Gerald Joseph Carlson

West Point, 1951

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by Louis Michael on November 24, 2011:

Gerald J. Carlson completed his final mission and was victorious against cancer, passing to a better life on November 21, 2011. He was born in Ishpeming, Michigan on November 30, 1928 to Bill and Anna Carlson and was raised in Marquette, Michigan. Upon graduation from high school and following a period of labor shoveling coal on an ore boat on the Great Lakes, Jerry was appointed to West Point, graduating in 1951. Following graduation, he went in the infantry and subsequently served in Korea in the 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Division from 1952 to 1953 as a platoon leader and company commander. While serving in Korea, Jerry received the Silver Star for distinguished gallantry in action; the Bronze Star Medal (valor) for heroism; two Purple Hearts for wounds in action; and the Combat Infantry Badge. Following Korea, he served in the 11th Airborne Division as a staff officer and company commander at Fort Campbell and Augsburg, Germany, the 1st Airborne Battle Group, 187th Infantry Regiment in Lebanon and Fort Bragg, NC. He attended the Infantry School in Fort Benning, Georgia and the Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, KS receiving the Commendation Medal for service. Upon completion, Jerry was assigned to Joint Military Assistance Group in Thailand where he served from 1963 to 1966 and was awarded a second Commendation Medal for his service. He then served in the Pentagon in the Office, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Department of the Army from 1966 to 1969 and was awarded the Legion of Merit. He served in Vietnam from 1969 to 1970 as the First Brigade Executive and later Battalion Commander of the 6th Battalion, 31st Infantry, 9th Infantry Division and was decorated with his second and third Silver Stars for gallantry in action; a second Legion of Merit; the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism; his second and third Bronze Star Medals (for valor) for heroism; 17 Air Medals; two additional Commendation Medals (one for valor); and the Combat Infantry Badge. Upon completion of his service in Vietnam, Jerry returned to attend the Industrial College of the Armed Forces and subsequent assignment to Office, Joint Chiefs of Staff where he served from 1971 to 1974 participating in the White House briefing team of Secretary of Defense Melvin Laird and Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. He received a third Legion of Merit for his service while with the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He then served as the Commanding Officer of the 2nd Basic Combat Training Brigade from 1974 to 1976. His last military assignment was to the Staff and Faculty of the Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas where he completed a distinguished 30 year military career as the Deputy Commandant of the School and as a Colonel. Upon retirement, Jerry and his wife, Jeanne, started their civilian life and moved to the El Paso, Texas area where he was appointed as the Executive Officer of the El Paso Apartment Association. Jerry served the Association for 28 years until his second retirement at the age of 80. He was active in the community and served in the local community through his involvement in the Military Order of the Purple Heart, Lone Star Chapter 393; the Polar Bears; the 31st Airborne Division; the West Point Society; Laubach Literacy Council of El Paso; Regular Retired Officer Wives Club; Discover El Paso; and District 9 Garden Under the Pink Umbrella. Jerry was an extraordinary man, soldier, hero, husband, father and friend to many.

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