TOM CARTER – THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE

Tom Carter – Serving others, near and far

From his early days volunteering with local emergency teams in Portland to 13 months as a combat medic in Vietnam, along with service in the Peace Corps and ongoing work improving access to clean water locally and around the world, helping others has played a big role in Tom Carter’s life. Although he initially planned to become a teacher, his experiences on the front lines helping wounded soldiers inspired him to pursue a career in the medical field after returning home, working in a medical laboratory for many years and eventually starting a nonprofit organization with his wife, Susan Carter. For him, helping others is a constant, one that has shaped his life in many unexpected ways.
Before joining the military, Carter was already dedicated to serving his community. He volunteered with the Parkrose Fire Department and the Mount Hood Ski Patrol for many years, gaining hands-on experience in emergency response. He spent two years in the Peace Corps from 1963 to 1965, which led to his interest in Latin America. After earning his teaching certificate at Portland State University, Carter completed his student teaching in English and social studies in the Beaverton School District before being drafted for service in Vietnam.
Drawing on his background, Carter volunteered for the Medical Corps. “When I was on the (Mount Hood Ski Patrol and also at the Parkrose Fire Department) while I was going to college, I helped out with first aid and the fires and so on,” he said. “So when I was drafted into the Army, I ended up in the Medical corps because of my background in first aid.”
During his 13 months serving in Vietnam, Carter developed crucial medical and lifesaving skills that would influence his outlook on service and helping others. The role required quick thinking and calm under pressure. “It was a very, very emotional thing for me,” he said. “You’re not gonna be able to help them at all and others you can help. And some people don’t need much help and it’s just, it’s horrible, this really intense experience trying to help, trying to save people and big casualties. So that was a really stressful thing.”
However, he found it rewarding knowing that his efforts directly saved lives on the front lines. “In the end you think, ‘well, I helped that guy,’” he said. “I can think of a lot of people whom I really helped, including possibly saving some lives and so even though it was a horrible situation, I felt that I had done the best I could for everybody that I treated. It wasn’t pointless and wasn’t futile.” The experience not only honed his medical abilities but also strengthened his commitment to serving others.
After returning home, Carter’s experience in Vietnam left a lasting impact that shifted his focus toward the medical field. He earned a biology degree and spent many years working in a medical laboratory, where he was made aware of urgent public health needs related to clean water and hygiene.
Motivated by these challenges, Carter and his wife Susan co-founded Agua Pura Para el Pueblo, a nonprofit dedicated to improving access to clean water and hygiene education. They have traveled extensively throughout Latin and South America, including in rural Mexico as well as Honduras, Guatemala, the Dominican Republic and Panama, among others, to support communities with sustainable water solutions. “I knew from my laboratory experience how to do the testing and the analysis and at the same time, so I knew how important clean drinking water is or how much just basic clean sanitation is,” he said. “And so my wife and I founded this nonprofit and then for the last 17 years or so, we’ve been traveling to Latin America and the Caribbean all over promoting clean water and sanitation.”
Building on this work, Carter stays actively involved in his local community. “Now I’m on a county board that works for emergency preparedness for Clackamas County,” he said. “Clackamas County Volunteer Organization’s Active in Disaster.” From his home in Happy Valley, he continues to oversee and support Agua Pura Para el Pueblo, a role that connects his early volunteer work, military service and health care background into a lifelong commitment to helping others.
Over the years, Carter has learned that service takes many forms, but at its core it’s about using one’s skills and experiences to make a meaningful difference. From Happy Valley to communities across Latin America, Carter’s commitment serves as a reminder that the impact of helping others can create lasting change. “I think people have a responsibility to share what they know to help other people,” he said. “It doesn’t matter what you know or what you can do … if you have something, you can do it to make the community better or the world a little better.”