thedrifter
03-16-06, 06:32 AM
Family proud of protector
Daniel Carter: Plainfield trio says Marine is 'saving the U.S.'
By Catherine Ann Velasco
STAFF WRITER
PLAINFIELD — Allan and Alex Halverson can't wait until their stepfather, Staff Sgt. Daniel Carter, gets home.
"We're going to go to Florida and go to Disney World," said Alex with big grin.
But that won't be for a while.
Daniel and his family moved to Plainfield about 21 months ago when the Marine was transferred from Hawaii to Joliet to help train the Bravo Battery, 1st Battalion, 14th Marine Regiment of the 4th Marine Division for deployment to Iraq.
The Marine left with the battalion in January for training in California and will be in Iraq sometime soon. In Iraq, the Marines will serve as prison guards, work with Iraqi soldiers and help transport personnel and equipment.
Meanwhile, Allan, Alex and their mother, Kiki Carter, wait and pray. For them, this is a new experience. In the past, when Carter went on active duty, they lived on a military base where war and news from loved ones was everyday conversation.
"The good thing is we don't feel sad all the time," said Kiki, who married Daniel six years ago.
"I'm proud of him. He's protecting the world," Alex said.
"He's saving the U.S. and protecting our family," Allan said. "He's saving us like a hero."
Allan, 12, is a sixth-grader at Drauden Point Middle School and Alex, 9, is a fourth-grader at Charles Reed Elementary School.
Just recently, Daniel told the boys the good news about Disney.
"They have been good helping me out. It is a reward and something we can do as a family," Kiki said.
She said her sons met Daniel before she did. He was stationed on a military base in Okinawa, Japan, where Kiki's mom worked as a tailor. Allan and Alex would often stay with their grandmother at work and that's when they met Daniel.
"He was surprised they spoke English. He would come for lunch and play with them," said Kiki. Both boys are U.S. citizens. Their father is from Wisconsin while Kiki from Japan.
Kiki praises her husband.
"He is a wonderful husband and dad. He will always be there for us. He is always thinking of other people," she said.
Daniel's mother, Bilma Carter of Kentucky, agrees.
When Daniel was 17, Bilma gave birth to Desirae, now 17.
"He was a senior in high school and to be a better brother he took an early childhood development class," Bilma said.
"With Daniel there are so many things to be proud of," she said. "He saved a guy's life. He got a medal."
Bilma said her son saved the life of a drowning teen in Japan by giving CPR.
"The mother worked for the mayor. They made a big deal out of it," she said. "He got the Navy (and Marine Corps) Commendation medal."
03/16/06
Ellie
Daniel Carter: Plainfield trio says Marine is 'saving the U.S.'
By Catherine Ann Velasco
STAFF WRITER
PLAINFIELD — Allan and Alex Halverson can't wait until their stepfather, Staff Sgt. Daniel Carter, gets home.
"We're going to go to Florida and go to Disney World," said Alex with big grin.
But that won't be for a while.
Daniel and his family moved to Plainfield about 21 months ago when the Marine was transferred from Hawaii to Joliet to help train the Bravo Battery, 1st Battalion, 14th Marine Regiment of the 4th Marine Division for deployment to Iraq.
The Marine left with the battalion in January for training in California and will be in Iraq sometime soon. In Iraq, the Marines will serve as prison guards, work with Iraqi soldiers and help transport personnel and equipment.
Meanwhile, Allan, Alex and their mother, Kiki Carter, wait and pray. For them, this is a new experience. In the past, when Carter went on active duty, they lived on a military base where war and news from loved ones was everyday conversation.
"The good thing is we don't feel sad all the time," said Kiki, who married Daniel six years ago.
"I'm proud of him. He's protecting the world," Alex said.
"He's saving the U.S. and protecting our family," Allan said. "He's saving us like a hero."
Allan, 12, is a sixth-grader at Drauden Point Middle School and Alex, 9, is a fourth-grader at Charles Reed Elementary School.
Just recently, Daniel told the boys the good news about Disney.
"They have been good helping me out. It is a reward and something we can do as a family," Kiki said.
She said her sons met Daniel before she did. He was stationed on a military base in Okinawa, Japan, where Kiki's mom worked as a tailor. Allan and Alex would often stay with their grandmother at work and that's when they met Daniel.
"He was surprised they spoke English. He would come for lunch and play with them," said Kiki. Both boys are U.S. citizens. Their father is from Wisconsin while Kiki from Japan.
Kiki praises her husband.
"He is a wonderful husband and dad. He will always be there for us. He is always thinking of other people," she said.
Daniel's mother, Bilma Carter of Kentucky, agrees.
When Daniel was 17, Bilma gave birth to Desirae, now 17.
"He was a senior in high school and to be a better brother he took an early childhood development class," Bilma said.
"With Daniel there are so many things to be proud of," she said. "He saved a guy's life. He got a medal."
Bilma said her son saved the life of a drowning teen in Japan by giving CPR.
"The mother worked for the mayor. They made a big deal out of it," she said. "He got the Navy (and Marine Corps) Commendation medal."
03/16/06
Ellie