Throughout our Flags for Heroes campaign, we've had the privilege of learning about the incredible veterans who have served our country with courage and dedication. These stories, filled with sacrifice and resilience, serve as a powerful reminder of the true meaning of patriotism.
We are honored to share the story of William "Don" Carter Jr., a dedicated servant of his country with a remarkable 30-year Coast Guard career.
Story submitted by Connie Chard “William "Don" joined the Coast Guard at 18, serving a 30 year career. William retired as a BM Master Chef mentoring numerous Coasties throughout his career. He now works as a civilian E9 for sector Maryland in CDO, SMC and SARS with various responsibilities and training officer. William is a disabled Veteran and sees it as his life long duty to serve his country. He is the most honorable yet humble person I know. He has received multiple awards and recognitions throughout both his Military and civilian career with the Coast Guard. The most recent being the 2023 George R Putnam Inspirational Leadership award. From Coast Guard "As a command duty officer (CDO) and search and rescue (SAR) mission coordinator (SMC), Mr. William Carter led the sector command center in the prosecution of 154 complex SAR cases resulting in over 175 lives and roughly $1.3 million in property saved or assisted. His leadership and respect for others ensured the command center set a high bar for preparation and achieved superb results in both the Fifth District and Standardization Team Assessments. He also provided valuable feedback to the assessment team which resulted in a fleet-wide change in how the Coast Guard responds to flare incidents.
Carter fosters a culture of diversity through inclusion and commitment working within the unit Leadership and Diversity Advisory Council and Chiefs’ Mess to action items from the annual command climate and equal opportunity survey. After volunteering to be the primary liaison to a committee of influential and at times contentious group of mariners, he advanced the partnership by patiently educating and nurturing unity of effort. His deep knowledge and familiarity with the local area strengthened critical ties with numerous entities and enhanced the reputation of the Coast Guard."
Thank you, William, for your honorable service, sacrifice, and dedication.