TUSKEGEE ALABAMA- The surviving member of the City of Tuskegee's "First Family" passed away last Thursday after a brief hospital stay. Retired Lt. Col. Herbert Eugene Carter, an original WW II Tuskegee Airman, died at 95 years old. He is preceded in death by his beloved wife of 68 years, Alabama's First Black Lady pilot, Mildred Hemmonds Carter last year. The couple was revered by their historic community.
Their romance began at the Tuskegee Institute as the fabric of most Veterans of WWII during the early 1940s. But in their time, racial and gender bias in military aviation resulted in the Tuskegee experiment and "the Cradle of Black Aviation" in America. It is the home of the famous 99th Pursuit Squadron, the Tuskegee Airmen.
Carter, who flew 77 combat missions, continued to serve in the Air Force after the war before retiring as a lieutenant colonel in 1969. He then became the associate dean for student services at Tuskegee University and served in several other positions there.
-Lt. Col. Herbert Eugene Carter dies at 95-
Awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in a ceremony by President George Bush, Col Carter and many Tuskegee Airmen lived to see their legacy honored. He was also present at the long fought for grand opening of the National Parks Tuskegee Museum at Moton Field.
He enjoyed traveling, sharing the Tuskegee Airmen legacy worldwide especially with youth. Carter, along with other airmen, spent time advising George Lucas during pre-production of Red Tails, a film released earlier this year about the pilots.
This year, Carter began to limit appearances for health reasons. He was still able to visit the Alabama Governor for a "Red Tail Day" Proclamation signing and speak at Maxwell Air Force Base's Gunter Annex. He intended to speak at the 38th Annual Patriots Day Program and Grand Marshall a parade in Gadsden last Wednesday but was hospitalized. Retired Col Roosevelt Lewis stood in for his best friend and long time companion at the podium. He told the crowd that he would be leaving to visit Col Carter in the hospital after the event ended.
Spending the rest of the day and night at the hospital with Col Carter, his family and friends, Col Lewis said he was able to tell him goodbye. "Thursday afternoon," said Lewis, "My second closest friend passed away." He was referring to his college mentor from Tuskegee University, Alfred "Chief" Anderson as his first. -B Meyer
Arrangements for Col Carter: Viewing on Wednesday from 1:00-3:00 pm at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, 701 W Montgomery Road, Tuskegee, AL.
Funeral services on Thursday in the Tuskegee University Chapel at 3:00pm, the Reverend Father Liston A. Garfield officiating.
The family request Memorials for Col Carter may be sent to the Herbert E. Carter and Mildred Carter Scholarship Fund of the Tuskegee Chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen to:
Tuskegee Airmen Inc
PO Box 609
Tuskegee, AL 36087