[1] The eldest child of Robert J. and Kate P. Carpenter, in April 1930, he lived in Elko, Nevada and had three younger brothers: Louis R. (born 1913 or 1914), Edward P. (1919 or 1920), and Harry P. (1922 or 1923).

[2] As editor-in-chief of the yearbook (The Pohob),[3] Carpenter graduated from Elko County High School in 1927, and then worked as an auditor for the Southern Pacific Railroad Company for two years.

[1] From June 1938 through September 1942, Carpenter taught mathematics and navigation at the Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut.

Carpenter was given command of USS Sheboygan after its October 1944 commissioning, and led the ship on patrol out of the Canadian seaport Argentia in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Returning to DC to attend the National War College from August 1958 – June 1959, he then stayed in the US capital in several administrative positions for three more years.