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Honoring Sergeant Carter: A Family's Journey to Uncover the Truth About an American Hero – A Biography of WWII Heroism, the Medal of Honor, and Presidential Recognition
Allene Carter's father-in-law was a decorated veteran. Yet it was not until the Carter family received a call from the White House that she discovered he was a heroic force in the Rhineland campaign. President Clinton awarded the Medal of Honor to several black soldiers who served in World War II. Sergeant Edward A. Carter Jr. was among the recipients. Shocked to learn the extent of Carter's service, Allene was determined to uncover both the truth about her father-in-law's wartime record and why his official recognition was so long in coming. Here is the story not only of Sergeant Carter but also of his family's fight to restore his honor. Theirs is a journey that takes them from local veterans organizations to the office of the president and front pages of the national media. An important piece of American history, Honoring Sergeant Carter is an enduring story of determination and family love.
224 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2003
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177 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
May 25, 2020
Great book loved it
I'ts a shame how sergeant Carter was treated by his own country . His daughter in law Allene Carter is a great person to put so much work into setting things right every family needs someone like her in it .I first heard about sergeant Carter on the Netflix show medal of honor and after watching his episode I wanted to see if there was a book on Sergeant Carter with more details about his life and was happy to find this book . I hope more people hear his story , I hope a movie will be made on sergeant Carter one day , God bless sergeant Carter and his family.
I'ts a shame how sergeant Carter was treated by his own country . His daughter in law Allene Carter is a great person to put so much work into setting things right every family needs someone like her in it .I first heard about sergeant Carter on the Netflix show medal of honor and after watching his episode I wanted to see if there was a book on Sergeant Carter with more details about his life and was happy to find this book . I hope more people hear his story , I hope a movie will be made on sergeant Carter one day , God bless sergeant Carter and his family.
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April 17, 2022This was an interesting read.
I knew little about segregation in post WW2. I learned quite a bit about the struggles African Americans faced. My original reason for reading it though was because Sgt. Carter was a Medal of Honor recipient. I wanted to learn more about what he did to earn the medal. On that, I felt disappointed.
I found this to be a quick and easy read. There was plenty of supporting information which was laid out in an easy to follow way.
A couple of areas I had a hard time with were some verbiage used to describe Carter. Along with a lack of a full telling of the actions which earned Carter the medal.
A few times Carter was referred to as a Medal of Honor winner. This is wrong, they are recipients. Earning a medal for valor isn't a contest.
It seemed the story of his actions at Spreyer only lasted 3 pages. I would have liked to know more about the battle and what the survivors saw. Really lacking for me there.
Due to these things, I just couldn't give it more stars.
I knew little about segregation in post WW2. I learned quite a bit about the struggles African Americans faced. My original reason for reading it though was because Sgt. Carter was a Medal of Honor recipient. I wanted to learn more about what he did to earn the medal. On that, I felt disappointed.
I found this to be a quick and easy read. There was plenty of supporting information which was laid out in an easy to follow way.
A couple of areas I had a hard time with were some verbiage used to describe Carter. Along with a lack of a full telling of the actions which earned Carter the medal.
A few times Carter was referred to as a Medal of Honor winner. This is wrong, they are recipients. Earning a medal for valor isn't a contest.
It seemed the story of his actions at Spreyer only lasted 3 pages. I would have liked to know more about the battle and what the survivors saw. Really lacking for me there.
Due to these things, I just couldn't give it more stars.
May 28, 2019
This is an excellent read! The author presents readers through erudition, superb storytelling, and a passion for truth the often overlooked contributions and heroism of Black American servicemen and women during WWII. As a proud inheritor of a family that has given military service to our country from the Civil War to the present, I strongly identify with SFC. Carter and his family's pride in his accomplishments and quest for vindication and acknowledgement of his contributions as a soldier and a man.
Thank you Allene Carter for your determination and scholarship and respect for one of our forgotten heroes.
Michael Grigsby
Thank you Allene Carter for your determination and scholarship and respect for one of our forgotten heroes.
Michael Grigsby
February 21, 2023
I saw an episode of Medal of Honor on Netflix about Sergeant Carter. I wanted to read this book because I found his story of heroism inspiring. The book wasn't exactly what I expected. I was hoping for a more in-depth account of his heroic acts that led to him being awarded a posthumous Medal of Honor. That being said, the book was an entertaining read that included heroism, sadness, love, patriotism, betrayal and vindication.
October 27, 2019
A sad great story
Some people are brave and some people act. Sgt. Carter was both. He knew what to do and he completed his task without complaint. He was the soldier we want when trouble is around. Our country let him down. At least the country apologized to his family and honored a very deserving soldier.
Some people are brave and some people act. Sgt. Carter was both. He knew what to do and he completed his task without complaint. He was the soldier we want when trouble is around. Our country let him down. At least the country apologized to his family and honored a very deserving soldier.
December 5, 2025
This book starts with a call made to the home of Sergeant Carter saying that the government wants to honor him with the Medal of Honor. He is deceased, his mom has dementia, & both his sons are unable to recall the facts of their dad's enlistment. As the sister-in-law, she begins a DEEP investigation into the details of her father-in
June 5, 2019
An amazing tribute to an unsung hero, who fought for his country, but whose country didn't fight for him. A gripping and sad portrait of the treatment of African-American soldiers. I'd recommend a paper copy, the electronic book lacked photos.
