While in the Navy, Mike received the Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, and Combat Action Ribbon for three tours of duty in Vietnam. “I am proud of having served,” Mike says.
In November of 1967, Mike received a draft notice directing him to report for duty in the U.S. Army. “I decided to see if there were better options,” Mike says. “After visiting with the Navy recruiter, I realized there were more educational opportunities with the Navy.” Mike Carter joined the U.S. Navy on November 28, 1967, and began a 14 year military career that spanned multiple branches of service. “After boot camp, I was ordered to the USS Berkeley DDG 15,” Mike says. “I initially was assigned to the Engine room, but after 16 months, I was sent to air conditioning school and worked on the ship’s air conditioner and refrigeration. I was proud when I was promoted to E-5. This rank is the point where you move more into supervision.”
014 ALT Magazine November 2019
Upon honorable discharge from the U.S. Navy in September of 1971, Mike joined the U.S. Air Force Reserves and served 4 years at Barksdale Air Force in Shreveport, Louisiana. When the tour ended, Mike decided to enlist in the U.S. Army Reserves where he served two years. Then, Mike had a friend in the U.S. Coast Guard, and Mike decided to join the unit in Oil City, Louisiana. His unit was eventually transferred to Port Arthur, Texas. After a 4 year stint in the Coast Guard, Mike decided not to reenlist. “My career in the air conditioning industry was started in the military,” Mike says. “The education and experience I received was the foundation of 52 years in the industry, 36 of which I was self-employed.” Though he says it has been 52 years since he has seen any of the men he served with in the Navy, Mike keeps up with a few on social media, and his best friend, Charlie Davis, who served in the Coast Guard with him. “We had many good years serving together, and we are still best friends,” Mike says.