The Namesakes of Carter-Smith VFW Post 5867
Carter-Smith Post 5867 in Lakeside, California, stands as a living tribute to two local heroes—Howard Fredric Carter and Rowland Hampton Smith—who gave their lives during the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Both men were young, dedicated sailors whose sacrifice embodies the spirit of service and patriotism honored by the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Howard Fredric Carter (1917–1941)
Caption: Howard F. Carter, Coxswain Third Class, USS Dobbin.
Howard was born July 13, 1917, in Medford, Oregon, to Mabel Rose Carter (McKay) and Harold Carter. The family later settled in Lakeside, where Mabel owned a beauty shop. Mabel lived to be 103, passing away in 2001 as the oldest living Gold Star Mother and the first Ladies Auxiliary President of Post 5867.
Howard graduated from Grossmont High School in 1936, remembered as a fine young man active in track, science clubs, and school performances. His yearbook goal was simple: “to be a bread and butter man.”
Standing 5’6”, with light brown hair and blue eyes, Howard enlisted in the U.S. Navy on December 11, 1936, for a four-year term at a base pay of $21 per month. After boot camp at Naval Training Center San Diego, he reported aboard USS Dobbin (AD-3). He advanced to Coxswain, Third Class in February 1941 and earned a Good Conduct Medal.
On December 7, 1941, Howard was manning Gun #4 aboard USS Dobbin when Japanese aircraft attacked. Bomb fragments struck him, causing fatal wounds to his lungs, thorax, and heart. He died at just 24 years old.
Howard’s remains were returned to San Diego and interred at Greenwood Memorial Park. In 2017, Post Commander Paula Jansen and Auxiliary President LeAnna Brown placed a VFW marker at his grave.
Rowland Hampton Smith (1921–1941)
Caption: Rowland H. Smith, Musician First Class, USS Oklahoma.
Rowland was born June 17, 1921, in San Diego to Susan and Harry Smith, who adopted him as their only child. He graduated from Grossmont High School in 1939, where he played in the school band and ran track.
On October 6, 1939, Rowland enlisted in the Navy for six years. Standing 5’7”, with red hair and blue eyes, he served aboard USS Yorktown, USS Indianapolis, USS Arctic, and USS Rigel, before transferring to USS Oklahoma in September 1941. A talented musician, he played piano and bugle for the ship’s orchestra and advanced to Musician, First Class on November 1, 1941.
On December 7, 1941, USS Oklahoma was moored at Battleship Row when Japanese torpedoes struck. The ship capsized within 12 minutes, trapping hundreds of sailors. Of 429 killed, Rowland was among those lost. His remains were never individually identified and rest in a group burial at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. His name is engraved on the USS Oklahoma Memorial, dedicated on December 7, 2007, at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor.
Rowland was only 20 years old.
Shared Honors and Legacy
Both Howard Carter and Rowland Smith were posthumously awarded:
- Purple Heart
- American Defense Service Medal
- World War II Victory Medal
- Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
- Combat Action Ribbon
Their sacrifice is the foundation upon which Carter-Smith VFW Post 5867 was built. Chartered in 1946, the Post became a cornerstone of the Lakeside community, with its building constructed by volunteers using bricks donated by El Cajon veterans. Today, the Post continues to honor their memory through service, camaraderie, and commitment to veterans and their families.
Why Their Story Matters
Howard and Rowland were ordinary young men who answered their country’s call and paid the ultimate price. Their names live on not only in the annals of history but in the heart of Lakeside—a reminder that freedom is never free.
Additional Images
- USS Dobbin at Pearl Harbor
- Caption: USS Dobbin (AD-3) moored near Ford Island during the attack on Pearl Harbor.
- USS Oklahoma Memorial
Caption: The USS Oklahoma Memorial honors 429 sailors and Marines lost on December 7, 1941.