Paul “Two T” Cartter Takes Final Flight
It is with a heavy heart the ACA posts the following:
A Note from Warren “Smokey” Hubbard on the loss of Green Hornet—Paul B. Cartter.
I wanted to let my fellow Air Commandos know of the loss of retired 20th SOS Green Hornet gunner, Technical Sergeant Paul “Two T” Cartter. He passed away peacefully on 5 August at his Tucson, AZ home surrounded by friends and family. A memorial service will be held at Hudgel’s Swan Mortuary in Tucson at 11:00 on 31 August.
I had the pleasure of logging many flight hours with Two T on my crew. Two T took pride in his work as an UH-1N door gunner and could be depended on to clear a “bent gun” and have it back on line before the next pass as skillfully as he could lay an aimed burst from his minigun accurately on target. Paul had an “Anytime, Anyplace” attitude and manner that made him a positive influence on turning any crew into an efficient, smooth operating team.
Last year, the Air Commando Journal commemorated the 40th anniversary of the 20th SOS’s participation in the U.S. drug interdiction mission called Operation Bahamas and Turks or OpBat.
The issue featured an interview with TwoT and recounted his involvement in OpBat and the injuries he received during an aircraft accident that took place on 9 January 1984 taking the lives of his three aircrew mates, a DEA Agent, and a Bahamian Police Officer. Link to interview: https://aircommando.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Interview-Paul-Cartter-Two-T-ACJ-12_2.pdf
Two T fought to remain on active duty following the accident, but his injuries affected his mobility and required his medical retirement in November 1984.
Not one to let these injuries slow him down, Paul became a law enforcement dog trainer with Arizona Search and Rescue Association. Two T and his dogs assisted the FBI and local law enforcement agencies throughout the country saving many and bringing comfort to more.
In later years, the progression of the disability from his injuries confined TwoT to a wheelchair. However, again, he did not let this slow his active lifestyle. Two T on his outside chair, a motorized track mounted vehicle, brought to mind the 2nd Armored Division slogan “Hell on wheels!” He continued to lead an active life and in a recent phone conservation he enthusiastically spoke of his plans to participate in an upcoming Paralyzed Veterans Association tournament where he enjoyed wheelchair basketball, bowling, and shooting sports.
Two T was a good man. He was my friend and he will be missed.
Lt Col Smokey Hubbard, USAF (Retired)
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