A mechanic with 54 years of experience at Red River Army Depot was recently announced as the first industrial craftsman to be inducted into the Army Materiel Command Hall of Fame.
James Carpenter has been rebuilding, repairing and overhauling combat systems and tactical vehicles for the US military since 1967.
Although he has always been proud of his work ethic throughout his long career, he never thought such an honor would come his way.
“I was really touched and very honored,” he said. “It was a shock because I didn’t see it coming. I’m still in awe of that.”
Adrienne Brown, RRAD’s public information officer, said Carpenter is the first craftsman or mechanic to be inducted into the AMC Hall of Fame.
“There was no one else like Mr. Carpenter to be inducted,” she said. “That says a lot about the type of work he does there.”
Supervisor Michael Reich said Carpenter is known throughout the company as a dependable and thorough employee.
“His work ethic, his attitude and everything he does – he’s just meticulous,” he said. “It’s got to be good or he’s not going to let it go. He’s been a mentor to a lot of the youngsters that I have. He’s just that kind of guy that it’s a pleasure to have on my team, and that’s is someone I can go to with just about anything I need. I can leave it with him, walk away and not worry about it.
Knowing that the work he does is for soldiers motivates him to do a good job, Carpenter said.
“I work a little bit on everything,” he said. “I just like doing what I do. And when I do my job, I want it done well. That’s exactly the kind of person I am.”
Reich said the AMC only inducts three or four people across the country into the Hall of Fame each year, so for Carpenter, the selection was a pretty exciting proposition.
“I was pretty impressed when I saw the recent inductees. That’s pretty significant.”
Carpenter was inducted as a member of the Class of 2022 in a ceremony Sept. 20 at AMC headquarters in Redstone Arsenal, Alabama.
“I’m excited about it. It’s been such an honor for me and a blessing from God,” he said. “I want to give credit to God for this, because he is the one who made this possible.”
