Col John William Carlson

In May 1933, Col Carlson enlisted in the Minnesota National Guard as a PFC in order to take advantage of the GI Bill to pay for an accounting degree at the University of Minnesota.  He was assigned to the Howitzer Company of the 135th Infantry.

On 10 February 1941, the 135th Infantry Regiment was relieved from the National Guard and assigned to active military duty.  Col Carlson thus entered the US Army as 2nd Lieutenant with the 135th Infantry Regiment.

On 25 February 1941, he departed Minneapolis by rail for Camp Claiborne, LA, arriving on 27 February.

In October 1941, Congress enacted a law allowing personnel aged 28 and above to leave the service; he decided to remain on active duty, although being 28 years, 4 months old.

In January 1942, Col Carlson and the 135th left Camp Claiborne by rail for Ft. Dix, NJ, then, in April 1942, left New York aboard the RMS Aquitania for training in Northern Ireland.

In December 1942, he departed Liverpool bound for Oran, Algeria, as part of the 34th Infantry Division with Operation Torch, the Allied Invasion of North Africa, to oust both the German and Italian forces, commanded by Generals Romel and Garibaldi, respectively, from Northern Africa. 

While in Oran, prior to being deployed to Pichon, Tunisia, Col Carlson had a pencil portrait done by artist Louis Kahan, who was in Tunisia with the French Foreign Legion, which was demobilized when the US Allies arrived. Kahan went on to fame as an artist and clothing designer, traveling the world. 

Although the details of dates and locations no longer exist, Col Carlson and the 34th Infantry Division went on to Italy, but not with the first wave through Sicily, because of heavy losses and casualties suffered in Tunisia. Col Carlson very likely went in through Salerno. In May 1944, he was medevaced to Ft Dix, NJ.

After approximately 2 years at war, with no R&R trips home, Col Carlson returned home with the rank of Major and was initially stationed at Ft Dix, NJ.  He was then transferred to the Pentagon, where he took various assignments.  He was promoted to Lt Col and assigned to the Intelligence Division (G2) as Chief of the Strategic Vulnerability Section.

Having completed his military obligations in 1947, Col Carlson decided to continue his Army career. He applied for and was recommissioned as a Regular Army officer.  Col Carlson was transferred to Japan as part of the occupation forces and then assigned to G3, 1st Cavalry Division, Sendai, Japan.

During 1950 and 1951, Col Carlson was deployed to Korea to fight in the Korean Conflict.  Col Carlson was the G3 in Major General Charles Palmer’s 1st Cavalry Division and planned the attack on the Hwachon Dam, an attempt to take control of the dam away from Chinese forces.  Among his many medals awarded during his career, Col Carlson received a Silver Star and Legion of Merit while in Korea.  The citation for the Silver Star states: “As a General Staff Corps officer, Col Carlson made frequent trips to the front line and into exposed areas to supervise and coordinate the carrying out of combat missions by the assault elements of the division, a duty his position didn’t require him to do.” The citation for the Legion of Merit says in part: “directed planning for the deployment of troops against numerically superior forces… which enabled the division to fight a highly successful delaying action with a minimum loss of personnel … the division exacted a heavy toll on enemy casualties and was largely responsible for containing the enemy.“

In 1953, Col Carlson attended the Army Command and General Staff College at Ft Leavenworth, KS, for a year of training, then attended the Naval War College in Newport, RI, in 1954. This was followed by an assignment at Ft Monroe, VA, until May 1959.

From May 1959, Col Carlson was the Brigade Commander, Combat Command “C” at Ray Barracks in Friedberg, Germany, and in October 1960 was transferred to the G3 for the 3rd Armored Division (Spearhead) in Frankfurt, Germany until May 1962.  While Col Carlson was in Freidberg, Elvis Presley was assigned to the 3rd Armored Division, 1st Medium Tank Battalion, 32nd Armor, and was frequently seen around Ray Barracks.

Col Carlson’s next assignment was to Ft Knox, KY, as Chief of Staff, a position he held for a year until becoming Deputy Post Commander.  During this time, the movie Goldfinger was being filmed at Ft Knox, and much of the coordination and planning for filming operations was handled through Col Carlson’s office.  

Throughout Col Carlson’s career, he placed heavy emphasis on environmental and wildlife conservation efforts on post and expanding MWR (then called Special Services) benefits for soldiers and their families.  While serving as Deputy Post Commander, Col Carlson passed away suddenly in his office.  Because of his efforts in conservation and MWR, a recreational camp near Ft Knox called Camp Grayhamton was renamed Camp Carlson, posthumously. The Carlson family legacy is tied to Fort Knox (And Facebook). Camp Carlson has overnight facilities to rent and a large lake for fishing, which Col Carlson used many times while stationed at Ft Knox.

Much as OPFOB is dedicated to enhancing the lives of military members with a beautiful tract of land and recreational facilities, Camp Carlson provides similar benefits, and it is fitting that the two facilities are connected. The Carlson family is proud to sponsor OPFOB in memory of our father and his service to our country.