by Shirley Demus Tarpley
NDG Staff Writer
Carter was tall and statuette for his age; and at the age of 16, he lied about his age and enlisted in the United States National Guard. After basic training, he went to Tacoma, Washington; then flown to Seattle, Washington. Following training, Recruit Carter, became Private Carter and shipped to Anchorage, Alaska. Finally, put on a train; and around 40 miles later, he was at his final destination, Fairbanks, Alaska, the coldest city in the United States. The average temperature in Alaska was 40 to 50 degrees below freezing. The extreme cold weather was dangerous. If someone did not recognize just how cold it was, they could easily get frost bitten or freeze to death.
President Harry S. Truman, saw the United States end WW II in 1953, gave orders to send the #450 Battalion Black soldiers to Alaska. Carter was first in the #719 Battalion, an anti-aircraft unit; then sent from #719 Battalion to the #450 Battalion, a combat unit. Carter was a member of the first 2,000 plus Africa Americans’ Full Battalions.
This battalion was sent to Fairbanks in order to protect the United States’ border (which ran from California to Canada along the Yukon River) from the Russian soldiers. In Fairbanks, anyone could look across the Yukon River, which is similar to the Trinity River in the Metroplex, and see Russia.
After six months in Fairbanks, Carter was promoted to 1st Class Private Carter, then promoted to Corporal Carter and finally 1st Class Corporal Carter. In the Army, a soldier could get a promotion every six months, depending on his attitude, conduct, abilities, etc.. Carter was a quick learner who obeyed all orders and performed his duties well.
Carter’s Commanding Officer was Captain Carter, no kin to him. When I asked him for the Captain’s first name, he told me that when Captain Carter first introduced himself, he said, “My first name is Captain, and my last name is Carter that is all you need to know.” And so it was.
There were teams of four guards on duty for each half of a mile along the Yukon River. Two were going and two were coming back at all times, and each team patrolled for about one hour. It was too cold to patrol longer than one hour because of the risk of frostbite.
In Fairbanks, Carter found Eskimo people. The 2,000 plus Black men and the color of their skin fascinated the Eskimos. Also in Alaska, they had dry snow meaning the wind could blow drifts easily and pile the snow in high stacks. There were different colors of bears, black, brown and white polar bears, white and grayish wolves and large moose with antlers that were four to six feet long. On a white polar bear only their eyes and nose are black, so it was necessary to be extremely close to see them in the snow.
The homes were round to keep the snow from settling on top of them. The doors had to be built in an L-shape or zigzag pattern to keep the wind-blown dry snow from blocking the entrance to the homes.
When a truck parked overnight, it required leaving a heater in the motor chamber to keep it from freezing. Any liquid poured or dropped liquid would freeze the moment it came in contact with the ground.
Also, Carter said that there was a lot to learn for those that did not think about the world spinning on an axel; just visit or live in Fairbanks, Alaska and witness the earth spinning on an axel. In addition, during the months of October, November, December, January and part of February there was only approximately one hour of daylight; the rest of the time it was like sundown.
When the Black soldiers first arrived, the weather was so cold that they had to change their socks twice a day, and they had to sleep in tents for three months while the engineers build permanent barracks. Once the soldiers became accustomed to the sub-cold weather, Captain Carter ordered the troops to complete their morning calisthenics (exercise) and military maneuvers in their t-shirts.
It took the engineers more than six months to complete the mess hall, commissaries, suitable roads and airport. The soldiers were mighty glad when they completed the project, because then they no longer had to eat outside in their cold tents.
Carter laughs when he thinks about their daily menu routine. They ate potatoes three times each day for iron, energy and to feel full. The lunch menu always included beans. They varied including red beans, lima beans; saving string beans for exceptional occasions because only a few people wanted to shell them. The men ate meat (beef, pork or chicken) with every meal.
