Jerome L. Carpenter

FIRST SERGEANT JEROME L. CARPENTER was born in 1917 in New Jersey, the second son of Albert and Viola Carpenter, brother Albert being two years older. In 1920 the family lived at 3016 Saunders Street in Camden NJ. BY the spring of 1928 they had moved to 2928 Mitchell Street. Sadly, Albert Carpenter Sr. was killed on April 1, 1928, hit by a train while picking coal off the tracks at North 32nd Street. Viola Carpenter soon was remarried, to Jesse Thomas. In 1930 the family lived at 415 North 27th Street. Nicknamed "Babe", he attended Woodrow Wilson High School, but left after his junior year. A fine ballplayer, he played for the Walker Robins and the Dunbar Giants baseball teams, two of the many local teams that flourished in Camden and South Jersey before the war, playing against future servicemen Francis X. McGraw and William Gradwell. He was a member of Hosanna AME Church, at 30th and Saunders Streets in Camden NJ, where his father at one time was the Sunday School Superintendent. The 1943 City Directory for Camden lists his address as 2917 Saunders Street, while the Camden Courier-Post stated that he last made his home at 2915 Saunders Street in the same East Camden neighborhood that many of his extended family lived in. As there was no house at 2915 the newspaper erred in the address. Jerome Carpenter had married prior to his entrance into America's military, but had separated from his wife.

Jerome Carpenter was inducted into the United States Army on September 12, 1942 at Camden NJ. He rose rapidly through the ranks, and had been promoted to the rank of First Sergeant when he was drowned while on maneuvers at Dock Creek TN on September 6, 1943. His unit had been stationed at Camp Forrest TN. Jerome L. Carpenter was 24 when he died while serving America.

First Sergeant Carpenter was brought home to New Jersey. His funeral was at the home of his Uncle, Solomon Carpenter Jr., 408 North 29th Street, Camden NJ on September 14, 1943. He was survived by his uncle, his great uncle, Solomon Carpenter Sr., and many cousins. The Hudson-Adams-Carpenter Post 473 of the American Legion in Camden NJ is named in part for him, and a distant relative, Ralph Francis Adams, lost while serving with the United States Navy during World War II. 

Camden
Courier-Post

April 2, 1928

Campbell's Soup Wins Slugfest from 12th Ward, 12 to 8
Victory Gives 'Soupmen' Deadlock for Sunberth
St. Joe's Routs Polish, 13-1 as Walker Robins Trounce Sacred Heart
LINCOLN ALSO TRIUMPHS

Outslugging Twelfth Ward, Campbell’s Soup went into a tie for first place in the American Division of the Kobus Twilight League when it defeated the "Warders" 12 to 8 at Dudley Grange Park in one of four games played last night.

In another American Division tussle, St. Joseph's Polish soundly trounced the Polish American Citizens Club, 13 to 1 at Broadway and Everett street.

In a pair of National Division tussles, the Walker Robins gained a firmer grip on second place when it whipped Sacred Heart at the Fairview Ball Park, 13 to 1 and Lincoln took the measure of St. Joan of Arc at Seventh and Jefferson by the score of 5 to 1.

Pitchers in the Campbell's-Twelfth Ward fracas took a beating with the "Soupmen" collecting 13 blows off Mike Huggard and Martin, while the "Warders" slapped Norm Young for 11 safeties.

Campbell's lost no time in putting the game away, tallying seven runs in the first inning and then added one in the third and two in the fourth to clinch the verdict. The "Warders" tried hard to overcome the lead and in the sixth session put on a rally which netted five runs.

Gresk was the hitting star for Campell’s, rapping a pair of singles and a home run, while Herb Dunn sparkled at the plate for the Warders with three for four.

The Polish-Americans were no match for St. Joe's Polish, Jim Stubbs setting down the former outfit without much trouble, giving up but six hits. St. Joe's on the other hand rapped T. Martin and Huston for 19 wallops with Stubbs and Gray pacing the offense, each getting four hits. Walt Nowak also hit hard, getting three for four. Galecki was the only Polish-American who could solve Stubb's offerings, smacking three singles.

The Walker Robins also had little difficulty with Sacred Heart, scoring in each of the six innings with the exception of the fourth. Carpenter worked on the hill for the Robins and set down his foe with only two hits, while his mates clubbed Phillips, Rudolph and Savich for 11 bingles. Warren, Jones and Carpenter led the attack with two hits apiece. Sacred Heart's lone run came on a homer by Cianfrani in the second inning.

Two runs in the first and three in the eighth spelled victory for Lincoln over St. Joan of Arc. Schoekolf went the route for Lincoln and spaced out eight hits, the Saints' lone run coming in the third on a homer by Gondolf. Lincoln collected eight hits off Franks and Collins with Lyback and J. Schramm each getting two.

Camden Courier-Post
July 23, 1941

Jerome Carpenter - Theodore Primas

Jerome Carpenter

Jerome Carpenter - Theodore Primas

 2917 Saunders Street Camden NJ - December 2002