For Steve McCarter, serving his country has always been about something bigger than himself.
The senior outside plant construction technician for TDS in Appleton, Wisconsin, followed a family tradition when he joined the U.S. Army just a week after graduating high school at age 17. His grandfather volunteered before World War II and served through 1945, while his stepfather served as a Marine in Vietnam.
“I spent a lot of time with both of these role models growing up, and I saw the pride they had,” McCarter said. “I felt like they were part of a community, and I wanted to be part of that same kind of thing.”
McCarter served four years in the Army and another four in the National Guard. An Airbourne Ranger stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, he also served during the first Gulf War in the early 1990s.
The experience shaped the person and leader he is today.
“The Army helped me grow as an individual,” McCarter said. “It made me into a better man than I think I would have been without it.”
Today, he puts many of those lessons into practice at TDS. Based in east-central Wisconsin, he travels across the state to support teams and share his experience and knowledge with newer associates, including drill operators.
One of the most important lessons he carries with him is that everyone has something to contribute.
During Ranger training, McCarter learned that success wasn’t necessarily about being the biggest or strongest individual, but that dedication, teamwork, and a will to keep going mattered just as much. He tries to foster that same environment today by encouraging the associates he works with to share their ideas.
“Not all of us are gifted in the same way, but all of us are gifted in some way,” McCarter said.
Today, Veterans Day carries more meaning for McCarter than it did when he was younger. His pride in his service has grown over time, as has his appreciation for the people who supported service members from home.
During the Gulf War, McCarter’s mother tied a yellow ribbon around a tree and joined other women doing the same throughout their South Carolina community. McCarter still remembers what that support meant to him and his fellow service members.
When someone thanks him for his service today, McCarter has his own response: “Thank you for being at home while I was there.”
For McCarter, that support from home remains an important part of his story. And this Veterans Day, his experience serves as a reminder that behind those who wear the uniform are families, friends, and communities who stand beside them.
This Veterans Day, TDS honors veterans like McCarter for their service and sacrifice, along with the loved ones who supported them along the way.
