Carpenter originally joined the
United States Army in 1936 and was assigned to
Fort H. G. Wright. In 1942, Carpenter was assigned to
The Pentagon to establish chaplaincy work in the
United States Army Air Forces. He was later reassigned to the
United States Air Forces in Europe during the closing months of
World War II. Following the war, he returned to The Pentagon. After the creation of the
United States Air Force, Carpenter was named the first
Chief of Chaplains in 1948. The following year, he was appointed to the grade of
major general. Carpenter remained Chief of Chaplains until 1958, when he took up assignment at the
United States Air Force Academy. Awards he received include the
Legion of Merit with
oak leaf cluster and the Belgian
Military Cross, First Class. ==Death==