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William "Billy" Joseph Carson, Jr.
Lilah Crowe2021-03-22T11:38:27-05:00
- Name: William "Billy" Joseph Carson Jr.
- Location of Birth: Coleraine, MN
- Date of Birth: October 30, 1921
- Date of Death: January 5, 2004
- Parents: William J. Carson, Sr., & Mary "Molly" (Burns) Carson
- High School and Class: 1939 Greenway High School, Coleraine, Minnesota
- College:
- Highest Rank: PHM 2/c (Pharmacist's Mate 2nd Class Petty Officer)
- Branch: Navy
- Other Branch:
- Date Sworn In: December 29, 1941
- Place Sworn In: Fort Snelling, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Date of Discharge: December 10, 1945 (re-signed for draft December 18, 1945)
- Place of Discharge:
-
- Military Awards:
- Military Highlights:
WW II Draft Registration Cards – 10/16/1940 – 03/31/1947
State: Minnesota
Name: William Joseph Carson
Race: White
Age: 24
Birth Date: October 30, 1921
Birth Place: Grand Rapids, Minnesota, USA [all other records indicate Coleraine, Minnesota]
Residence Place: Coleraine, Itasca, Minnesota, USA
Registration Date: December 18, 1945 (re-enlistment)
Employer: Unemployed
Weight: 160
Height: 5-11
Complexion: Ruddy
Eye Color: Brown
Hair Color: Brown
Next of Kin: Mrs. Frank Baraga, sister, Chisholm, Minnesota
Newspaper article: 1944 – Wm. Carson Jr., Phm 2/c, U.S. Navy, one of the earliest enlistees of the war, is expected to arrive Saturday to visit his father, Wm. Carson Sr. of Coleraine, and his sisters, Mrs. Harold Jetland of Grand Rapids and Mrs. Frank Baraga of Chisholm. He has been in the European war theatre for a long time.
Newspaper article: Nov 1945 – Service Club Hears From Billy Carson – “Dear Mrs. Cratty: Just received your card and birthday money order. Well, thank you very much is about all I can say. It’s very nice to be remembered by all of you back home. So I’ll thank you all again very much. We have just returned to Guam from China and now I’m waiting for the first of November, when I will be eligible for discharge and I’m really getting anxious. I will be back home again for good. Well, there isn’t much more to say. So, I’ll close for now. Thanking you again. Billy Carson”
- Wars Involved:
World War II
- MIA / POW:
- Civilian Life:
William Carson married Bernice Jones in 1947 in Grand Rapids Minnesota. He worked for U.S. Steel for 41 years, retiring in 1980. He was a member of the Retired Citizens of Coleraine, Minnesota, the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, the Elks USA in Hibbing, Minnesota, & the Senior Golf League at Eagle Ridge in Coleraine. He was on the original task force of the Itasca Recreation Association. He spent winters in Palm Springs, California.
William Carson died in Coleraine, Minnesota and is buried in Lakeview Cemetery, Coleraine, Minnesota (Block 139). He is survived by his wife, Bernice; daughter, Jean (Buzz) Samuelson; son, Joe (Jenifer) Carson; and a sister, Helen Baraga. Preceding him in death were his parents; and his sisters, Shirley Vidmar and Betty Dye.
- Tribal Affiliation(s):
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