May 4, 2022
Great historic book
I was actually hoping for more of an account of the action the unit faced. Also photos were not in the Kindle version but I had others that were. This account is telling about how far we have come. Another historical account on the realities.
I was actually hoping for more of an account of the action the unit faced. Also photos were not in the Kindle version but I had others that were. This account is telling about how far we have come. Another historical account on the realities.
November 19, 2023
Good but also sad
Eddie Carter was an outstanding soldier. This boo had me feeling several emotions. It was very revealing and eye opening. What happened to Eddie wasn't right at all. However, Allen's Carter's dogged determination to set the record straight was inspiring.
Eddie Carter was an outstanding soldier. This boo had me feeling several emotions. It was very revealing and eye opening. What happened to Eddie wasn't right at all. However, Allen's Carter's dogged determination to set the record straight was inspiring.
March 27, 2022
I very much enjoyed this book. It's been on my shelf for some time, waiting for me to get to it. It was an easy read so I was able to read it over a couple of days.
This man's story was amazing. He lived overseas with his missionary father as a child, was trained in a Chinese military academy and joined the Chinese army briefly. Later he went to Spain and joined their military to fight in their Civil War. Then he served in the US Army in WWII, volunteering for front-line combat duty.
After the war he wanted to make the Army a career, but someone blacklisted him and didn't let him re-enlist. For years he tried to find out why, but could get no answers. Many years later, his daughter-in-law goes looking for answers and found more than she bargained for.
The story she unraveled is sad, but needs to be told. Allene Carter fights to get the record set straight, fighting all the government bureaucracy and making friends along the way who helped open doors for her. Her tenacity is an inspiration to everyone. I hope you find time to read it!
This man's story was amazing. He lived overseas with his missionary father as a child, was trained in a Chinese military academy and joined the Chinese army briefly. Later he went to Spain and joined their military to fight in their Civil War. Then he served in the US Army in WWII, volunteering for front-line combat duty.
After the war he wanted to make the Army a career, but someone blacklisted him and didn't let him re-enlist. For years he tried to find out why, but could get no answers. Many years later, his daughter-in-law goes looking for answers and found more than she bargained for.
The story she unraveled is sad, but needs to be told. Allene Carter fights to get the record set straight, fighting all the government bureaucracy and making friends along the way who helped open doors for her. Her tenacity is an inspiration to everyone. I hope you find time to read it!
March 6, 2017
This was a good book. It does make you mad, seeing how a hero was treating by his own government. But it is inspiring too. Also it showed how to go about researching your family's military history. This is a book that more children need to read. It shows where we have come from and that somethings are better, but we still have a ways to go. This was a strong family and they kept going until they made it right.
April 18, 2010
Sergeant Edward Carter was born to be a soldier, during WWII he risked his life in an action for which everyone who served with him agreed that he should have been awarded the Medal of Honor, but because he happened to be African-American he was given a DSC instead, one of several soldiers to be denied the Medal based solely on their race. Thankfully, this injustice was corrected in 1997, when President Clinton awarded the Medal to a handful of black soldiers in a White House ceremony. Allene Carter (Eddie's daughter-in law) chronicles this journey, as well as her further quest to discover why a hero like Eddie would have been barred from re-enlisting after the war.
Despite it's brevity, Honoring Sergeant Carter is a well-written, engaging, and socially important book. In addition, it's a tribute to one woman's tenacity, and proof that an ordinary citizen really can hold the government accountable for it's actions. Anyone interested in U.S. History, the Civil Rights movement, or genealogy should read this book.
Despite it's brevity, Honoring Sergeant Carter is a well-written, engaging, and socially important book. In addition, it's a tribute to one woman's tenacity, and proof that an ordinary citizen really can hold the government accountable for it's actions. Anyone interested in U.S. History, the Civil Rights movement, or genealogy should read this book.
November 28, 2025
I had seen the Netflix Medal of Honor series whose first episode was on Sgt Edward A Carter.
The book, by his daughter in law filled in some of the details the show only touched upon.
Suffice it to say, except for the overly long chapter on his father, this was an interesting read. Amazing as we think about today and totally integrated armed forces, by race, creed, gender, etc...that the army that won the peace 70 plus years ago was so racially divisive.
My father was one of the greatest generation. I truly hope he was not of the stripe of bigots like Maxwell Clark, and Hoover and many others who denied the honor due Edward Carter in his lifetime
Ps..very nice exhibition. At the National Medal of Honor Museum in Arlington TX on Sgt Carter
The book, by his daughter in law filled in some of the details the show only touched upon.
Suffice it to say, except for the overly long chapter on his father, this was an interesting read. Amazing as we think about today and totally integrated armed forces, by race, creed, gender, etc...that the army that won the peace 70 plus years ago was so racially divisive.
My father was one of the greatest generation. I truly hope he was not of the stripe of bigots like Maxwell Clark, and Hoover and many others who denied the honor due Edward Carter in his lifetime
Ps..very nice exhibition. At the National Medal of Honor Museum in Arlington TX on Sgt Carter
August 10, 2013
Another hidden chapter in history.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews