Saturday, January 24, 2009

Trooper Royal Carter joins others at Fiddler's Green

On January 17th, 2009, Trooper Royal E. Carter II joined the other troopers who have gone before him in Fiddler's Green.

Trooper Carter was born October 11th, 1920, in Topeka, Kansas, the first child of Royal E. Carter Sr. and Izene Carter. He spent his early childhood in Detroit and returned to Kansas at age twelve, where he graduated from high school, joined the Civilian Conservation Corp and the United States Army.

At age twenty-one he came to California, where he got married and decided that California was where he wanted to live. He settled in Los Angeles for twenty years where he fathered two girls, went to school, obtained Certificates in Accounting and Real Estate and went to work for the U.S. Navy Purchasing Office and eventually the U.S. Department of State. In 1974 he officially retired from Government service.

Like the seeds of wild flowers carried by the wind, Royal traveled far and wide during his lifetime. His work and travels took him to North Africa, Italy, France, Germany, Finland, Russia, Mexico, Canada, Puerto Rico and the Far East.

Royal spent the last year in Phoenix, Arizona with his loving daughter Toylana.

Royal was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Tillie Carter, a brother, Edwin Carter, and two sisters, Wavie T. Santiago and Madeline Earles. He is survived by daughters, Ethelyn Martin and Toylana Brown, son-in-law, Ron Brown, step-daughter, Terry Scott, sister, Maxine Gauff, Albert Gauff "the best brother-in-law a man ever had", five grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and a host of other relatives and friends.

Fiddler's Green
When a cavalryman dies, he begins a long march
to his ultimate destination. About half-way along
the road he enters a broad meadow dotted with trees
and crossed by many streams, known as "Fiddler's Green".

As he crosses 'The Green' he finds an old canteen, a single
spur, and a carbine sling. Continuing on the road he comes to a
field camp where he finds all the troopers who have gone
before him, with their campfires, tents and picket lines neatly laid out.

All other branches of the military must continue to march without pause.
Cavalrymen though are authorized to dismount, unsaddle and stay in
Fiddler's Green... their canteens ever full... the grass always green,
and enjoy the companionship and reminisce with old friends.