Army veteran Anthony Carerra shows the leadership patch he earned from a military training school in Fort Jackson in Columbiana, S.C.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is part of a series published each Monday between Memorial Day and Veterans Day honoring local veterans. To nominate a veteran, email metro editor Marly Reichert at mreichert@tribtoday.com.

BERLIN CENTER — Anthony Carerra was drafted during the Korean War, but his mission took him to a different country and a different type of mission.

Carerra graduated from Chaney High School in 1949. His early career saw him working with horses, but the pay was not enough for the time. He went to a rolling mill in McDonald and got a job and quickly adjusted to using the machinery. On Feb. 19, 1951, he took on a different job.

“I never thought I would get drafted,” Carerra said. “The war in Korea was getting worse instead of better, and when I got drafted I was sure I was heading to Korea.”

He went through training and was assigned to the 47th Viking Division out of Fort Rucker, Ala. After one year, he was sent to Fort Jackson, S.C., to take the Infantry Leader’s Course.

“I came in seventh out of 22,” he said. “It was a tough school and almost 30 dropped out due to stress and mental fatigue.”

After the training in June, Carerra made corporal rank and was given a five-day leave. He went home and got married. At the end of his short leave, he kissed his bride, Ellemarie, and headed to the coast for the trip overseas.

“The first rumor I heard was we would be shipped out as the 47th Division,” he said. “Then we found out we were being shipped out individually wherever there was a need. I was fortunate enough to end up in Germany with the 112th Infantry Regiment.”

In Germany, Carerra’s new outfit was sent to the Swiss border where he stayed for two weeks before joining a regular rifle company, which is what Carerra trained for in the U.S.

“I was in the Black Forest for two days before a sergeant put me on a bus to head back to Germany,” Carerra said. “This sergeant swore I was his buddy from California, and he wanted me for an Army football team.”

Although he did not know the sergeant, he did try out for the team and made it.

“Football was considered special duty,” he said, “We were sent all over Germany to play.”

He said the teams tended to follow the Russian movement on the front line. Where the Russians went, Carerra’s outfit and football team would go. He said football helped keep everyone active and ready in case things would turn sour with the Russian situation.

“We were in waiting,” he said. “At any time during a football game, we could immediately stop and be deployed and any civilians sent home.”

The football continued into November 1952. Carerra played hard and did end up with a scar from one game. He said it was a kickoff, and he ran down field and a kid jumped up to catch the ball and kicked him in the mouth.

“As the German doctor was sewing me up, he said ‘crazy American football people’ to me,” Carerra said.

After the season ended, Carerra’s outfit was sent back to the front line in the Black Forest. He learned quickly to carry extra socks, shorts and a candle.

“When it got cold, the only warmth we had was to place the candle under out poncho and sleep sitting up against a tree,” he said. “We were always on alert, but nothing happened.”

Because of his leadership training, Carerra was called back to the company barracks, away from the front line. He was given charge over a dorm room with eight Puerto Rican soldiers, who barley spoke any English. In a short time, Carerra had the eight men shaping up. He said they had the best room in the barracks during inspections.

On Feb. 1, 1953, Carerra was given the order to “gather his stuff” as he was going home. He was placed on a Navy ship that endured some rough seas on the way home. Once home, Carerra remained in the Army Reserves until Dec. 17, 1956.

“I was lucky,” he said. “A lot of kids from my original unit never made it home.”

Carerra went on to use his teaching abilities to serve as the Mahoning County Career and Technical Center’s first machinist trade instructor. He put in 30 years before retiring and enjoying life in his Berlin Center home. He still offers advice to 4-H kids with horses.

As for his scar, many ponder if it was an old football injury, or a war injury. Maybe it was both for a veteran who saw a different side of the Koran War era.

jtwhitehouse@vindy.com