[courtesy of Cheryl Esparza]

Grave marker for Arch Carpenter in Haven of Rest Cemetery, Gig Harbor (Pierce county), Washington.

Archie, who later adopted the abbreviation of "Arch" as his preferred name, registered for the draft in Bellingham, WA on 17 May 1943 and was inducted into the Army at Seattle, WA on 5 July 1943.  His service record at the point is unknown until he was discharged on 27 November 1945.

Arch married Mary Ellen Stillman in King county, WA on 18 January 1946 and on 4 May 1949 he re-enlisted, perhaps in the National Guard as he was attending the University of Washington at that time.

Following his graduation with a Bachelor of Science in Architecture. he was commissioned a 2nd Lt on 24 July 1950.

He was promoted to 1st Lt on 16 August 1954

On 22 February 1956, 1st Lt Carpenter departed Idlewild airport, New York, NY aboard MATS Flt 918/22, (a Super Constellation C-121 operated as a Pan Am charter) Aircraft 6543C with his wife and 3 daughters bound for Frankfurt, Germany via Shannon, Ireland.

The first page of an Army periodical discussing "The Arch Carpenter Way" of training the trainers.  Although not published until May, 2008, Arch's "Way" apparently endured as he is shown here carrying a Thompson "Tommy gun" submachine gun in what may be a WWII-era photo.