Brandon Twp.-Tim Carlton was a small-town boy but he made it to Washington, D.C. in a big way recently when he attended two events surrounding the inauguration of President George W. Bush.
The former township resident, now a U.S. Navy petty officer second class was surprised when he received an invitation to go to a military gala as well as an inaugural ball.
‘It was quite an honor,? said Carlton, a 1996 Brandon CHOICES graduate who joined the Navy in December of that year.
His wife Tiffany was also able to attend.
‘It’s been a rough year,? Tiffany Carlton said. ‘Tim made a lot of sacrifices and it was a nice recognition and honor to be invited.?
Nine months ago, parties were the furthest thing from Tim and Tiffany Carlton’s minds. Tim was suffering from major injuries to the left side of his body and Tiffany was wondering if her biggest fear, their daughter Paiyton growing up without her father was about to come true.
On April 24 the Naval ship Tim Carlton was assigned to, the USS Firebolt was in the Persian Gulf to protect oil wells and rivers surrounding Iraq. On that day, Carlton was on a rigid hull inflatable boat (RHIB), a boarding craft used to get closer to and inspect things that the ship cannot. A boat approached and did not stop at the Navy’s command. Carlton said when the boat was unable to proceed the suicide bomber aboard decided to ‘blow up his boat and us too.?
Two Navy sailors and one Coast Guard member died and four others were seriously wounded in the terrorist attack, including Carlton, who had chunks of flesh torn from his left arm and leg and suffered severe nerve damage.
‘He’s spent the last eight months working very hard to become active duty again and stay in the Navy,? Tiffany Carlton said.
‘I’m pretty much back to normal,? said Tim Carlton, who in addition to 18-month-old daughter Paiyton, has a 5-year-old son, Logan from a previous relationship.
Carlton was awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star following the attack.
His mother, township resident Linda Carlton said his selection to go to the inaugural events was an honor in itself.
‘You hear about things like this from big cities, but he’s a small-town boy,? she said.
‘He doesn’t feel that he’s a hero or should be brought up onto a pedestal because of what has happened to him. But it’s an honor to be recognized by the commander-in-chief of the U.S. How often can you say ‘I attended the inaugural ball???
Tim and Tiffany Carlton can now say they have.
On Jan. 20, the pair attendended the Commander-in-Chief Ball, Tim in his uniform and Tiffany in an evening gown. They dined on ribs and beef from a Texas-style buffet and servers were present dressed in tuxedoes and cowboy hats. They danced and were about 15 to 20 feet away from Bush when he gave a speech to more than a thousand guests, consisting of military personnel and their spouses.
‘He thanked us for our service and said he appreciated it and the American people appreciated it,? Carlton said, adding that the president was there for about 15 minutes and it was the last of nine official balls Bush attended. ‘He told us he saved the best for last.?
Two days earlier they sat three rows behind Bush at ‘Saluting Those Who Serve,? a military gala that kicked off inaugural events. Actor Kelsey Grammer was the host and other celebrity entertainers included singers Gloria Estefan, John Michael Montgomery and Lee Greenwood.
‘It’s nice to see they’re thinking about us,? said Carlton, who is now stationed at Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek in Norfolk, Va. ‘It’s nice to be a part of something where we are appreciated for what we are doing and trying to accomplish.?