The Army Years 1973-77
Ray was a Distinguished Military Graduate of the Tennessee Technological University ROTC Program in June 1973 and received a Regular Army commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Field Artillery. He graduated from Airborne School in July 1973 and Field Artillery Officer Basic School in October 1973. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 10th Field Artillery, part of the 197th Infantry Brigade at Fort Benning, GA. Ray shot Service Rifle at the Fort Benning Rifle Championships in March 1974, the First Army Rifle Championships in April 1974 and the All Army Rifle Championships in May 1974. He was then picked up for the All Army Rifle Team that trained for and competed in the Interservice Rifle Championships in Quantico, Virginia and the National Trophy Matches at Camp Perry, Ohio through late August 1974. He was a member of the Army team that won the National Trophy that year before he headed back to his artillery assignment. He also earned the Distinguished Rifleman Badge.
1974 National Trophy Rifle Team Champions
In February 1975 he finally got transferred to the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit (USAMU). In May and June he went with the CISM Team to Germany, Austria, East Germany and Switzerland for training competitions. Then we flew to Oulu, Finland for the CISM Championships where the USA won it.
While assigned to the International Rifle Section, he would shoot Service Rifle (M14 NM) each summer after the U.S. International Shooting Championships were completed.In 1975 he was a firing member (497x500) of the Army team that won the Interservice Ten Man Team Rifle Match with a score of 4931x5000. That score remained the record until broken by the USAMU team at the 1999 Interservice Rifle Championships.
1975 Interservice Rifle Team Champions
US Army Marksmanship Unit, International Rifle Section, April 1976.
Kneeling, L to R: CPT Lynn Levengood, CPT Lanny Bassham, 2LT Rich Taber, MAJ Lones Wigger, CPT Ernie Vande Zande.
Standing, L to R: 1LT Diana Timberlake Zimmerman, 1LT Robert Aylward, 2LT Dick Floyd, 2LT Jim Meredith, 1LT Ray Carter, MAJ John Foster, Coach Bill Krilling, SFC Joe White, 2LT Ed Etzel.
1976 Interservice Ten Man Team Champions
Winner of the Pershing Trophy - High Shooter in the National Trophy Rifle Team Championship.
1976 National Trophy Rifle Team Champions
Kneeling, L to R: SSG Williamson, MSG Jesse Causey (Team Coach), SFC Sawvell (Team Captain), SFC William R. Lee.
Standing, L to R: SSG Jeffrey Lear, 1LT Ray P. Carter, SFC Martin Edmondson, SP4 Robert George.
USAMU International Rifle Section, April 1977.
Kneeling, L to R: 1LT Robert Aylward, 2LT Ronald Plumb, 1LT Dick Floyd, 2LT Brad Baumeister, 2LT Phil Whitworth, 2LT Wanda Jewell.
Standing, L to R: CPT Robert Mitchell, MAJ John Foster, 1LT Jim Meredith, Coach Bill Krilling, 1LT Ray Carter, MAJ Lones Wigger, MSG Marvin Warren.
1977 Interservice Ten Man Team Champions
U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit Reunion, International Rifle Branch
August 1996, Fort Benning, GA
Kneeling, L to R: Phil Cannella, Wanda Jewell, Ray Carter, Gloria Parmentier, Steve Goff.
Standing, L to R: Lones Wigger, Bob Aylward, Glenn Dubis, Don Harmon, Dennis Dingman, Mike Griggs, Lanny Bassham, Mike Bach, D.I. Boyd.
