Airman Third Class Carter was a member of the 11the Food Service Squadron, 18th Air Base Group. On 23 July 1953, while driving a jeep up a hill near Osan-ni Air Base (K-55), it stalled then rolled back on a railroad track. He was hit by a train before he could leave the jeep.

Carter was awarded the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.