Marshall Sylvester Carter (September 16, 1909 – February 18, 1993) was a lieutenant general in the United States Army. From 1965 to 1969, he served as Director of the National Security Agency.
Life and career
Carter was born on September 16, 1909, at Fort Monroe, Virginia, the son of future brigadier general Clifton C. Carter. He graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1931 and took an M.S. degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1936.
Carter served as an aide to General George C. Marshall during Marshall's time as Chief of Staff of the United States Army, Secretary of State, and Secretary of Defense.
Carter, then a lieutenant general, served as Deputy Director of Central Intelligence from April 3, 1962, to April 28, 1965. From 1965 to 1969, he served as Director of the National Security Agency. While serving as Director of the NSA, Carter testified to a House Appropriations Committee about the 1967 USS Liberty incident. He stated that “It couldn’t be anything else but deliberate. There’s just no way you could have a series of circumstances that would justify it being an accident.” Upon retirement from the military, he served as President of the George C. Marshall Research Foundation until retiring from that position in 1985.
Carter was inducted into the Military Intelligence Hall of Fame. He was portrayed by Ed Lauter in the film Thirteen Days (2000), based on events occurring during the Cuban Missile Crisis.Thirteen Days (2000) – Full cast and crew Carter is buried in Arlington National Cemetery with his wife, Preot Nichols Carter (1912–1997).Burial Detail: Carter, Marshall S – ANC Explorer
Carter died of liver cancer on February 18, 1993, in his home in Colorado Springs
Decorations
1st RowArmy Distinguished Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters2nd RowLegion of Merit with Oak Leaf ClusterBronze Star MedalAmerican Defense Service Medal with Foreign Service ClaspAmerican Campaign Medal3rd RowAsiatic-Pacific Campaign MedalEuropean-African-Middle Eastern Campaign MedalWorld War II Victory MedalArmy of Occupation Medal4th RowNational Defense Service Medal with Oak Leaf ClusterChinese Special Breast Order of Yun HuiCommander of the Order of Orange-Nassau (Netherlands)Chinese Special Breast Order of Yun Hui (Second Award)
References