John A. (Shotgun Jack) Carpenter

Entered this world in 1942 at Los Angeles, California. First home I remember is a W.W.II converted
barracks in El Segundo, California about 1946.

I grew up in Manhattan Beach, California; until 1959 when my father moved us up to Sweet Home, Oregon in the summer. Ran away from home in January 1960; resurfaced in the middle of February back in Manhattan Beach.
My dad gave me a choice of going back to High School or joining the service.

Joined the Army March 3, 1960 and went to Basic at Fort Ord, California.
Went to AIT at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri and became a Crane Operator; received orders to Chicago, Illinois.
Assigned to a Nike Hercules Air Defense Base ( Battery C, 6th Missile Battalion, 3rd Artillery) at Lemont, Illinois and became a Nike Hercules Missile Crewman (MOS: 177.10).
I never saw a crane again while in the Army ( typical:>) ).

Discharged on March 4, 1963,  went back to Sweet Home, Oregon with a PG'ed wife.
My first daughter was born on September 6, 1963 in Chicago, Illinois. I was divorced in May 1964.

     Re-enlisted on November 24, 1964,  and was assigned to Fort Baker, California at a
Nike Hercules Air Defense Base for a few months, with a new MOS: 16B10 (Still a Nike Hercules Missile Crewman, but the Army went through changes while I was away, and didn't ask me for any advice):>).

Sent to West Germany in July of 1965, to a Nike Hercules Air Defense Base (Battery C, 5th Missile Battalion, 1st Artillery, USAREUR)  where I stayed until July 1968.

CLICK HERE TO SEE PICTURES OF THE NIKE HERCULES.
I LOVED THESE MEAN MUTHA'S!!!

     On return to CONUS, I was assigned to the Special Forces Training Group;
TDY to Jump School (Class 1, 44th Company) at Fort Benning, Georgia. Graduated on July 20, 1968.
After successful completion of jump school, I was assigned to Company D, Special Forces Training Group, Fort Bragg, North Carolina; and graduated on December 20, 1968, Weapons Platform.
Primary MOS: 11B4S; secondary MOS: 11C4S.

Assigned to S-3 (Duty MOS: 11F4S), 3rd Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg, North Carolina until September 1969.

  Went to Vietnam in September 1969, where I was assigned to A-402, IV Corps Mike Force,
5th Special Forces Group,  (The Mekong Delta).

Reassigned to A-404, IV Corps Mike Force, in December 1969.

 Transferred to A-442 (B-43), September 1970 to convert it to a VN Ranger Battalion. A-442 was converted to the 66th Vietnam Border Rangers. I finished out my extended tour on the top of Nui Cam, in the Seven Mountains. Left Vietnam November 10, 1970 and returned to CONUS on extended leave because of extending my tour of duty in Vietnam.

Assigned to the 7th Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg, North Carolina; but never reported for duty. Met a girl 3 days after getting back to the U.S.; and I knew that I would never see her again if I went back to Fort Bragg. Volunteered for and was accepted for Recruiting Duty, and I asked for the west coast to be near the girl. I was assigned to the Seattle-Recruiting Main Station, and married the girl on October 30, 1971.
My son was born on October 20, 1972.

     Discharged from the Army forever on June 26, 1973, as a Staff Sergeant, E-6 (P).

     Army awards include CIB, BSM w/V, AM, VN COG w/ss, NDSM, VN jump wings, VN Ranger badge, GCM
     2 awards, and Recruiter badge. Plus the "I was there" awards for Vietnam.

(Note: I was in the U.S. Army Reserves from 1976 to 1983,
and was promoted to Sergeant First Class, E-7 (P) in 1976)

CLICK TO SEE PICTURES OF ME IN VIETNAM.

CIVILIAN EXPERIENCE:

Went to school from September 1973 to June 1975 and received a AAS Degree in Business Technology.
     Worked in the financial field, and became an Assistant Vice President and Branch Manager of a small bank
     in Washington state. By then I lost (by divorce) the girl I married and my two children; a daughter had been born on June 15, 1979.

     Continued to work as a branch manager until June 1986, when I quit and went back to school, receiving a
     Certificate in Gunsmithing in December 1987.
     I went into business for myself in 1988 (Carpenter's Gun Works; Sherwood, Oregon); and closed the business in January 1992. Went to Belize, Central Amerca for over a month, my family thought I'd gone over the edge.:>)

On the way back to Oregon, my Van broke down at a Rest Area near Modesto, CA.
I had wanted to move back to my Native State, so I took it as a sign, and stayed.

     Worked for the next two years in a gun shop in Modesto, California. My Great-Great Grandfather and Grandmother are buried in the Grayson Pioneer Cemetary; and my Great-Grandfather and Great-Grandmother are buried in Modesto Pioneer Cemetary.
My Grandfather is buried in Modesto too, but I was unable to find his grave.

     Quit the gun shop and started school again in September 1994.
Attended California State University-Sacramento.
But I transferred the credit to the Regents College, Albany, New York.
That was the fastest way to get the degree, and it is a Fully Accredited College,
part of the University of the State of New York, founded in 1789.
     Awarded a Bachelor of Science Degree on September 20, 1996,
with concentrations in Economics and Real Estate;
and a minor in Humanities.

Moved to Redding, California in anticipation of attending school, after the Department of Veteran Affairs in Sacramento turned down my request to attend California State University-Chico; where I had been accepted
in the Graduate School, to study for a Master of Arts, in Public Administration.

Completed the requirements for a Certificate in Accounting Clerk/Bookkeeper on May 24, 1997;
from Shasta College, Redding, California.

I am now living in Burney, CA., and working full time at the Pit River Indian Casino. Started as the Cage Manager, but due to an unexpected developement, I stepped down to Cage Cashier; then transferred to the Slot Machine Tech Department, working as a Slot Machine Tech. The Slot machines in the Casino are all computerized. I resigned as a Machine Technician, and was Hired back as the Human Resource Manager.

I was "terminated" on October 25, 1999! The same "unexpected" developement was basically "Politics". I
left with my head held high because I gave a promise that I would help the Pit River Tribe as long as they
wanted my help. I did what I felt was right, and Honorable.

I now look forward to the future with new hope, and an Iron determination that life without Honor is not worth
living. Some people can live without it, some can't; I CAN NOT!!!!!

I still live in NORTH CALIFORNIA (as far as I'm concerned, we are separate from the SOUTH, which includes Sacramento and San Francisco, and most especially THE SOUTH:>)!!!), and I am enjoying my hobbies which include, but is not limited to Webmaster, Hiking, Fishing, Reading, River Running, and Gold Mining on my own claims (excuse me!!, my brother Grog and mine:>) ).