William John Carlson

2019-11-26T12:25:12-06:00
Navy Badge
  • Name: William "Billy" John Carlson
  • Location of Birth: Coleraine, Minnesota
  • Date of Birth: July 28, 1925
  • Date of Death: April 10, 1991
  • Parents: Carl Carlson & Minnie (Blewett) Carlson
  • High School and Class:
  • College:
  • Highest Rank: SC2 (Ship's Cook 2nd Class Petty Officer)
  • Branch: Navy
  • Other Branch:
  • Date Sworn In: February 11, 1943
  • Place Sworn In:
  • Date of Discharge: August 4, 1946 (re-signed for draft August 6, 1946)
  • Place of Discharge:
  • Military Awards:

  • Military Highlights:
    WW II Draft Registration Cards – 10/16/1940 – 03/31/1947
    State: Minnesota
    Name: William John Carlson
    Race: White
    Age: 21
    Birth Date: July 28, 1925
    Birth Place: Coleraine, Minnesota, USA
    Residence Place: Coleraine, Itasca, Minnesota, USA
    Registration Date: August 6, 1946 (re-enlistment)
    Employer: Unemployed
    Weight: 172
    Height: 5-11
    Complexion: Light
    Eye Color: Blue
    Hair Color: Blonde
    Next of Kin: Mrs. Minnie Carlson, mother, Coleraine, Minnesota

    Newspaper article - Itasca Iron News, Coleraine, Minnesota - 1944 – In a letter home to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Carl Carlson of Coleraine, “Billy” Carlson, promoted the first of December to S.C. 2/c in the U.S. Navy, writes of meeting Coleraine boys in the New Hebrides. He speaks of Hansen – not explaining which of the several Hansens Coleraine has in the South Pacific – and of Lt. Clayton Bohn and Lt. Geo. D. Dore, and of Bob Dargan of Bovey. After saying thank you for the Christmas gifts from the Service Club, he tells how he and another chap roasted the turkey for Thanksgiving, that it was “sure a job, but everyone got plenty to eat.” He included a censored menu, but a palm tree waved over what looked like a Minnesota holiday feast, running the gamut of roast turkey and chilled cranberry sauce and Virginia baked ham thru mince pie and fruit cake. His letter says: “Hansen came up the other day and Bobby Dargan of Bovey was with him. Hansen found out that Dr. Geo Dore and Dr. Clayton Bohn (both lieutenants) were on the island. We all got together and really had a swell time. We took a lot of pictures and I hope they turn out well, for they were good scenes. I had a letter from Ralph (his brother) and I think he is where I saw him last. . . I bought a pair of dress blue pants be-cause the ones at home will be too small for me. . . I hope to get home in February. . . Les, you had better have the camp fixed up so we can spend a night there.”

  • Wars Involved:
    World War II

  • MIA / POW:

  • Civilian Life:
    William J. Carlson married Dorothy Davis in 1949 in Minnesota.

    William Carlson died in Hibbing, Minnesota and is buried in Maple Hill Cemetery, Hibbing, Minnesota (plot 10-46-2 W 1/2). He is survived by his wife, Dorothy; and children, Daniel, Carolyn and Robert.

  • Tribal Affiliation(s):

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