was selected by SAC as the best example of ecological conservation and resource management. Walt was a “full time” base commander (his family will testify) who searched out problems and constantly strove to perfect all areas under him. He was firm in his convictions yet was a real team man who worked in harmony with others. He was highly respected by all his subordinates and contemporaries for his abilities. As Major General John W. Pauly said, “I must classify Colonel Carter as the most effective base commander I have observed throughout my career.”

After thirty years of dedication and service, Walt retired from the Air Force in June of 1975. He was subsequently hired by Bechtel Power Corporation, Procurement Division, in sunny southern California. Walt and Billie bought their first home, near the golf course, in Laguna Niguel.

In August of 1983, Walt developed cancer. After a very short month at home, he passed away on 24 September 1983. Walt is interred at West Point, the school he loved. He is survived by his wife Billie, daughters Janis and Julie, and son Walter.

Throughout his colorful life, Walt set high standards and goals for himself and displayed a sometimes awesome determination to reach them. He always felt “lucky” over the choice assignments he received throughout his career, never recognizing that they were largely a consequence of his career-long excellence. In a real sense, Walt was the Air Force. His career reflected the words of the Cadet Prayer: “Encourage us in our endeavor to live above the common level of life—Grant us new ties of friendship and opportunities of service.”

As a father and a husband, Walt took great pride in his family. He was caring, considerate and a true friend. Everything that happened in Walt’s life, whether large or small, was a real joy to him. Yet, there was one characteristic that set him apart from all others ... he loved, leaving the world richer for his presence.

“Well done, good and faithful servant ... enter thou into the joy of the Lord.” (Matthew 25:31)