Captain Edward W. Carter, III, USN

Born in Winston-Salem in 1928, Captain Carter was raised in Asheville, N.C. He enlisted in the Navy in 1945 for two years prior to entering the U.S Naval Academy from which he graduated in 1951. He subsequently earned a MS. degree from M.IT. in 1959.

Captain Carter has served tours with USS SANBORN (APA-193), LST 528, the Amphibious Warfare school, USS R. K. HUNTINGTON (DD-781), USS BOSTON (CGA-I), USS FARRAGUT (DLG-8), and USS LONOBEACH (CGN-9). He has graduated from the Naval War College and the USAF Air War College. Captain Carter served as Commanding Officer of USS TOWERS (DDG-9) from July 1968 to July 1970.

Captain Carter's tours ashore include Assistant to CNO for Surface Missile Systems, Director Weapons Systems Integration Division for Naval Ordnance Systems Command, and Deputy Director of the Chief of Naval Material's Tactical Digital Systems Office.

Captain Carter became fifth Commanding Officer of BIDDLE during a brief five-day upkeep period in Subic Bay between BIDDLE's first and second line periods on July 3. Captain Carter had little time to become acclimated as only 13 days later BIDDLE assumed duties as PIRAZ ship. On the night of 19 July 1972, five MIG Aircraft, in two raids, attacked BIDDLE and were met by BIDDLE's missile and gun fire under Captain Carter's leadership. One MIG was destroyed and the remainder were driven off. BIDDLE also served as Search and Rescue Coordinator for the Gulf of Tonkin during her second and third line tours.

Captain and Mrs. Carter, the former Billie Jane Waltmeyer of Baltimore County, Maryland, have four children; Betsy, Michael, Patrick, and Rebecca.