Published: March 19, 2008 11:34 am      

'Mr. Lucky' receives medals for WW II bravery

EDMOND — Lloyd Carter spent five days in the ocean during World War II after a Japanese submarine torpedoed his ship, the USS Indianapolis. After more than 60 years, Carter finally received his medals for his bravery at a ceremony last week at Tinker Air Force Base.

“When the war got over, you just got out and went home,” said Max Carter, Lloyd’s nephew and an Edmond resident.

He said he was talking to his friend, Rick Johnson, an Edward Jones financial adviser, about the fact that Lloyd never received his medals and that he should have them.

“It was something (Lloyd) was entitled to,” Max Carter said.

They approached Mayor Dan O’Neil, who made a call to the U.S. Navy. O’Neil said he wanted to be a part of helping Lloyd receive his medals because his own father fought in World War II aboard the USS Saratoga.

“It’s important to the family to recognize the contribution,” O’Neil said. “The best tribute is from the family.”

Max Carter said his grandson, Adam Kishman, who currently is in the Navy, also took it upon himself to make sure Lloyd was honored for his accomplishments.

“(Lloyd) is one of three family members left,” Max Carter said. “He’s pretty important to the family in what he did.”

Rear Adm. Doug McClain flew in especially for the ceremony. O’Neil said this was a great honor because McClain has made more carrier landings than anyone in Naval history. McClain presented Lloyd with six to eight medals and a plaque.

Before Lloyd was assigned to the USS Indianapolis, he was assigned to the USS California in 1941. One morning, the crew was setting up for church while they were stationed in Pearl Harbor. They were attacked by Japanese troops and quickly jumped into the water. The water was very oily and by the time Lloyd made it to shore he was covered with oil and mud. American troops mistook him for a Japanese soldier and immediately imprisoned him with the enemy troops. Lloyd said no one believed him that he was an American and escaped on his own.

Lloyd said he received a medal for his time in Pearl Harbor. He also received one for his time aboard the USS Indianapolis.

“They gave me a purple heart because of the injuries I received in the sinking of the ship,” Lloyd Carter said.

He said when the USS Indianapolis sunk he was up on watch. It was about midnight.

“I was waiting for the watch to relieve me,” Lloyd said. “They were late relieving me.”

The World War II veteran said he had not been feeling well and had planned to visit the sick bay. However, a torpedo hit the ship before he left his post.

“I looked around and there wasn’t anybody but me. I crawled on my hands and knees and went over. It’s hard to abandon the ship. It’s your safety,” Lloyd said.

Later it was discovered that none of the men in the sick bay made it out alive.

Lloyd said he and his shipmates experienced many things while they waited in the water for rescue.

“There was aircraft that would fly over but they couldn’t see us. We had saltwater ulcers that caused big scabs all over our bodies. The scars are about gone now. A lot of those boys went crazy. They had all kinds of hallucinations,” he said.

By luck, a pilot had flown 100 miles off course and noticed an oil slick. He discovered the stranded sailors when he dipped lower to get a better look.

“If they hadn’t found us in one more day, in my opinion, we’d be gone,” Lloyd said. “I didn’t serve on any other ship.”

Lloyd’s hardships didn’t end after World War II. In 1987, he suffered from a heart attack and in 2003 he was hit by a car while taking a walk.

To this day, his friends and family refer to him as Mr. Lucky.