Its interesting that you mention the sailor Karter.   My dad is a survivor, but my mom didnt meet him until after he returned from war.   However, she had a friend/neighbor that I believe she told me was engaged to Leo Karter.    She remembered when this friend found out that he was lost at sea and felt so bad for her, then several years later met my dad, who was a survivor.   Was your mom living in New Orleans at that time by any chance?   If so, that may be the friend of my mothers....  I remember this because they always referred to him  as "Karter with a K".    I believe he went to boot camp from New Orleans with my dad.

Did your mother happen to live or work near Tchoupitoulas Street in New Orleans?   

My mother said the lady she was remembering's name was Theresa and worked at Federal Fiber Mills at the time.   She remembers her brinigng Leo Karter around and introducing him and showing off an engagement ring while he was on leave, then next thing my mom heard was that he was lost at sea on the USS Indianapolis.    Subsequently, after the war, my mom met my dad, who mentioned that he was a survivor of the USS Indianapolis and turned out Karter was a good friend of his onboard since they were both from New Orleans.