Sam Carter

My original home was Nellis, WV, from 1941 to 1949 with temporary moves to Charleston, WV, Virginia, and New Jersey while my father served in the Army during WW II. I attended Nellis Elementary School in the first and second grades, and we moved to Montcoal in 1949.

From 1949 until 1963 we lived in three different houses in Montcoal as our family grew. I graduated from MFHS in 1959 and went to West Virginia University where I received a BS degree in Business admin in June 1963. While at WVU, I was enrolled in Air Force ROTC and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the AF upon graduation. I had no intention of pursuing a military career at that time, but the draft was breathing down my neck, so it looked like a good idea go in the Air Force. Little did I know at that time, but that turned out to be the best decision I ever made! It set the pattern for the rest of my life.

From 1963 until 1973 I served on active duty in the USAF with numerous interesting assignments. I attended pilot training at Moody AFB in Georgia and earned my pilot wings in Feb 1965. I then went to Davis - Monthan AFB, AZ, for training in the F-4 Phantom II fighter which I flew for the rest of my active duty tour. After training, I was assigned to Eglin AFB, FL, and then to Da Nang, RVN, for my first combat tour in 1966 where I flew 110 combat missions, 100 of them over North Viet Nam. After Viet Nam, I went to Bitburg, Germany for three years then back to the US to Holloman AFB, NM. During my tour in NM. I again got the opportunity to fly combat. In 1972, I flew another 100 combat missions over North and South Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, for a grand total of over 200 combat missions and over 440 hours of combat flying time.

In 1973, I moved to Florida where I joined the Florida Air National Guard to continue my flying career. After a two year stint working for the IRS, I got a full time flying position with the ANG. While here in the Florida Air National Guard for 22 years, I flew the F-102, F-106, F-16, T-33, and C-26 aircraft. I served as an air defense alert pilot, Safety Officer, Deputy Commander for Maintenance, and Vice Commander of the 125 th Fighter Wing. I flew right up until my last day of service and amassed over 6,000 hours of flying time. It was a great and fun career. I really got lucky!

In 1959, while a senior at MFHS, I met my wife, Mary Baker, from Beckley, and burned up the road between Montcoal and Beckley for four years in our old '57 Chevy. We were married immediately after graduation from WVU in 1963. Mary has put up with me for 49 years now and has been a wonderful wife, friend, and supporter. We are blessed with one son, Chris, who is 35 years old and lives in Atlanta.

Since retirement, I try to keep busy with volunteering for several charities by promoting and conducting car shows for them. I finally got to do a little hunting here and in WVa, and still do a little sport flying in light airplanes. We go back to WVa and Coal River every chance we get, usually at least once a year.