Carter received his Bachelor of Arts degree , cum laude , in 1967 , ( he lettered in cross country and track on the teams of Jim Bush ) and his Juris Doctor in 1972 from the University of California , Los Angeles and UCLA School of Law , respectively . After graduating from college , Carter accepted a commission in the United States Marine Corps . He served in the Vietnam War where he fought in the Battle of Khe Sanh , receiving a Bronze Star for valor in 1968 . He was medically discharged as a First Lieutenant after receiving a Purple Heart
valor
"V" device
David O. Carter