Fish was served every Friday. They also ate plenty of flounder (a large fish with both eyes on one side of its head.) The flounder has grayish brown mottled skin with orange spots and prickly scales, and they adapt to the surrounding colors for protection from their enemies and for slipping upon their prey.
Initially, Carter received training as a communication expert, but at Fairbanks he was a truck driver pulling heavy equipment and generators. The trucks had short-wave radios. Even today, Carter still likes his short-wave radio and it plays 24-7 in his bedroom, he said. The soldiers often reported to the switchboard operators their positions and conditions of their surroundings. Carter was also a weapons gunner; trained to use the 40, 90 and 120-millimeter guns that shot bullets weighing 40 pounds and more. The bullets were 2 feet and more long; and they could travel a mile and more; also, they would explode upon impact.
When Carter arrived in Fairbanks his salary was $70 a month, and then $96 dollars a month; he got a promotion in rank and received $300 a month. However, with free housing, clothing, meals and laundry service he did not need a lot of money to spend, so he sent money home for his parents to use and saved the majority of his earnings.
The soldiers received their payment in silver dollars, but the coins could be exchanged for paper money at the airport. Silver dollars were difficult to carry around in pants pockets. A solider could only keep about $10 in the pockets of their pants, any more would cause their pants to fall. The soldiers could receive passes every weekend to town to see a movie, shop at local stores or visit the local bars and restaurants, and to meet females.
Carter received an honorable discharge in 1954 and lived in California for a while before moving back to Texas. He is married to Jearline. Carter has two sons, Monaque, Jr. (Bubba) and Wayne (Big E), six grandchildren and six great grandchildren. He is the solo-surviving uncle on the Carter side of the family with, “a bunch of nieces and nephews,” he said.
For his 80th birthday on September 3, 2011, he had plenty of nieces and nephews travel from Tennessee, Ohio, California, Houston, Fort Worth, Gilmer, Dangerfield, and more. The family celebrated his birthday for a week, beginning on Saturday, September 3 through Sunday, September 11. The celebration included church service at Greater Mount Hebron Missionary Baptist Church where Rev. Fred Conwright, his nephew, is the Senior Pastor. The church began in April of 1963 with 16 adult members. Carter, a founding member, later became a deacon. The majority of members, kin or no kin, adults and children affectionately call him “Uncle Mont”; this is probably because his nephew, the Pastor, calls him “Uncle Mont” and he is the oldest surviving founding member and deacon.
Needless to say, Carter received numerous cards, letters and money (especially from some nieces and nephews that were not able to attend the week-long celebration); he also received a Citizen’s Eco Drive watch from a granddaughter. He is godly proud to show off and brag about his watch along with his many other gifts, that he also shows excitedly to friends and visitors.
When the party ended on Saturday, November 10, Robert, a nephew, asked “Uncle Mont” if he needed help in carrying a particular gift bag (the one with the money and checks in it) to his car. He quickly told Robert that he could easily handle that job by himself.
Carter has the respect and admiration of his neighbors – both young and old. One particular young neighbor, Jennifer, who lives across the street from him, calls him “Mr. Clark” not Mr. Carter. Her entire family and friends call him, “Mr. Clark.” He tried many times unsuccessful to correct Jennifer, but he was not successful, so he now accepts the name and answers to “Mr. Clark” when they speak and talk to him.
One day when Monaque, Jr., (Bubba) heard Jennifer say, “Hi Mr. Clark,” and Carter answered her with, “Hi Jennifer.” Bubba looked at him and asked, “What did she call you?”
He said to Bubba, “It’s a long story, I’ll tell you about it.”
Carter is extremely grateful and thankful to say, “God has been good to me these 80 years, mighty good; and I thank Him for His blessings, His goodness and His mercy.”
Happy Veterans Day to all the terrific veterans; may God bless you with a healthy and long life. North Dallas Gazette’s staff is grateful for your dedication in protecting the United States of America during your military service to our great country.
